background image

CHAPTER 4: Upgrading Your Computer

36

Preventing static electricity 
discharge

The components inside your computer are extremely sensitive 
to static electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD).
Before opening the computer case, follow these guidelines:

Wear a grounding wrist strap (available at most 
electronics stores) and attach it to a bare metal part of 
your computer.

Turn off your computer.

Touch a bare metal surface on the back of the computer.

Unplug the power cord and the modem and network 
cables.

Before working with computer components, follow these 
guidelines:

Avoid static-causing surfaces such as carpeted floors, 
plastic, and packing foam.

Remove components from their antistatic bags only 
when you are ready to use them. Do not lay components 
on the outside of antistatic bags because only the inside 
of the bags provide electrostatic protection.

Always hold expansion cards by their edges or their 
metal mounting brackets. Avoid touching the edge 
connectors and components on the cards. Never slide 
expansion cards or components over any surface.

Warning

To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical voltages and moving parts, turn 

off your computer and unplug the power cord and modem and network cables 
before opening the case.
To prevent risk of electric shock, do not insert any object into the vent holes of 
the power supply.

Caution

ESD can permanently damage electrostatic discharge-sensitive 

components in your computer. Prevent ESD damage by following ESD guidelines 
every time you open the computer case.

8512735.book  Page 36  Thursday, September 27, 2007  1:03 PM

Summary of Contents for E4610D

Page 1: ...REFERENCEGUIDE 8512735 book Page a Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 2: ...8512735 book Page b Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 3: ...tive strain 14 Positioning the computer case 14 Preparing power connections 14 Protecting from power source problems 14 Connecting to a broadband modem or network 15 Connecting a dial up modem 16 Star...

Page 4: ...er 43 Replacing the hard drive 44 Adding or replacing an expansion card 46 Replacing the front fan 48 Replacing the rear fan 49 Replacing the front I O board 50 Replacing the processor 51 Replacing th...

Page 5: ...les and settings manually 76 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting 79 Safety guidelines 80 First steps 80 Troubleshooting 81 Add in cards 81 Audio 81 CD or DVD drives 81 Diskette drive 83 Display 84 DVD drives 84...

Page 6: ...System Restore 106 Recovering your system to its factory condition 109 Recovering your system using the Windows DVD 110 Telephone support 111 Before calling Gateway Customer Care 111 Telephone numbers...

Page 7: ...bout This Reference About this guide Accessing your online User Guide Gateway contact information Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity For more information 8512735 book Page 1 Thursday September 27 2...

Page 8: ...ss shown on your computer s label The Support page also has links to additional Gateway documentation and detailed specifications Accessing your online User Guide In addition to this guide your User G...

Page 9: ...this information if you call for assistance Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes the product key c...

Page 10: ...CHAPTER 1 About This Reference 4 8512735 book Page 4 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 11: ...CHAPTER2 5 Checking Out Your Computer Front Back 8512735 book Page 5 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 12: ...omputer 6 Front DVD CD drive Headphone jack Power button power indicator Memory card reader or diskette drive optional USB ports Microphone jack Hard drive activity indicator 8512735 book Page 6 Thurs...

Page 13: ...d write to USB ports Plug USB Universal Serial Bus devices such as a USB external drive printer scanner camera keyboard or mouse into these ports For more information see Installing a printer scanner...

Page 14: ...speaker jack Ethernet network jack Line out headphones front speaker jack Microphone jack USB ports Modem line jack optional Monitor VGA port Parallel port Serial port Voltage switch Power connector...

Page 15: ...t inyouronlineUserGuide and Connecting to a broadband modem or network on page 16 Parallel port Plug a parallel device such as a printer into this port PS 2 mouse port green Plug a PS 2 mouse into thi...

Page 16: ...a PS 2 keyboard into this port Telephone jack optional Plug your telephone into this jack Expansion card bay cover Install additional PCI expansion cards in one of these available slots Component Ico...

