eMachines W3650 Reference Manual

Computer
Reference Guide

Contents

Chapter 1: About This Reference . . . . . . . . . . . 1

About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Accessing the online User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

eMachines contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Computer . . . . . 5

Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Chapter 3: Setting U p and Getting Started . . 11

Working safely and comf ortably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Avoiding discomfort 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 . . . . . . . . . .16

Connecting a dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Using optical drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Loading an optical disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Identifying optical drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Installing a printer, scanner, or other device . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

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Contents

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer . . . . . . . 29

Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Adding or replacing an optical disc drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Adding or replacing a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Replacing the heat sink and processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Adding or replacing an expansion card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Replacing the system board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . 49

Setting up a maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Cleaning the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Cleaning optical discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Using BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Deleting unnecessary files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Scheduling maintenance tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard . . . . . . . . . 62

Transferring files and settings manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

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Transferring Internet settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Installing your old printer or scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Installing your old programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Expansion cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Optical disc drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Before calling Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

eMachines contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

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Contents

Appendix A: Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

iv

Chapter 1

About Thi s Ref er ence

• About this guide

• Accessing the online Us er Guide

• eMachines contac t inf ormation

• Microsoft C ertificate of Authenticity

• For more inf ormation

1

Chapter 1: Ab out Th is Refe rence

About this guide

This guide incl udes information and mainte nance instructions
that are spec if ic t o y our mod el of computer. Some illustra tions
in this guide may look different than your computer because
hardware options and port locations may vary. For all other
computer information, see the online User Guid e.

For more information

For more information about your computer, visit eMachines’
Support page at www.emachines.com
shown on your computer’s label. The Support page also has
links to additional documentation and detailed specifications.

or the Web address

Acces sing the online Us er Guide

In ad d i t i on to th is g u i de, th e User Guide has been included on
your hard drive. The User Guide is an in-dep th, 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 rec ording media

To a c c es s t h e User Guide:

• Click Start, All Programs, then click eMachines

Documentation.

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eMachine s contact inf ormation

The label on the side of your computer case contains
information that identifies your computer model and serial
number. Customer Care will need this information if you call
for assistance.

Technical Support
telephone number

Serial number

Micr osof t Cer tificate of Authenticity

The Micros of t C er tificat e of A uthentic ity label f ound on t he t op
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.

3

Chapter 1: Ab out Th is Refe rence

4

Chapter 2

Checking Out Your Computer

• Front

• Back

5

Front

DVD/CD drive

DVD/CD drive

(optional)

Memory card reader

(optional)

Power button/

power ind ica tor

Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Computer

USB por ts
Micropho ne ja ck

Headphone jack

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Component Icon Description

DVD/CD d rive Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install

Memory card
reader

Power
button/power
indicator

USB ports Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices (such as

Microph one j ack Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is

Headphone jack Plug powered, analog front speakers, an

games and programs, watch DVDs, and store
large file s onto r ecordable di scs (depen ding on
drive ty pe). This dri v e may be a CD , recor dable
CD, DV D, re co rd ab le DVD, B lu - ray , o r H D DVD
drive. For more information about your drive,
see “Using optical drives” on page23.

Insert a me mory card from a digita l came ra,
MP3 player, PDA, cellular telephone, or other
device into the memory card reader.

Press this button to turn the power on or off.
You can also configure the power button to
operate in Standby/Resume mode or
Hibernate mode. The power indicator lights
when the computer is turned on.

a USB external dri ve, printer, scanner, camera,
keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For more
information about using USB ports, see

“Installing a printer, scanner, or other device”
on page 27.

color-coded pink.

external amplifier, or headphones into this
jack. This jack is color-coded green.

7

Back

Important

Your computer’s hardware options and port locations may vary from this

illustration.

Voltage switch

Power connector

Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Computer

Case cover thumbscrew

PS/2 keyboard port

Monitor (VGA) port

IEEE 1394/FireWire™ port

USB po rt s

S/PDIF jack (optional)

Microphone jack

Headphone/front

speaker jack

TV tuner

(optional)

Wireless network antenna (optional)

Wireless net work antenn a
connectors (optional)

PS/2 mouse port
Parallel port

Ethernet (network) jack
Center/subwoofer jack

Surround L/R speaker jack
Audio in/side speaker jack

Case cover thumbscrew
Video card (optional)

Modem (line) jack
Telephone jack

Component Icon Description

Vol t ag e sw it ch The switch is preset at the factory. Make

sure that this is set to the correct voltage for
your area. F or mo r e information on setting
this corre ctly, see “Checking the voltage

selection” on page15.

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Component Icon Description

Pow er connector Plug the power co rd into thi s connect or . F or

PS/2 keyboard port Plug a PS/2 keyboard into this port.

