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CHAPTER 5: Maintaining Your Computer

66

Transferring files and settings manually 

You can manually transfer your personal data files by copying 
them to removable media, such as a writable disc, an external 
hard drive, a network location, or a flash drive.

Finding your documents

Many programs save your personal data files in the 

Documents

 

or 

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 Vista, click 

(

Start

), then click 

Documents

. The 

Documents

 folder opens and displays 

many of your saved personal data files. Go to 

Step 4

.

- OR -

In Windows XP, click 

Start

, then click 

My Documents

The 

My Documents

 window opens and displays many of 

your saved personal data files. Go to 

Step 4

.

- OR -

In Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000, 
double-click the 

My Computer

 icon on the desktop. Go 

to the next step.

2

Double-click the 

C:\

 drive icon.

3

Double-click the 

Documents

 or 

My Documents

 folder. 

The 

My Documents

 window opens and displays many of 

your saved personal data files.

4

Copy your personal data files to removable media or to 
another computer on your network.

8513057.book  Page 66  Tuesday, May 6, 2008  9:35 AM

Summary of Contents for FX4710

Page 1: ...8513057 book Page a Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 2: ...8513057 book Page b Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 3: ...rt and injury from repetitive strain 14 Preparing power connections 14 Protecting from power source problems 14 Checking the voltage selection 15 Connecting to a broadband modem or network 15 Connecting a dial up modem 16 Starting your computer 16 Waking up your computer 17 Turning off your computer 17 Restarting rebooting your computer 18 Using the keyboard 19 Using the mouse 20 Using optical dri...

Page 4: ...or panel 40 Installing memory 41 Adding or replacing an optical disc drive 43 Replacing the memory card reader 45 Adding or replacing a hard drive 47 Adding or replacing an expansion card 48 Chapter 5 Maintaining Your Computer 51 Setting up a maintenance schedule 52 Creating system recovery discs 52 Caring for your computer 53 Cleaning your computer 54 Cleaning the exterior 54 Cleaning the keyboar...

Page 5: ...ernet and networking 72 Internet 72 Modem cable or DSL 73 Modem dial up 74 Networking 76 Power 77 Display 77 Printing 78 Optical discs 79 Memory card reader 80 Mouse 80 Keyboard 81 Files 81 Memory 83 Audio 84 Passwords 84 Expansion cards 85 Media Center 85 Checking for device problems 87 Recovering your system 87 Recovering pre installed software and drivers 88 Using Microsoft System Restore 94 Re...

Page 6: ...Contents iv Before calling Gateway Customer Care 99 Calling Customer Care 99 Appendix A Legal Notices 101 Index 111 8513057 book Page iv Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 7: ...R1 1 About This Reference About this guide Accessing the online User Guide Gateway contact information Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity For more information 8513057 book Page 1 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 8: ... Accessing the online User Guide In addition to this guide your User Guide has been included on your hard drive Your User Guide is an in depth easy to read manual that includes information on the following topics Help and technical support Using and customizing Windows and other software Controlling audio and video settings Using the Internet Protecting your files Playing and recording media Netwo...

Page 9: ...e of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes the product key code for your operating system If you ever reinstall Windows from the installation DVD you will need to enter these numbers to activate Windows 8513057 book Page 3 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 10: ...CHAPTER 1 About This Reference 4 8513057 book Page 4 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 11: ...CHAPTER2 5 Checking Out Your Computer Front Back 8513057 book Page 5 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 12: ...one jack Copy button Optical disc drive optional Video in jack optional IEEE 1394 FireWire port USB ports Power button Audio left in jack optional Audio right in jack optional Headphone jack Wireless network connection indicator green Bluetooth activity indicator blue IR remote control activity indicator red IR sensor 8513057 book Page 6 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 13: ... IEEE 1394 port Plug IEEE 1394 also known as Firewire devices such as a digital camcorder into this 6 pin IEEE 1394 port Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack Headphone jack Plug powered analog front speakers an external amplifier or headphones into this jack USB ports Plug USB Universal Serial Bus devices such as a USB external drive printer scanner camera keyboard or mouse into these ...

Page 14: ...PS 2 keyboard into this port PS 2 mouse port PS 2 keyboard port Voltage switch Power connector Ethernet network jack Audio in side speaker jack Case cover thumbscrew Headphone front speaker jack Microphone jack Rear surround speaker jack Center subwoofer jack USB ports Video card optional Wireless network card optional IEEE 1394 port TV tuner card optional Case cover thumbscrew HDMI jack optional ...