Page 17: ...Connecting a dial up modem Starting your computer Turning off your computer Restarting rebooting your computer Using the keyboard Using the mouse Using optical drives Using the memory card reader Usi...

Page 18: ...l to the floor Adjust the screen so it is perpendicular to your line of sight and the top of the screen is no higher than eye level Place your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest Keep ventilation...

Page 19: ...ppropriate height and the chair helps you maintain good posture Select a flat surface for your computer desk Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are positioned parallel to th...

Page 20: ...either horizontally or vertically With the case in a vertical orientation you can rotate the support base on bottom for more stability Preparing power connections Protecting from power source problem...

Page 21: ...our system has the correct setting for your area check the voltage selection switch To set the voltage selection switch 1 Disconnect your computer s power cable 2 Use a tool such as an opened paper cl...

Page 22: ...d telephone line to connect to the Internet or fax documents To connect the modem 1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack at the back of your computer 2 Insertthe otherend of the modem...

Page 23: ...nu you can run programs and search for files For more information on using your computer s menus see Using Windows and Customizing Windows in your online User Guide Waking up your computer When you ha...

Page 24: ...computer remains in Sleep mode press the power button To turn off your computer Click Start Shut Down then click Shut Down again Windows shuts down and turns off your computer Warning When you turn of...

Page 25: ...ular startup process a program to check the disk status runs automatically When the checks are finished Windows starts Using the keyboard Premium multimedia keyboard features The keyboard has several...

Page 26: ...to the beginning of a line to the end of a line up the page down the page to the beginning of a document or to the end of a document Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK CAPS LOCK or SCROLL LOCK keys are...

Page 27: ...buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet home page search for files or launch the calculator program Audio playback buttons Press thesebuttons to play your audio files and to adjust the vo...

Page 28: ...Function keys Press these keys to start program actions Each program uses different function keys for different purposes See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions N...

Page 29: ...with other keys to open utilities like F Find Search R Run utility and E Computer Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows Directional keys Press these ke...

Page 30: ...he screen Move the mouse around If you reach the edge of your mouse pad and need to move the mouse farther lift the mouse and place it in the middle of the mouse pad then continue moving the mouse Sel...

Page 31: ...ut menu or find more information about an object on the screen Position the pointer over the object Quickly press and release the right mouse button once This is called right clicking Move an object o...

Page 32: ...drive 2 Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up 3 Press the eject button to close the tray Important When you place a single sided disc in the tray make sure that the label side is facing...

Page 33: ...laying DVDs and accessing data DVD RW Installing programs playing audio CDs playing DVDs accessing data and recording video and data to CDs and DVD R or DVD RW discs DVD RW R Installing programs playi...

Page 34: ...laying audio CDs playing DVDs accessing data and recording video and data to CDs and DVD RAM DVD R or DVD RW discs Blu ray Disc Installing programs playing audio CDs playing DVDs playing Blu ray Discs...

Page 35: ...hold 50 GB of files about 23 hours of standard definition video or about nine hours of high definition video Blu ray Discs can be played on a Blu ray compatible player or a Blu ray drive equipped comp...

Page 36: ...me video For more information see your online User Guide Copying optical discs You can copy optical discs to make backups of your data For more information see your online User Guide Using the memory...

Page 37: ...drive for example the E drive then double click the file name To remove a memory card Wait for the memory card reader activity indicator to stop blinking then pull the memory card out of the slot Cau...

Page 38: ...k the file name 3 To remove the diskette make sure that the drive activity light is off then press the eject button Adjusting the volume You can adjust volume using your speakers controls your keyboar...

Page 39: ...er on page 5 IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug and play and hot swapping which means that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the appropriate port When you...

Page 40: ...CHAPTER 3 Setting Up and Getting Started 34 8512735 book Page 34 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 41: ...y Replacing an optical or diskette drive or a card reader Replacing the hard drive Adding or replacing an expansion card Replacing the front fan Replacing the rear fan Replacing the front I O board Re...