Monitor (VGA) port Plug a VGA (blue connector) monitor cable

IEEE 1 394/ FireWire™
port

USB ports Plug USB (UniversalSerial Bus) devices

S/PDIF output jack
(optional)

Microphone jack
(pink plug)

Headphone/analog
speakers jack (green
plug)

-OR­Front s pe ake rs ja ck

more inf ormation on connecting po wer , s ee

“Preparing pow e r connec tions ” on page14.

into this port.
Plug IEEE1394 (also known as Firewire™)

devices (such as a digital camcorder) into
this 6-pin IEEE1394 port. For more
information, see “Installing a printer,

scanner, or other device” on page27.

(such as a U SB Iome ga™ Z ip™ dr i v e, printer,
scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) i nto
these port s. For m ore inform ation , see

“Installing a printer, scanner, or other
device” on page 27.

Plug an optical cable from an amplifier or
entertainment system into this jack for
digital sound.

Plug a microphone into this jack.

This jack is u ser configura ble for one of the
following:
Headphone: Plug headph ones or amplified
speakers into this jack (Default).
Stereo out: Plug your front left and right
speakers into th is j ack.
For more information, see “Configuring the

audio jacks” on page26.

TV tuner (optional) Plug a video tuner or antenna into this

Wireless netwo rk
antenna (optional)
and connectors

Case thumbscrew Remove this screw before opening the case.
PS/2 mouse port Plug a P S/2 m ouse in to this port.

optional jack.
Connect this antenna to your wireless

network antenna card (optional).

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Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Computer

Component Icon Description

Parallel port Plug a par allel de vice (such as a printer)

into this port.

Ethernet (net work)
jack

Center/subwoofer
jack (orange plug)
(optional)

Surround L/R
speaker jack
(black plug)

Audio in/side
speaker jack (blue
plug)

-OR­Side speaker jack

Video card (optional) Plug a VGA (blue connector) or DVI (white

Modem jack
(optional)

Plug an Etherne t ne t work cable or a device
(such as a DSL or cable modem for a
broadband Internet connection) into this
jack. For more information, see “Learning
about the Internet” in the online User Guide.

Plug your center speaker and subwoofer
into this jack.
For more information, see “Configuring the

audio jacks” on page26.

Plug your rear right and left speakers into
this j ack.
For more information, see “Configuring the

audio jacks” on page26.

This jack is u ser configurab le 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
speaker s into th is j ack.
For more information, see “Configuring the

audio jacks” on page26.

connector ) monit or into a port on this card,
if installed.

Plug a modem cable int o this jack. F or mo re
information, see “Connecting a dial-up

modem” on page16.

Telephone jack
(optional)

10

Plug the cord from your telephone into this
jack.

Chapter 3

Setting Up and

GettingStarted

• Working safe ly and comf ortably

• Preparing pow er connect ions

• Connect ing to a br oadband modem

or network

• Connect ing a dial-up modem

• Starting y our computer

• T urning off your comput er

• Restar ting (rebooting) y our

computer

• Using the keyboard

• Using the mouse

• Using optical driv es

• Adjusting the volume

• Configuring t he audio jacks

• Installing a printer, scanner , or other

device

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Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

Wo rking safel y and comfortably

Before using your computer, follow these general guidelines
for setting up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding
discomfort and strain:

• Keep hands and arms parallel 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
leve.

• 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

Hands and arms are

parallel to the floor

Screen is perpendicular to
your line of si ght

12

Feet are flat on the floor

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Reduc ing e y e strain

Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the
monitor screen or shine directly into your eyes.

• Position the comput er desk and screen so you can avoid

glare on your screen and light shining directly into your
eyes. Reduce glare by installing shades or curtains on
windows, and by installing a glare screen filter.

• Use soft, indirect lighting in your work area. Do not use

your computer in a dark room.

• Set paper holders at the same height and distance as the

monitor.

• Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for

long periods of time. Ev ery 10 or 1 5 minute s, look around
the room, and try to focus on distant objects.

Setting up your comp uter de sk and chair

When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make
sure that the desk is the appropriat e 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 adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes

your weight evenly, and keeps your body relaxed.

• Position y our chair s o the k ey board is at or slig htly below

the lev el of y our elbow . Thi s position lets y our s houlders
relax while you type.

• Adjust the chair height, adjust the f orward tilt of the s eat,

or use a footrest t o distribute your weight evenly on the
chair and relieve pressure on the back of your thighs.

• Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower

curve of your spine. You can use a pillow or cushion to
provide extra back support.

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Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

Sitting at y our comput er

• Avoid bending, arching, or angling your wrists. Make

sure that they are in a relaxed position when you type.

• Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back

straight so your knees, hips, and elbows form right
angles when you work.

• Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.

• Avoid twisting your torso or neck.

Av oiding discomf or t and injury fr om r epetitiv e strain

• Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.