Page 15: ... this jack for digital sound Microphone jack pink plug Plug a microphone into this jack Headphone analog speakers jack green plug OR Front speakers jack This jack is user configurable for one of the following Headphone Plug headphones or amplified speakers into this jack Default Stereo out Plug your front left and right speakers into this jack For more information see Configuring the audio jacks o...

Page 16: ...t Line in jack blue plug OR Side speaker jack This jack is user configurable for one of the following Stereo in Plug an external audio input source such as a stereo into this jack so you can record sound on your computer Default Stereo out Plug your side left and right speakers into this jack For more information see Configuring the audio jacks on page 30 Video card optional Plug a VGA or DVI moni...

Page 17: ...work 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 Adjusting the volume Configuring the audio jacks Installing a printer scanner or other device 8513057 book Page 11 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 18: ...rallel 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 openings clear of obstructions Top of screen is not higher than eye level Feet are flat on the floor Hands and arms are parallel to the floor Screen is perpendicular to your line of sight 8513057...

Page 19: ...esk is the appropriate 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 the floor when you use the keyboard and touchpad If the desk is not adjustable or is too tall consider using an adjustable chair to control your arm s height above the keyboard Use an adjust...

Page 20: ...into your computer can increase to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage Protect your computer and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your computer An uninterruptible power supply UPS supplies battery power to your computer during a power failure Although you cannot run your computer for an ...

Page 21: ...omputer to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network To connect to a broadband modem or to an Ethernet network 1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack on the back of your computer 2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem DSL modem or network jack Caution If you set the voltage selection switch incorrectly your system will be damaged Make sure thi...

Page 22: ... connections 3 If you are starting your computer for the first time follow the on screen instructions to select the language and time zone and to create your first user account 4 Attach and turn on any USB or audio peripheral devices such as printers scanners and speakers If you need to attach a peripheral device to the parallel or serial ports turn off your computer first See the documentation th...

Page 23: ... it does turn off or slow down most system operations to save power and saves your desktop layout so the next time you restore power the programs are laid out just as you left them Waking your computer from a Sleep state is much faster than turning on your computer after it has been turned completely off Tip For more information about changing the power button mode see the Customizing chapter in y...

Page 24: ...puter 1 Click Start click the arrow next to the lock icon then click Shut Down The computer turns off 2 To completely disconnect all power such as for servicing internal components also disconnect the power cord Restarting rebooting your computer As a troubleshooting step you may need to restart reboot your computer To restart your computer 1 Click Start click the arrow next to the lock icon then ...

Page 25: ...musesdifferentfunctionkeysfordifferent purposes See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions Audio playback keys Press these keys to play your audio files and to adjust the volume Windows key Press this key to open the Windows Start menu This key can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like F Find Search R Run and E Computer Fn key Press t...

Page 26: ...use Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor and to copy cut and paste objects Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad NUM LOCK is turned on Feature Icon Description Scroll wheel Left button Right button 8513057 book Page 20 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 27: ...ay 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 Select an object on the computer display Position the pointer over the object Quickly press and release the left mouse button This is called clicking Start a program or open a file or folder Position the pointe...

Page 28: ...rtcut menu or find more information about an object on the display Position the pointer over the object Quickly press and release the right mouse button once This is called right clicking Move an object on the computer display Position the pointer over the object Press the left mouse button and hold it down Move drag the object to the appropriate part of the computer display Release the button to ...

Page 29: ...the drive s eject button then look on the front of the drive s disc tray for one or more of the following logos Important When you place a single sided disc in the tray make sure that the label side is facing up If the disc has two playable sides place the disc so the name of the side you want to play is facing up If your optical drive has this logo Yourdrivetype is Use your drive for CD Installin...

Page 30: ...playing DVDs accessing data and recording video and data to CDs and double layer DVD R discs Note To use the double layer capability of the double layer recordable DVD drive the blank DVDs you purchase must state Double Layer Dual Layer or DL Using other types of blank media will result in less capacity DVD RAM RW Installing programs playing audio CDs playing DVDs accessing data and recording vide...

Page 31: ...es several albums of music or several gigabytes of data can fit on a single disc DVDs can be played on a DVD player or a DVD drive equipped computer For more information about playing DVDs see your online User Guide Playing a Blu ray Disc Blu ray Disc is a high capacity optical disc that can store much more data than a DVD A dual layer Blu ray Disc can hold 50 GB of files about 23 hours of standar...