Page 42: ...static bags only when you are ready to use them Do not lay components on the outside of antistatic bags because only the inside of the bags provide electrostatic protection Always hold expansion cards...

Page 43: ...computer then lift it up and away from the computer To replace the side panel 1 Make sure that all of the internal cables are arranged inside the case so they will not be pinched when you close the c...

Page 44: ...press the three black plastic tabs positions indicated by the arrows to release the right side of the bezel Case shown upright for clarity 2 Swing the right side of the bezel out until the left side o...

Page 45: ...www gateway com 39 To replace the front bezel 1 Insert the tabs on the left side of the bezel into the slots in the left side of the computer 8512735 book Page 39 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 46: ...ight side of the bezel in to insert the tabs on the right side of the bezel into the slots on the right side of the computer 3 Press the right side of the bezel firmly until it snaps into place 851273...

Page 47: ...owing the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 2 Find the memory module banks on your system board 3 If you are removing a DIMM from the memory module bank gently pull the plastic t...

Page 48: ...odule is secure you hear a click 5 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 6 Return your computer to its upright position 7 Reconnect the cables...

Page 49: ...he instructions in Removing and installing the front bezel on page 38 then place the computer in an upright position 3 If you are replacing an existing drive disconnect the cables from the drive notin...

Page 50: ...ont of the computer to the Lock position 6 Reconnect the drive cables using the notes you took previously 7 Replace the front bezel then replace the side panel Replacing the hard drive To replace the...

Page 51: ...ing their locations and orientation You will reconnect the cables after you install the new drive 4 Press the the drive release latch in toward the drive then slide the drive out of the drive bay 8512...

Page 52: ...e new drive according to the drive s documentation OR If you are replacing a drive reconnect the drive cables using the notes you took previously 8 Replace the side panel by following the instructions...

Page 53: ...37 2 Open the card retention lever 3 If you are replacing an expansion card go to the next step If you are adding a new expansion card go to Step 6 4 Disconnect any cables that are attached to the ca...

Page 54: ...card but do not bend the card sideways 7 Reconnect the expansion card cables if any using the notes you took previously or the manufacturer s instructions 8 Replace the side panel then return the com...

Page 55: ...Remove the fan by pulling it away from the system board 3 Disconnect the fan cable from the system board 4 Connect the new fan cable to the system board then insert the new fan into place 5 Replace th...

Page 56: ...Disconnect the fan from the system board 3 Remove the four screws that secure the fan to the back of the case then remove the fan 4 Place the new fan on the back of the computer then replace the screw...

Page 57: ...he side panel by following the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 2 Remove the bezel by following the instructions in Removing and installing the front bezel on page 38 3 Disconne...

Page 58: ...nstalling the front bezel on page 38 8 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 Replacing the processor To replace the heat sink and processor 1...

Page 59: ...heat sink to the system board then remove the heat sink Caution The heat sink has thermal paste located on the bottom of it Use caution when you remove the old heat sink or unpack the new heat sink s...

Page 60: ...d by the silk screened arrow on the corner of the processor aligns with Pin 1 on the processor socket indicated by the absence of a pin hole in the processor socket then return the lever to its locked...

Page 61: ...ing the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 6 Locate the old battery on the system board and note its orientation You will need to install the new battery the same way Warning Dang...

Page 62: ...etup utility restore any settings that you wrote down previously 14 Save all your settings and exit the BIOS Setup utility Replacing the power supply To replace the power supply 1 Remove the side pane...

Page 63: ...anel by following the instructions in Opening and closing the case on page 37 2 Remove all expansion cards by following the directions in Adding or replacing an expansion card on page 47 3 Remove the...

Page 64: ...es not include a processor go to the next step OR If your replacement system board includes a processor go to Step 16 11 Loosen the four screws that secure the heat sink to the system board then remov...

Page 65: ...d position 15 Place the heat sink on the system board then tighten the screws that secure it to the system board 16 Install the power supply into the case then install the three screws to secure the p...

