I have a Gateway computer and the driver went out before the warranty was up the first year I bought it. It was a pain and a lot of trouble but we finally managed to get them to replace the driver and it was covered under the warranty.

My driver is going out again as I keep loosing color on the monitor screen just like before. The color goes on and off. My question is how much does it cost to replace the driver as the computer is not in warranty now, and how do you get one that will last for more than a year?

Barbara, you're losing your color?? Back out on the jet ski girl!!!!!!

Anyway, a driver is a softwar program that lets some (any) piece of hardware talk to the computer (processor). Updated drivers are generally free to download from your computer manufacturer's web site (customer service/downloads.) If it's a hardware problem, you may have to buy another video card.

If you have Windows XP, you can right click on "My Compuer", select properties at the bottom of the list, select the "Hardware"tab, and the click on the "Device Manager" tab.

You will then see a list of devices on your computer. If you see a yellow explanation mark, you have a problem there, and a red "X" is a bigger problem, but not necessarily harder to fix.

Even if you don't have a red or yellow indication, you can click on "display adaptors" and get a list of your computers display options. Hopefully there is only one. Double click on your adaptor and you are presented with a box that has a number of thing you can do.

(I am assuming you are certain you have a video driver problem as you say.)

One of the tabs on top of this window is "Driver" and on the lower portion of this window is a "troubleshoot" choice. Under the driver selection you can get driver information, and update, rollback and uninstall the video drivers.

I thought Gateway gave "lifetime" phone or on-line support? If so they can walk you through the correct process.

Anyway, you can go through the troubleshoot process, or select update driver under the driver tab. Your computer will start a search process for an updated driver. (which you control, to an extent)

My disclaimer, their is much info I don't have, just trying to give you a start. But it is the process I would use to fix a video driver on my computer.

Good luck.

surveybob:

Barbara, you're losing your color?? Back out on the jet ski girl!!!!!!

Anyway, a driver is a softwar program that lets some (any) piece of hardware talk to the computer (processor). Updated drivers are generally free to download from your computer manufacturer's web site (customer service/downloads.) If it's a hardware problem, you may have to buy another video card.

If you have Windows XP, you can right click on "My Compuer", select properties at the bottom of the list, select the "Hardware"tab, and the click on the "Device Manager" tab.

You will then see a list of devices on your computer. If you see a yellow explanation mark, you have a problem there, and a red "X" is a bigger problem, but not necessarily harder to fix.

Even if you don't have a red or yellow indication, you can click on "display adaptors" and get a list of your computers display options. Hopefully there is only one. Double click on your adaptor and you are presented with a box that has a number of thing you can do.

(I am assuming you are certain you have a video driver problem as you say.)

One of the tabs on top of this window is "Driver" and on the lower portion of this window is a "troubleshoot" choice. Under the driver selection you can get driver information, and update, rollback and uninstall the video drivers.

I thought Gateway gave "lifetime" phone or on-line support? If so they can walk you through the correct process.

Anyway, you can go through the troubleshoot process, or select update driver under the driver tab. Your computer will start a search process for an updated driver. (which you control, to an extent)

My disclaimer, their is much info I don't have, just trying to give you a start. But it is the process I would use to fix a video driver on my computer.

Good luck.

Thanks Surveybob, it is the video card going out just like last time. I could go through Gateway but they are a pain, they lose computers in the warehouse and you have to make a lot of calls until they find it and then all they want to do is a system restore and keep sending it back and you have to get real tacky before they will finally fix it. Before I sent it to Gateway the first time, I already had the problem diagnosed by a local tech as the video card and the Gateway tech on the phone even agreed that was most likely the problem. Problem with Gateway like all the rest all they want to do is a system restore.

Last time it didn't cost anything because it was under warranty, I had to send the computer to them and they did a system restore which of course did not work, so I had to send it back again twice, and finally after a dozen calls and complaints and sending the computer back for a third time they replaced the video card, sent it back to me and it has worked perfectly for one year, and now is going out again just like before. At first color comes and goes, this keeps up for a couple of months and then if it does like last time I will start losing picture completely for a few seconds at first and then for longer and longer, turn off and on and  get the picture back until the screen goes black again, same process over and over and the problem gradually gets worse.

Barbara, you got me on that one. I spent an hour answering your driver question, only to find out it was a hardware question.

Today you can get more than adequate, if you're not a gamer, video card reasonably.

Good luck.

Barbara - I would just find someone local to work on it for you.  We have had a virus on our home computer for about two weeks, and we cannot get rid of it, and I just don't know what to do, and I am calling a local repairman.  I am tired of dealing with it!!

surveybob:

Barbara, you got me on that one. I spent an hour answering your driver question, only to find out it was a hardware question.

Today you can get more than adequate, if you're not a gamer, video card reasonably.

Good luck.

Sorry about that, as you can see I don't know much about computers. Never touched one before last year, and it is a lot to learn for an old dog like me. Thank you for taking the time to answer though.

Derricka:

Barbara - I would just find someone local to work on it for you.  We have had a virus on our home computer for about two weeks, and we cannot get rid of it, and I just don't know what to do, and I am calling a local repairman.  I am tired of dealing with it!!

Thanks Derricka I think that would probably be wisest.  What virus protection program do you use, I use Panda antivirus and so far it has done a good job of stopping viruses, spyware, hijack attempts, trojans, and whatever else there is out there.

We had a virus on our computer when I bought  and installed  Panda and it took care of it and haven't had anymore.

I had been using Avast because it was recommended by Dell when we got the computer.  I don't know if we will change virus protection now or not.

Barb, give Best Buy a call they have the 'geek squad' they can either come to your house (probably very expensive) or you can take it in.  Circuit City also has a in-house repair department.

Good luck to you!

Thanks

Barbara, do you have any 18 to 25 year old relatives? Chances are they would have no problem replacing the video card for you. FREE.

kljcmc:

Barbara, do you have any 18 to 25 year old relatives? Chances are they would have no problem replacing the video card for you. FREE.

Thanks, where can you get a video card that will last longer than a year ?

Office Depot, Office Max, WalMart

 

 

http://www.walmart.com/search/browse-ng.do?ic=24_0&ref=125875.413765&catNavId=645320

OK thanks.