Page 32: ...o create video files from home 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 card reader You can use the optional memory card reader to transfer pictures from a digital camera to your computer You can also use the memory card reader to transfer data...

Page 33: ...ppropriate memory card slot 2 To access a file on the memory card click Start then click Computer Double click the drive letter for example the E drive then double click the file name To remove a memory card Pull the memory card out of the slot Caution Before inserting a memory card into a slot make sure that the slot is empty or you could damage the card reader Caution Remove the memory card from...

Page 34: ...f you are using external speakers turn the knob on the front of the speakers OR Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard For more information see Using the keyboard on page 19 To adjust the volume from Windows 1 Click Volume on the taskbar The volume control slider opens 2 Click and drag the slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume 3 To mute the volume click Mute To ...

Page 35: ... corner of the window to close it Tip Adjust the Windows Sounds slider to change system sounds volume independently of general volume such as the volume used for music and game sounds Help For more information aboutadjustingthe volume click Start then click Help and Support Type adjusting volume in the Search Help box then press ENTER 8513057 book Page 29 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 36: ...ur computer has the Realtek Sound Effect Manager installed double click the Sound Effect Manager icon on the taskbar The Realtek dialog box opens 4 Follow the on screen instructions to configure the audio jacks for your speaker setup Installing a printer scanner or other device Your computer has one or more of the following ports IEEE 1394 also known as Firewire Universal Serial Bus USB serial and...

Page 37: ...l prompt you to install any software the device needs After doing this you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time Parallel and serial port devices are not plug and play See the device documentation for detailed information and installation instructions Help For more information about installing peripheral devices click Start then click Help and Support Type installing devices in the S...

Page 38: ...CHAPTER 3 Setting Up and Getting Started 32 8513057 book Page 32 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 39: ...ge Opening the case Closing the case Replacing the color panel Installing memory Adding or replacing an optical disc drive Replacing the memory card reader Adding or replacing a hard drive Adding or replacing an expansion card 8513057 book Page 33 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 40: ... 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 exposur...

Page 41: ...d all peripheral device cables 3 Press the power button for ten seconds to drain any residual power from your computer 4 Remove the two thumbscrews on the back edge of the left side panel 5 Slide the side panel toward the back of your computer then pull the panel away from your computer Warning To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical voltages and moving parts turn off your computer thenunplugthe...

Page 42: ... on page 35 2 Remove the two Phillips screws on the back edge of the right side panel 3 Slide the side panel toward the back of your computer then pull the panel away from your computer Warning To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical voltages and moving parts turn off your computer thenunplugthe powercordandmodemcable before opening the case Phillips screw Phillips screw 8513057 book Page 36 Tue...

Page 43: ... right side panel on page 36 2 Press the three bezel release tabs on the left side of the computer then swing the left side of the bezel slightly away from the computer Tip The bezel is the front face piece of your computer that has the optical drive faces and the brand logo It must be removed for some upgrading tasks Bezel release tabs 8513057 book Page 37 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 44: ...Slide the tabs on the bezel into the slots on the front of the computer until the tabs snap into place 2 Replace the side panels that you removed previously by following the instructions in Replacing the side panels on page 39 Caution If the tabs were pressed correctly the bezel should be easily removed If it does not move easily make sure that the tabs have been pressed far enough to release the ...

Page 45: ... computer 2 Slide the side panels toward the front of the computer until the backs of the side panels are flush with the back of the computer 3 Secure the right side panel with the two Phillips screws you removed previously then secure the left side panel with the two thumbscrews you removed previously 4 Reconnect the cables and power cord 8513057 book Page 39 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 46: ... the front bezel 1 Remove the front bezel by following the instructions in Removing the front bezel on page 37 2 Press the lower panel release tabs up and press the upper panel release tabs inward The color panel should slide out easily Tabs Tabs 8513057 book Page 40 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 47: ...memory make sure that you install the correct type of memory module for your computer Your computer uses DIMM memory To install or replace a memory module 1 Remove the left side panel by following the instructions in Removing the left side panel on page 35 2 For more stability place your computer on its side To avoid scratching the case place it on a towel or other non abrasive surface 3 Find the ...