Page 66: ...CHAPTER 4 Upgrading Your Computer 60 8512735 book Page 60 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 67: ...up a maintenance schedule Caring for your computer Cleaning your computer Updating Windows Using BigFix Managing hard drive space Scheduling maintenance tasks Moving from your old computer 8512735 bo...

Page 68: ...schedule Maintenance task Weekly Monthly When needed Check for viruses X X X Run Windows Update X X Manage hard drive space X Clean up hard drives X X Scan hard drive for errors X X Defragment hard dr...

Page 69: ...e and easy to break in cold temperatures and can melt or warp in high temperatures Damage due to either extreme is not covered by your warranty As a general rule your computer is safest at temperature...

Page 70: ...free cloth to clean your computer and other parts of your system Do not use household abrasive or solvent cleaners because they can damage the finish on components Your computer is cooled by air circ...

Page 71: ...onitor use a soft cloth and water to clean the screen Dampen the cloth never apply liquid directly to the screen then wipe the screen with the cloth To clean a CRT monitor use a soft cloth and glass c...

Page 72: ...lways get the most recent updates and fixes to protect your computer and keep it running smoothly Windows Update scans your computer and provides you with a tailored selection of updates that apply on...

Page 73: ...ecurity alerts and updates from BigFix sites on the Internet Whenever BigFix detects a problem it alerts you by flashing the blue taskbar icon To fix the problem click on that icon to open BigFix To s...

Page 74: ...ick My Computer The My Computer window opens 2 Right click the drive that you want to check for available file space then click Properties Drive space information appears Deleting unnecessary files De...

Page 75: ...ck Yes Checking the hard drive for errors The Error checking program examines the hard drive for physical flaws and file and folder problems This program corrects file and folder problems and marks fl...

Page 76: ...problems that are found by following the on screen instructions 6 Click OK Defragmenting the hard drive When working with files sometimes Windows divides the file information into pieces and stores t...

Page 77: ...e starting Disk Defragmenter Network communication may stop the defragmentation process and cause it to start over To defragment the hard drive 1 Disconnect your computer from the network 2 Click Star...

Page 78: ...fails or you accidentally delete files You should back up your files regularly to a writable optical disc if you have a recordable drive Use a backup device such as a recordable disc drive to do a co...

Page 79: ...as display Internet and e mail settings from your old computer to your new one using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Files can be transferred automatically to it as long as your old computer h...

Page 80: ...ersonal data files in the My Documents folder Look in your old computer s documents folder for personal data files To find files in the documents folder 1 In Windows XP click Start then click My Docum...

Page 81: ...earch 1 In Windows XP click Start then click Search The Search Results window opens OR In Windows 98 Windows Me or Windows 2000 click Start Find or Search then click For Files or Folders The Search Re...

Page 82: ...CHAPTER 5 Maintaining Your Computer 76 8512735 book Page 76 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 83: ...CHAPTER6 79 Troubleshooting Safety guidelines First steps Troubleshooting Recovering your system Telephone support 8512735 book Page 79 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 84: ...that you followed each instruction If an error occurs in a program see the program s printed documentation or the online help Warning Never open your computer case while your computer is turned on and...

Page 85: ...fy your drive type see Identifying optical drive types on page 27 Your computer may be experiencing some temporary memory problems Shut down and restart your computer Some music CDs have copy protecti...

Page 86: ...the disc label is facing up then try again Try a different disc Occasionally discs are flawed or become scratched and cannot be read by the DVD drive Clean the disc For more information see Cleaning o...

Page 87: ...protect error message Make sure that the write protection tab on the upper right corner of the diskette is down unprotected The diskette may be full Delete unnecessary files on the diskette and try a...

Page 88: ...ideo cable is connected to the video port on your computer Connect a monitor that you know works to your computer Reinstall the device driver The color is not uniform Make sure that the monitor warms...

Page 89: ...puters on your network have the same workgroup name Make sure that all computers are using the same Subnet Mask If you assigned IP addressesto the computers make sure that all computers have different...

