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www.gateway.com
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting
Safety guidelines
While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines:
■
Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is turned on and
while the modem cable and the power cord are connected.
■
Make sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing internal components.
For more information about preventing damage from static electricity, see
“Preventing static electricity discharge” on page 49
.
First steps
If you have problems with your computer, try these things first:
■
Make sure that the power cord is connected to your computer and an AC outlet
and that the AC outlet is supplying power.
■
If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on.
■
If a peripheral device (such as a keyboard or mouse) does not work, make sure that
all connections are secure.
■
Make sure that your hard drive is not full.
■
If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. The
message may help Gateway Customer Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.
■
If you added or removed peripheral devices, review the installation procedures you
performed and make sure that you followed each instruction.
■
If an error occurs in a program, see the program’s printed documentation or the
online help.
Warning
To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to troubleshoot your computer
problem if:
■
Power cords or plugs are damaged
■
Liquid has been spilled into your computer
■
Your computer was dropped
■
The case was damaged
Instead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer
technician.
8510807.book Page 60 Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:27 AM