Page 48: ...in the memory slot and press the module firmly into the slot The tabs on the sides of the memory slot should secure the memory module automatically 6 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in Replacing the side panels on page 39 7 Return your computer to its upright position 8 Reconnect the cables and the power cord 9 Turn on your computer Windows starts and the Windows desktop appea...

Page 49: ...e the photo in Step 5 3 If you are replacing an existing drive disconnect the cables from the drive noting their locations and orientation You will reconnect the cables after you install the new drive 4 Note any jumper settings on the old drive and set the jumper on the new drive to be the same Tools You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or replace an optical drive Important The color and shape o...

Page 50: ... manufacturer s instructions 9 Replace the front bezel by following the instructions in Replacing the front bezel on page 38 10 Replace the side panels by following the instructions in Replacing the side panels on page 39 Important Make sure that the optical drive s screw holes are lined up with the correct holes in the drive bay If the drive screws are mounted through the wrong holes the front of...

Page 51: ... of the case between the power supply and the optical drive 3 Slide the top bezel toward the back of the computer about 3 4 inch then remove it from your computer Tools You need a Phillips screwdriver to replace the memory card reader Tip The top bezel is the plastic piece that forms the top of your computer case You must remove it to perform maintenance on the memory card reader Top bezel release...

Page 52: ...r into place then secure it with the screw you removed previously 7 Plug the appropriate cables into the card reader 8 Place the top bezel on top of the computer then slide the bezel toward the front of the computer until it clicks into place 9 Reinstall the front bezel by following the instructions in Replacing the front bezel on page 38 10 Reinstall the side panels by following the instructions ...

Page 53: ... cables noting their locations and orientation You will reconnect the cables after you install the new drive 3 If you are replacing a drive remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the hard drive cage then slide the old hard drive out of the cage Tools You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or replace a hard drive Drive data cable Drive power cable Hard drive screws 8513057 book Page 47 Tue...

Page 54: ... in Replacing the side panels on page 39 8 Reconnect all external cables and the power cord 9 Turn on your computer 10 If you are using the new hard drive as your primary drive install Windows using the operating system DVD that came with your computer For more information on restoring your system see Recovering your system on page 87 Adding or replacing an expansion card To add or replace an expa...

Page 55: ... bend the card sideways 6 If you have just replaced an expansion card reconnect the expansion card cables if any using your notes from Step 2 If you have added a new expansion card connect its cables according to its user guide 7 Secure the new expansion card to the case using the screw you removed previously 8 Replace the left side panel by following the instructions in Replacing the side panels ...

Page 56: ...CHAPTER 4 Upgrading Your Computer 50 8513057 book Page 50 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 57: ...tting 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 8513057 book Page 51 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 58: ...ctions see Preparing for software and device driver recovery on page 89 Maintenance task Weekly Monthly When needed Create system recovery discs As soon as possible one time only 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 drive X X Back up files X X X Clean computer case and peripheral devices X 8...

Page 59: ...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 temperatures that are comfortable for you Keep all liquids away from your computer When spilled onto computer components almost any liquid can result in expensive repairs that are not covered under a standard warr...

Page 60: ... lint 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 circulated through the vents on the case so keep the vents free of dust With your computer turned off and unplugged brush the dust away from the vents with a damp cloth Be careful not to drip any wat...

Page 61: ...or 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 cleaner to clean the monitor screen Squirt a little cleaner on the cloth never directly on the screen then wipe the screen with the cloth Cleaning the mouse If the mouse pointer begins moving erratically a...

Page 62: ... can always 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 only to the software and hardware on your computer For information on running Windows Update see Windows Update in your online User Guide Windows Update can also be controlled through the Windows ...

Page 63: ...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 start BigFix 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools then click BigFix 2 To learn more about BigFix click Help then click Tutorial 8513057 book Page 57 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 64: ...can use to check hard drive space delete unnecessary files defragment files and back up files Checking hard drive space To check hard drive space 1 Click Start then click Computer The Computer window opens Shortcut Start Computer right click drive Properties 8513057 book Page 58 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 65: ...ary files Delete unnecessary files such as temporaryfiles and files in the Recycle Bin to free hard drive space To delete unnecessary files 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools then click Disk Cleanup The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens Shortcut Start Computer right click drive Properties Disk Cleanup 8513057 book Page 59 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 66: ...s and marks flawed areas on the hard drive so Windows does not use them If you use your computer several hours every day you probably want to run Error checking once a week If you use yourcomputer less frequently once a month may be adequate Also use Error checking if you encounter hard drive problems To check the hard drive for errors 1 Click Start then click Computer The Computer window opens 2 ...

Page 67: ...rmation stored on the drive can improve hard drive performance While Disk Defragmenter is running do not use your keyboard or mouse because using them may continuously stop and restart the defragmenting process Also if you are connected to a network log off before starting Disk Defragmenter Network communication may stop the defragmentation process and cause it to start over Important Error checki...

Page 68: ...nd removing them from the hard drive frees space for new files on the hard drive It also protects you from losing important information if the hard drive 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 complete hard drive backup Help For more informat...

Page 69: ...click the Tools tab 3 Click Backup Now then click Run a file backup now 4 Follow the on screen instructions to select a backup storage location and the files and folders to back up Help For more information about backing up files click Start then click Help and Support Type backup in the Search Help box then press ENTER 8513057 book Page 63 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 70: ... Scheduler dialog box opens 2 Click Create Basic Task for basic tasks or click Create Task for more complex tasks then follow the on screen instructions to finish setting up and scheduling the task Important Your computer must be on during scheduled tasks If your computer is off scheduled tasks will not run Help For more information about scheduling tasks click Start then click Help and Support Ty...

Page 71: ...ograms on the new computer before running Windows Easy Transfer Windows Easy Transfer copies only the software s settings not the software itself to the new computer 2 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools then click Windows Easy Transfer The Windows Easy Transfer dialog box opens 3 Click Next click Start a new transfer then follow the on screen instructions to complete the transfer Im...

Page 72: ...ck Start then click Documents The Documents folder opens and displays many of your saved personal data files Go to Step 4 OR In Windows XP click Start then click My Documents The My Documents window opens and displays many of your saved personal data files Go to Step 4 OR In Windows 98 Windows Me or Windows 2000 double click the My Computer icon on the desktop Go to the next step 2 Double click th...

Page 73: ...click Start then click Search The Search Results window opens OR 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 Results window opens 2 Type the filename you want to search for then press ENTER The search results are displayed 3 To learn about more search op...

Page 74: ...CHAPTER 5 Maintaining Your Computer 68 8513057 book Page 68 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 75: ...networking Power Display Printing Optical discs Memory card reader Mouse Keyboard Files Memory Audio Passwords Expansion cards Media Center Checking for device problems Recovering your system Technical support 8513057 book Page 69 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 76: ...to your computer Your computer was dropped The case was damaged Instead unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer technician Warning Never open your computer case while your computer is turned on and while the modem cable network cable and power cord are connected Warning Make sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing internal components For more information about preventin...

Page 77: ...age on page 82 Operating system not found See You get an Operating system not found error message on page 82 Unable to locate host See You see an Unable to locate host message and are unable to browse the Internet on page 72 Download Error See Youget a Download Error message when Media Center tries to update the Program Guide on page 86 Memory error See You see a Memory error message on page 83 No...

Page 78: ... your ISP technical support to determine whether the Internet outage is widespread a problem they are trying to solve You see an Unable to locate host message and are unable to browse the Internet You may have typed the URL Web address incorrectly Check the URL then enter it again or try a different URL Your Web browser may be experiencing problems Close your Web browser then restart it If that do...

Page 79: ...alid e mail address consists of a user name the symbol and the Internet domain name of the Internet service provider ISP or company that hosts that user E mail addresses never contain spaces and are not case sensitive If possible contact the intended recipient by using another method then ask them to verify their e mail address Modem cable or DSL My computer cannot connect to the Internet Make sur...

Page 80: ...properties 1 Click Start type modem then press ENTER 2 If the Location Information dialog box opens enter the information for your area then click OK 3 Click the Dialing Rules tab click the location from which you are dialing then click Edit 4 Make sure that all settings are correct Check for line noise scratchy crackling or popping sounds which is a common problem that can cause the modem to conn...

Page 81: ...modem connection Restart your computer Run Windows modem diagnostics To run modem diagnostics 1 Click Start type modem then press ENTER 2 Click the Modems tab then click Properties 3 Click the Diagnostics tab then click Query Modem If information about the modem appears the modem passed diagnostics If no modem information is available a white screen appears with no data or if you get an error such...

Page 82: ...ers make sure that all computers have different IP addresses For home networks IP addresses should be 192 168 N N where N is a number you assign between 0 and 254 The first N should be the same for all computers on your network and the second N should be different for all computers on your network Your wired network is running slower than you expect If your network is running slower than you expec...