Page 90: ...ith your expansion card Reseat the card For more information see Adding or replacing an expansion card on page 47 File management A file was accidentally deleted If a file was deleted while holding do...

Page 91: ...e To fix hard drive problems run the error checking program For instructions on fixing hard drive problems see Checking the hard drive for errors on page 69 The hard drive cannot be accessed or you se...

Page 92: ...der ISP is set up correctly Contact your ISP technical support for help Make sure that you do not have a problem with your modem For more information see Modem dial up on page 91 You see an Unable to...

Page 93: ...ternet service provider ISP is set up correctly Contact your ISP for technical support Keyboard The keyboard does not work Make sure that the keyboard cable is plugged in correctly For more informatio...

Page 94: ...r window The memory card reader was temporarily uninstalled using the Safely remove hardware icon in the system tray Reboot your computer and your card reader will be re installed Modem cable or DSL M...

Page 95: ...he telephone wall jack If you have additional telephone services such as call waiting call messaging or voice mail make sure that all messages are cleared and call waiting is disabled before using the...

Page 96: ...phone line either a different telephone number in your house or a telephone line at a different location If you can connect on this line call your telephone service Try connecting with the modem at a...

Page 97: ...mputer Some telephone cables do not meet required cable standards and may cause problems with the modem connection Shut down and restart your computer Run Windows modem diagnostics To run modem diagno...

Page 98: ...nel The Control Panel window opens If your Control Panel is in Category View click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click Double click the Phone and Modem Options icon then click the Modems tab 3 Click t...

Page 99: ...network on page 16 your online User Guide or Ethernet on page 85 Passwords Your computer does not accept your password Make sure that CAPS LOCK is turned off then retype the password Power Your compu...

Page 100: ...tup To set a default printer 1 Click Start then click Control Panel The Control Panel window opens If your Control Panel is in Category View click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click Double click the...

Page 101: ...fter adding paper Sound You are not getting sound from the speakers Make sure that the volume controls are turned up For more information see Adjusting the volume on page 32 Make sure that mute contro...

Page 102: ...ill having problems even after you follow troubleshooting steps you can use Microsoft System Restore to roll back your system to a previous condition when drivers and programs worked correctly Recover...

Page 103: ...rom the hard drive on page 104 Recovering specific files and software You can perform a partial recovery by recovering specific files such as device drivers and most pre installed software If you need...

Page 104: ...ion you want to install To select multiple items press and hold CTRL while clicking each item 3 Click Next The items you selected are installed When the installation is finished a message asks you if...

Page 105: ...vers or software and every 24 hours while your computer is turned on Microsoft System Restore takes a snapshot of your system settings and saves it as a restore point In most cases of hard to resolve...

Page 106: ...m Restore dialog box opens 3 Click Restore my computer to an earlier time then click Next The Select a Restore Point dialog box opens 4 Click a bold date on the calendar Step 1 on the screen then clic...

Page 107: ...ed and read all notices on the screen 7 Click Next then follow the on screen instructions to finish the restoration If completing Microsoft System Restore does not solve your problem restart Gateway S...

Page 108: ...the System Recovery program starts OR Turn on or restart your computer and press F11 while your computer is starting 3 Insert the Operating System Recovery CD DVD when prompted The System Recovery pro...

Page 109: ...mat and Recover dialog box opens 6 Click Yes Files are restored to your hard drive When file recovery has finished the System Restore dialog box opens 7 Click Restart Your computer restarts and Window...

Page 110: ...er s documentation and technical support resources If you have how to questions about using a program see Online Help Printed documentation The Microsoft Windows documentation The software publisher s...

Page 111: ...e see the following resources The printed or online documentation that came with your hardware or software In many cases additional product information and online documentation for Gateway supplied ha...