• Take breaks to change your position, stretch your

muscles, and relieve your eyes.

• Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a

variety of tasks.

Preparing po wer connec tions

Prot ecting f rom po wer s ource pr oblems

Warning

High voltages c a n e nter your co mputer through both t he power c ord and
the modem conne ction. Pro tect y ou r com puter by using a surge protec tor. If you
have a telephone modem, use a surge protector that has a modem jack. If you
have a cable modem, use a surge protector that has an antenna/cable TV jack.
During an electrical storm, unplug both the surge protector and the modem.

During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming
into your computer can incr ease to f ar above normal levels and
cause data loss or s y stem damage. Protec t y our comput er 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 comput er during a pow er f ailure . Although y ou cannot
run your computer for an extended period of time wi t h a UPS,
a UPS lets you run your computer long enough to save your
work and shut down your computer normally.

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Checking the voltage selection

Caution

If you set the voltage selection switch incorrectly, your system will be
damaged. Make sure this switch is set correctly fo r your location before turning
on your computer. In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal
115 volts at 60 Hz. The power supply should always be set to this when your
computer is operating in the United States. In other areas of the world, such as
Europe, the utility power is supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your computer is
operating in an environment such as this, the voltage switch should be moved
to 23 0 .

The power sup ply, a component built into your computer,
provides power to the system board, add-in cards, and
peripheral devices. The power supply’s voltage selection for
your location is ty picall y se t at t he f ac t ory, but you can change
it to match the electrical service available in your usage area
(such as while in another country) . Use the power selection
switch on t he back of your computer to set the voltage to 115V
or 230V.

To set the voltage selection switch:

1 Disconnect your computer’s power cable.
2 Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the

voltage selection switch to the correct voltage position.
The switc h is locat ed on the back of y our computer, near
the power cable connector. For the locati on, see “Back”

on page 8.

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Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

Connec ting to a br oadband modem or netw ork

Important

Your computer may be equipped with a built-in Ethernet (network) jack.
For information about setting up a wired or wireless Ethernet network, see the
online Us er G ui d e.

You can connect your computer to a cable or DSL (broadband)
modem or to a wired Ethernet network.

To connect to a broadband modem or to an Eth ernet

network:

1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network

jack on the back of your computer. For the location,
see “B ack” on page 8.

2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable

modem, DSL modem, or network jack.

Connec ting a dial-up modem

16

Warning

To reduce the ri sk of fire, use only N o. 26 AWG or l arger
telecommunications l ine cord.

Your computer may have a 56K modem that you can use with
a st an dard tel ep ho ne li ne to co nn ect to th e i nte rnet or fax
documents.

To connect the modem:

1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem

jack on the modem at the back of your computer. For
the loca tion, se e “Back” on page8.

2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a t elephone

wall jack. (The modem will not work with digital or PBX
telephone lines.)

3 If you want, you can connect a telephone to the PHONE

jack on the modem on the back of your computer.

www.emachines.com

Starting y our computer

To start your computer:

1 Connect the power, network, mouse, keyboard, and

monitor cables to your computer according to the setup
poster.

2 Press the power button on the front of your computer.

If your computer does not turn on, check the power
cable connections.

Important

Yo ur computer has a built-in, variable-speed fan. In additi on, y o ur
computer uses a powerful processor which produces heat and has its
own cooling fan. Both the system fan and processor fan can run at
different speeds at times to ensure correct system cooling. You may
notice an increas e in the fan noise when the fan is running at high speed
and a decrease in the fan noise when it switches to normal speed.

3 If you are starting you r computer for the first time,

follow the on-screen instructions to sel e ct the language
and time zone and to create your first user account.

4 Attach and turn on any USB or audio periphera l devices,

such as printers, scanners, and speakers. If you need to
attach a peri pheral device to the p aralle l port , turn o ff
your computer first. See the documentation that came
with each device for its setup instructions.

5 To open your computer’s main menu, click Start. From

that menu, you can run programs and search for files.
For more information on using your computer’ s menus,
see “Using Window s” and “Customi zing Wi ndow s” i n the
online User G uid e.

Waking up y our comput er

Tip

For more information about changing the power button mode, see the

“Custom izin g Wi nd ows ” ch ap ter in the on li ne User G ui de.

When you have not used your computer for several minutes,
it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in
Standby mode, the power indicator on the power button
flashes.

If your computer is in Standby mode, move the mouse, press
a key on the keyboard, or pre ss the power button to “wake” it
up.

17

Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

T ur ning off y our computer

Warning

When you turn off your computer, certain components in the power
supply and system board remain energized. In order to remove all electrical
power from your computer, unplug the power cord and modem cable from the
wall outlets. We recommend disconnecting the power cord and modem cable
when your computer will not be used for long periods.

Important

If for some re ason you cannot use the Shut Down option in Windows to
turn off y our c ompu ter, press an d hold the power button for about five seconds,
then re le ase it .