Page 83: ... Guide The computer is on but there is no picture Make sure that the computer is not in Standby power saving mode Make sure that the monitor is connected to a power outlet and to a video port on your computer then make sure that the monitor is turned on If the monitor is on its power LED should be on Adjust the monitor s brightness and contrast controls For more information see the monitor s docum...

Page 84: ...is plugged into an AC power source The printer is on but will not print Make sure that the Print to file box is not checked in the Print dialog box If the printer you want to print to is not the default printer make sure that you have selected it in the printer setup To set a default printer 1 Click Start type printer then press ENTER Control Panel opens and lists available printers 2 Right click ...

Page 85: ...r For instructions see Checking for device problems on page 87 Your computer may be experiencing some temporary memory problems Restart your computer An audio disc does not produce sound Make sure that the Windows volume controls are turned up and mute is turned off and that any attached speakers are turned on and connected correctly Make sure that the disc is label side up and make sure that the ...

Page 86: ...have been temporarily uninstalled using the Remove Hardware icon in the system tray Restart your computer and it will recognize the card reader again Mouse The mouse does not work Make sure that the mouse cable is plugged in correctly Restart your computer Try a mouse you know is working to make sure that the mouse port works The mouse works erratically Clean the mouse by wiping the bottom with a ...

Page 87: ...before using it again If the keyboard does not work after it dries you may need to replace it Files You get an Insufficient disk space error message Delete unnecessary files from the hard drive using Disk Cleanup For instructions see Deleting unnecessary files on page 59 Empty the Recycle Bin by right clicking the Recycle Bin icon then clicking Empty Recycle Bin Save your files to another drive If...

Page 88: ...bjected to static electricity or physical shock you may need to reinstall the operating system See Recovering your system on page 87 You get an Operating system not found error message Your computer is unable to detect the hard drive Check cable connections For instructions on opening your computer case see Opening the case on page 35 A USB flash drive or a USB portable music player is connected t...

Page 89: ...uctions 5 Click OK Memory You see a Memory error message Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool Click Start type Memory Diagnostic Tool then press ENTER Click Restart now and check for problems Your computer restarts and runs the memory diagnostics Important Error checking cannot scan a drive while the drive is being used If you try to check your hard drive for errors you see a prompt asking you if you wa...

Page 90: ...check the speaker connections See your speakers user guide for more troubleshooting tips Make sure that your computer suniversal audiojacks are configured correctly For more information see Configuring the audio jacks on page 30 If you are trying to play an audio disc see Optical discs on page 79 Passwords Your computer does not accept your password Windows passwords are case sensitive Make sure t...

Page 91: ...s can lower video quality Check all cable connections Display type The Media Center is best viewed on computer displays Other types of display devices including TVs may provide lower quality video Type of connection used The connection type has an affect on the video quality Your computer has one or more video outputs Use the highest quality output your TV and computer supports A V cables basic S ...

Page 92: ...lay s user guide You need to burn programs that were recorded with your computer to a DVD using Media Center Media Center saves recorded programs in the DVR MS format You can burn a DVR MS file to a DVD with DVD recording burning software and with Media Center itself For more information see the Media Center online help You want to play recorded programs on other computers A DVR MS file recorded t...

Page 93: ...updated driver software and follow the on screen prompts OR To check for specific problems right click the device then click Properties and examine the information within each of the tabs Write down this information for future reference and troubleshooting It may also be useful information to have available if you call Customer Care Recovering your system You can solve most computer problems by fo...

Page 94: ...drive or if your hard drive is completely erased or corrupted your only option for system recovery may be to reinstall Windows from the Windows DVD then recover your pre installed software and device drivers using recovery discs that you created Your computer must have a DVD compatible drive to use these options To re install Windows using the Windows DVD see Recovering your system using the Windo...

Page 95: ...ivers in case you need to use them later for a complete system recovery Your computer must have a recordable disc drive to perform this procedure To create discs for recovering pre installed software and drivers 1 Click Start All Programs Gateway Recovery Center then click Gateway Recovery Center The Gateway Recovery Center opens 2 Click Applications and drivers external media then click Next The ...