Page 112: ...CHAPTER 6 Troubleshooting 108 8512735 book Page 108 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 113: ...APPENDIXA 113 Legal Notices Important safety information Regulatory compliance statements Environmental information Notices 8512735 book Page 113 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 114: ...s of any kind into the computer ventilation openings Someproductsareequippedwithathree wirepowercordtomakesurethattheproduct is properly grounded when in use The plug on this cord will fit only into a...

Page 115: ...America FederalCommunicationsCommission FCC UnintentionalemitterperFCCPart 15 This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the F...

Page 116: ...inuanceof servicemay be required Thetelephonecompany may request that you disconnect the equipment until the problem is resolved The telephone company may make changes in its facilities equipment oper...

Page 117: ...terations made by the user to this equipment or equipment malfunctions may give the telecommunications company cause to request the user to disconnect the equipment Users should make sure for their ow...

Page 118: ...ntenna discharge unit connection to grounding electrodes and requirements for the grounding electrode Cable distribution system should be grounded earthed in accordance with ANSI NFPA 70 the National...

Page 119: ...o keep from touching such power lines or circuits Contact with them could be fatal Reference Grounding component 1 Electric service equipment 2 Power service grounding electrode system NEC Art 250 Par...

Page 120: ...product where applicable recycling the inner and outer packaging including shipping containers this product was delivered in and by disposing of or recycling used batteries properly With your help we...

Page 121: ...stered trademarks of their respective companies Macrovisionstatement If your computer has a DVD compatible drive and an analog TV Out port the following paragraph applies This product incorporates cop...

Page 122: ...APPENDIX A Legal Notices 122 8512735 book Page 122 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 123: ...drive 7 broadband connection 15 modem 15 buttons See keys and buttons C cable modem 15 connecting 9 troubleshooting 91 Caps Lock indicator 20 22 23 card reader 7 cards adding expansion 46 inserting me...

Page 124: ...keyboard 7 9 line in 9 line out 9 microphone 7 9 modem 9 mouse 7 9 network 9 15 parallel 9 power 9 power cord 9 printer 7 9 PS 2 keyboard 9 PS 2 mouse 9 scanner 7 9 serial 9 side speaker 9 telephone...

Page 125: ...ng 43 troubleshooting 81 84 See also optical drive E editing buttons 20 electrostatic discharge ESD 36 ergonomics 12 Error checking 70 Ethernet jack 9 Ethernet network connecting 15 jack 15 expansion...

Page 126: ...a 34 memory 41 peripheral devices 34 printer 34 scanner 34 side panel 37 system battery 54 Internet buttons 20 22 troubleshooting 88 92 J jacks See connections K keyboard buttons 20 21 cleaning 65 fea...

Page 127: ...ophone jack 7 9 Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity 3 model number 3 modem cable 15 connecting 16 dial up 16 DSL 15 jack 16 modem jack 9 monitor cleaning 65 troubleshooting 84 monitor port 9 mouse b...

Page 128: ...nate mode 7 indicator 7 source problems 14 Standby Resume 7 troubleshooting 96 turning off computer 17 turning on computer 16 power button 7 power supply replacing 55 printer installing 34 parallel po...

Page 129: ...ns 114 guidelines for troubleshooting 80 posture 14 reducing eye strain 13 setting up computer 13 sitting at computer 12 14 static electricity 36 scanner installing 34 screen troubleshooting 84 screen...

Page 130: ...Internet connection 88 92 keyboard 89 LCD panel 84 memory 90 memory card reader 90 monitor 84 mouse 95 network 85 95 passwords 95 power 96 printer 96 safety guidelines 80 screen 84 screen area 84 scr...

Page 131: ...131 www gateway com creating restore point 108 Windows Update 66 wired Ethernet troubleshooting 85 working safely 12 8512735 book Page 131 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 132: ...132 Index 8512735 book Page 132 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 133: ...8512735 book Page 133 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Page 134: ...MAN 6BAY MBTX PRO REF GDE R2 10 07 8512735 book Page 134 Thursday September 27 2007 1 03 PM...

Reviews: