Gateway GWTC116-2BL Troubleshooting

Your computer screen is black even though it is powered on.

If your Gateway GWTC116-2BL is showing a black screen, restart the laptop. This can fix software issues or temporary glitches. Turn off the Gateway laptop, disconnect the power cord, battery, or any other external devices. Hold the power button for about 15 seconds to drain the power. Reconnect the power cord and battery without connecting other external devices. Power on the computer to see if the black screen reappears.

If this does not work, you can replace the motherboard using our guide.

To rule out a hardware problem, connect your Gateway GWTC116-2BL with an external display. If the second display is working normally, there may be an issue caused by the conflict between the graphics card driver and laptop LCD display.

Using another monitor, type device manager in the search bar and hit Enter. Expand Display adapters, right-click on your graphics card driver, and select Uninstall Device. Tick Delete the driver software for the device and click on Uninstall. Restart the Gateway GWTC116-2BL and Windows will automatically install the latest version of graphics driver on the laptop.

If none of these steps work for you, you can replace the display using our guide Gateway GWTC116-2BL Display Replacement.

Computer is connected to internet, but cannot hold a connection.

Press Windows + X keys on the keyboard and select "Control Panel." Type "Troubleshooting" in the search bar on the Control Panel. Click on "View all" on the left navigation pane. Click on "Network troubleshooter" then click on "Advanced" on the Network troubleshooter dialog box and click on "Run as administrator" Note: you may need to enter credentials if it is required. Click on "Next" and follow onscreen instructor complete the "Network troubleshooter."

Press Windows key + X and click on "Device manager." Locate for "Network adaptor" and click on it to expand. Right click on the device and click on "uninstall." Once you are done uninstalling the driver, restart the computer. This will automatically install the generic network adapter driver.

Press Windows key + X and click on "Device manager." Locate for "Network adaptor" and click on it to expand. Right click on the device and click on "update."

If none of these steps work for you, you can replace the daughterboard using our guide Gateway GWTC116-2BL Daughterboard Replacement.

Your computer was running fine, then randomly shuts off.

Laptops in shutdown mode due to abnormal warmness can show a blinking orange light in the energy indicator light. If this light is on, refer to the next section regarding overheating issues.

Windows 11 features a built-in power troubleshooter. It will scan and find problems with your computer's power settings. You can also allow it to change your computer's power plan to a more efficient setting.

To run the power troubleshooter:

1. Press Windows + l to open settings
2. In the system tab, scroll down and click on troubleshoot.
3. Next, click on Other troubleshooters.
4. Scroll down and click on the Run button for Power. The power troubleshooter will quickly perform a scan and recommend you some fixes. Follow on-screen instructions to apply the fixes, or you can skip it and try the next one.

You can turn off Fast Startup in Windows 11 to see if that helps you fix random shutdown issues with your system. Here’s how to do it.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run.
2. Type control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
3. Go to System and Security.
4. Next, click on Power Options.
5. In the left pane, click on Choose what closing the lid do.
6. In the left pane, click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
7. Unselect the Turn on fast startup option.
8. Click Save Changes to disable fast startup.

Hardware malfunction is another common cause of abrupt system shutdowns and can be an indication of failing hardware. To determine the cause, you can stress test the RAM overnight using the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.

Similarly, the issues could also be with your storage device. So it is recommended to test your hard drive or SSD before it becomes unsalvageable.

Here is how to run a memory test on the RAM, using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, then type mdsched.exe and hit Enter.
2. Windows will prompt you to restart your computer, and the test will take a few minutes to complete.
3. When it's over, your machine will once again restart. You'll see the results on the screen once you return to the Windows desktop.

If this doesn't work, you may need to replace your computer's motherboard. You can replace your computer's motherboard using our guides demonstrating how to do so: Gateway GWTC116-2BL Motherboard Replacement

If none of the above fixes work for you, you may need to replace the touchpad. Here is our guide demonstrating how to do so: Gateway GWTC116-2BL Touchpad Replacement.

This problem may stem from a faulty battery. You can replace your computer's battery here using our replacement guide

Gateway GWTC116-2BL Battery Replacement

When your computer overheats to a dangerous level and starts making noises.

If your Gateway GWTC116-2BL has overheated and shut off on its own, allow it to cool down for at least 30 minutes before turning it back on.

Make sure that all the fans in your computer are functioning correctly. If one or more fans are not working, your system could overheat. Dust buildup can clog the fans and prevent them from working effectively. Compressed air blows out any dust buildup from the fans and other components.

The thermal paste helps transfer heat from the CPU to the heatsink. If it has dried out or become ineffective, it can cause your system to overheat. You may need to reapply it to your CPU.

Ensure your Gateway GWTC116-2BL has enough space and proper ventilation for adequate airflow. Consider adding additional fans or upgrading to a better cooling system.

Your computer screen has unlit pixels on its screen, often appearing as tiny black or white spots.

The most common cause of dead pixels is manufacturing defects. Sometimes, undetectably small errors in assembly can result in a handful of dead pixels among millions of functional ones.

If this is the case, your best bet is to either to send your computer back or give it a week before doing so, as dead pixels can fix themselves at times.

It is very common for dead or stuck pixels to appear later on in a device's life, mainly as the result of physical damage. One potential fix for this is to go to https://www.jscreenfix.com/. This free web app can fix many stuck pixels in less than 10 minutes, but it is unlikely to fix dead pixels. It is still worth a try.

Dead pixels are usually tough to fix. If none of the above methods work for you, and you need to replace your computer's screen, refer to our display replacement guide Gateway GWTC116-2BL Display Replacement.

Your computer will take longer to complete tasks or respond to your commands.

Over time, the files on your hard drive can become fragmented, slowing down your computer. Use the built-in defragmentation tool to optimize your hard drive. If your computer is still slow, consider upgrading your hardware. Adding more RAM or a solid-state drive (SSD) can significantly improve your computer's performance.

Uninstall any programs that you no longer use or need. You can also use the disk cleanup tool to remove temporary files, old system files, and other unnecessary files that take up space on your hard drive. It will help free up space and improve the computer's performance.

Malware can slow your computer's performance. Run a full scan using reputable antivirus software.