Page 96: ... completed 6 If multiple discs are required insert the additional blank disks when prompted 7 When the process is finished the Congratulations window opens 8 Click Finish 9 Remove your final disc then label all of the discs and store them in a safe place Important Use a permanent marker to label each disc Software and Driver Recovery along with a shortdescription of which computer the discs are fo...

Page 97: ...k Application recovery OR To recover device drivers that were pre installed click Hardware then click Device driver recovery Important If you have recently reinstalled Windows or installed a new hard drive and your Start menu does not contain Gateway Recovery Center as an option you must recover your software and drivers using software and driver recovery discs you have created For instructions se...

Page 98: ...y disc does not offer the software or driver you need to recover try another disc To recover software and drivers using recovery discs 1 Insert a software and driver recovery disc into a CD or DVD drive If an AutoPlay dialog box appears click Run Grc_Vista exe If an AutoPlay dialog box does not appear and Gateway Recovery Center does not start open Computer and run the file Grc_Vista exe on the di...

Page 99: ... recover pre installed device drivers click Device driver recovery then click the type of driver you want to recover 3 Click Next 4 If the software or driver is not shown on the list and you have a multiple disc set of recovery discs close Gateway Recovery Center and try another disc 8513057 book Page 93 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 100: ...ach day and also each time you install software or device drivers You can also create a restore point manually For instructions see Manually creating a restore point on page 95 To restore using Microsoft System Restore 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance then click Backup and Restore Center The Backup and Restore Center opens Help For more information about using Microsoft System Re...

Page 101: ... A confirmation message box appears 4 Click Yes Your system is restored using the restore point you specified This process may take several minutes and may restart your computer Manually creating a restore point To manually create a restore point 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance then click Backup and Restore Center The Backup and Restore Center opens 8513057 book Page 95 Tuesday ...

Page 102: ... The restore point is created 5 Click OK Recovering your system to its factory condition If your computer s problems are not solved by any of the other recovery options you may need to recover its hard drive to its factory condition This process is called a factory recovery Caution A complete factory recovery deletes everything on your hard drive then reinstalls Windows and any pre installed softw...

Page 103: ...dialog box opens 4 Select a language and keyboard layout then click Next 5 Click the User name box to select a Windows user account click in the Password box and type the user account s password if any then click Next The System Recovery Options menu opens 6 Click Restore Application The Welcome to Gateway System Recovery window opens 7 Click Next 8 To perform a recovery with data backup recommend...

Page 104: ...evice drivers To completely re install Windows 1 If you can still run Windows back up your personal files and create a set of software and driver recovery discs if you have not already done so For instructions see To create discs for recovering pre installed software and drivers on page 89 2 Insert the Windows DVD into one of your computer s DVD capable drives then turn on or restart your computer...

Page 105: ...software from Gateway see the manufacturer s documentation and technical support resources If you have how to questions about using a program see Its online Help Its printed documentation Its publisher s Web site See the troubleshooting section of this chapter Have your customer ID serialnumber and order number available along with a detailed description of your problem including the exact text of...

Page 106: ...CHAPTER 6 Troubleshooting 100 8513057 book Page 100 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 107: ...APPENDIXA 101 Legal Notices Important safety information Regulatory compliance statements Environmental information Notices 8513057 book Page 101 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 108: ...nings Make sure you provide adequate space at least 6 inches 15 cm around the system for ventilation when you set up your work area Never insert objects 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 grounding type outlet This is a safety feature I...

Page 109: ...ents United States of 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 FCC rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio ...

Page 110: ...the telephone network or premises wiring using a compatible modular jack which is Part 68 compliant See installation instructions for details The Ringer Equivalence Number REN is used to determine the number of devices which may be connected to the telephone line Excessive RENs on a telephone line may result in the devices not ringing in response to an incoming call In most areas the sum of RENs s...

Page 111: ...rk protective operation and safety requirements The Department does not guarantee the equipment will operate to the users satisfaction Before installing this equipment users should make sure that it is permissible to be connected to thefacilitiesofthelocaltelecommunicationscompany Theequipmentmustalsobeinstalledusing anacceptablemethod of connection In somecases theinsidewiring associatedwith asin...

Page 112: ...e to an antenna discharge unit size of grounding conductors location of antenna 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 Electrical Code NEC in particular Section 820 93 Grounding of Outer Conductive Shield of a Coaxial Cable Lightningprotection Fo...

Page 113: ...ken to 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 Part H 3 Ground clamps 4 Grounding conductors NEC Section 810 21 5 Antenna discharge unit NEC Section 810 20 6 Ground clamp 7 Antenna lead in wire 2 1 5 3 7 6 4 Antenna and satellite grounding 85130...

Page 114: ...standingand using the energy saving features of this 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 can reduce the amount of natural resources needed to produce electrical and electronic equipment minimize the use of landfills for the disposal of ...

Page 115: ... registered 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 copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U S patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners Use of this ...

Page 116: ...APPENDIX A Legal Notices 110 8513057 book Page 110 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

Page 117: ...locating drive 7 broadband connection 15 modem 15 broadband connection connecting 10 C cable modem 15 connecting 10 troubleshooting 73 card reader 7 cards adding expansion 48 inserting memory card 27 installing memory card 27 removing memory card 27 replacing expansion 48 slots 26 troubleshooting add in card 85 troubleshooting expansion 85 troubleshooting memory card 80 TV tuner 10 types of memory...

Page 118: ...t 10 15 external audio 9 10 external speakers 9 Firewire 7 9 30 front speaker 9 headphone 7 9 i Link 7 9 IEEE 1394 7 9 31 keyboard 7 8 9 line in 9 10 line out 9 microphone 7 9 modem 9 mouse 7 9 network 10 15 power 8 power cord 8 printer 7 9 PS 2 keyboard 8 PS 2 mouse 9 rear speaker 10 scanner 7 9 side speaker 10 subwoofer 10 telephone 10 universal aduio 30 universal audio 84 USB 7 9 video camera 7...

Page 119: ...ng 26 troubleshooting 79 DVD drive adding 43 identifying 24 replacing 43 See also optical drive troubleshooting 79 E electrostatic discharge ESD 34 ergonomics 12 Error checking 60 83 Ethernet jack 10 Ethernet network connecting 15 jack 15 expansion card adding 48 replacing 48 external audio jack 9 10 F fan variable speed 16 files backing up 62 deleting 59 finding 67 opening 21 transferring 66 trou...

Page 120: ... audio left 7 audio right 7 See connections video 7 K keyboard buttons 19 cleaning 55 features 19 PS 2 port 8 troubleshooting 81 USB port 7 9 keys and buttons application 20 audio playback 19 Fn 19 function 19 mouse 21 navigating 20 numeric 20 Windows 19 L labels Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity 3 model number 2 99 serial number 2 99 LCD panel cleaning 55 troubleshooting 77 79 line in jack 9 ...

Page 121: ... 55 clicking 21 double clicking 21 moving pointer 20 21 moving screen objects 22 opening files folders and programs 21 pointer 21 PS 2 port 9 right clicking 22 scroll wheel 21 selecting screen objects 21 troubleshooting 80 USB port 7 9 moving files from old computer 65 66 pointer 21 screen objects 22 settings from old computer 65 MP3 player memory cards 26 multimedia adjusting volume 28 playing Bl...

Page 122: ...y discs 89 92 re installing 88 PS 2 port keyboard 8 mouse 9 R RAM See memory rebooting computer 18 recordable drive 7 recording audio files 26 optical discs 26 recovering defaults 96 drivers 88 programs 88 software 88 system 87 Windows 88 with Gateway Recovery Center 91 with Windows DVD 98 with Windows System Restore 94 recovery discs creating 89 drivers 89 92 programs 89 92 software 89 92 using 9...

Page 123: ...ons 102 settings transferring 65 66 shortcut menus accessing 22 shortcuts opening menu 22 shutting down computer 17 18 side panel removing 35 36 replacing 35 36 sleep mode 17 using 18 software recovery discs 89 92 re installing 88 sound adjusting 28 controls 28 muting 28 speaker jack analog 9 center 10 rear 10 side 10 speakers configuring 30 Standby mode 7 starting computer 7 16 programs 21 static...

Page 124: ...n 77 technical support 99 telephone support 99 turning off computer 7 17 18 turning on computer 7 16 TV tuner card 10 U uninterruptible power supply UPS 14 updating Windows 56 UPS 14 USB port 7 9 30 V video HDMI jack 9 playing 25 video jack 7 voltage checking selection 15 selection switch 15 volume adjusting 28 adjusting dial up modem 75 controls 28 muting 28 W waking computer 17 Windows Product K...

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Page 126: ...MAN GRSHWN3 FX GWREC REFGDE R0 5 08 8513057 book Page 120 Tuesday May 6 2008 9 35 AM ...

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