To turn off your computer:

1 Click Start, then click Tur n O ff C o mp u te r.
2 Click Turn O ff.
3 If for some reason you cannot use Windows to turn off

your computer, press and hold the power button for
about five second s. The computer turns off.

4 To comp let ely dis connect a ll pow er (such a s f or serv icing

internal components), also disconnect the power cord.

Re starting (rebooting) y our computer

If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse
input, you may need to restart (reboot) your computer.

To r e s ta r t yo u r co m p u te r :

1 Click Start, then click Tur n O ff C o mp u te r.
2 Click Restart.
3 As a part of th e regul ar start up pro cess, a p rogram to

check the disk status runs automatically. When the
checks are finished, Windows starts.

18

www.emachines.com

Using t he ke yboar d

The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons.
Your keyboard also has status indicators that show which
keyboard feature is active.

Enhanced keyboard

Editing buttons

Function keys Indicators

Audio playback buttons Navigation keys

Windows keys Application key

Internet
buttons

Directional keys

Standard k eyboard

Function keys

Indicators

Navigation keys

Numeric keypad

Internet buttons

Windows keys Application key

Directional keys

Numeric keypad

19

Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

Feature Icon Description

Editing bu ttons Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.
Function keys Press these keys to start program actions. Each

Audio playback
buttons

Internet buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet home

Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the

Indicators Show if your N

Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows

Application key Press t his key to access s hor tcut menus and help

Directional keys Press these keys to move th e curs or up, down,

program u ses diff erent func tion k eys f or diff erent
purposes. See the program documentation to
find out more about the function key actions.

Press these buttons to play your audio files and
to ad jus t the vol um e.

page, search, or e-mail programs.

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.

UM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK

keys are activated. Press the corresponding key
to activate the function.

Start menu. These keys can also be used in
combination wit h ot her keys to open utilities like
F (Find/Search), R (Run), and E(Computer).

assistants in Windows.

right, o r left.

Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the

numeric keypad (NUMLOCK) is turned on.

20

www.emachines.com

Using t he mouse

Right button

Left button

The mouse is a device that controls the pointer movement on
the computer display. This illustration shows the standard
mouse.

As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the display
moves in the same direction.

Scroll wheel

21

Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

You can use the left and right bu ttons on the mouse to select
objects on the display. You can use the scroll whe el on the
mouse to move through a document. This feature is not
available in all programs.

To... Do this...

Move the point er
on the compute r
display

Select an object
on the compute r
display

Start a program
or open a file or
folder

Access a
shortcut menu
or find more
information
about an obj ect
on the display.

Move an object
on the compute r
display.

Move the mouse around. If yo u
reach the edge of your mouse
pad and need to move the
mouse farther, l ift the mouse
and place it in the middle of the
mouse pad, then continue
moving the mouse.

Position the pointer over the
object. Quickly press and
release the left mouse button.
This is called clicking.

Position the pointer over the
object. Quickly press and
release the left mouse button
twice. This is called
double-clicking.

Position the pointer over the
object. Quickly press and
release the right mouse button
once. This is called
right-clicking.

Position the pointer over the
object. Press the left mouse
button and hold it down. Move
(drag) the ob ject to th e
appropria te part of the
computer display. Release the
button to drop the object where
you want it. This is called
clicking and dragging.

22

For more information about how to adjust the double-click
speed, pointer speed, right-hand or left-hand configuration,
and other mouse settings, see the “Customizing Windows”
chapter in the online Use r Gu id e. For instructions on how to
clean the mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on page53.

www.emachines.com

Using optical dr iv es

Features

Your optical drive has the following basic components:

• Activity indicator LED

• Manual eject hole

• Eject bu tton

Loading an optical disc

To insert an optical disc:

1 Press the eject button on the optical disc drive.

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.

2 Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up.
3 Press the eject button to close the tray.

Identifying optical driv e types

Your computer may contain one of the following drive types.
Look on the front of the drive for one or more of the fol lo wing
logos:

If your optical drive has
this logo...

Y our drive type
is...

CD

CD-RW

DVD/CD-RW

Use your drive for...

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, and accessing data.

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, accessing data, and
creatin g CDs .

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, accessing data,
creating CDs, and pla y in g D VDs.

23

Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

If your optical drive has
this logo...

Y our drive type
is...

DVD

DVD+RW

DVD R/ RW

Double layer
DVD+RW

Use your drive for...

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs, and
accessing data.

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs,
accessing data, and recording
video and data to CDs and
DVD+ R o r DV D+ RW di sc s.

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs,
accessing data, and recording
video and data to CDs and
DVD+ R, DV D +RW, DV D- R, and
DVD- RW d is cs .

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs,
accessing data, and recording
video and data to CDs and
double layer DVD+R discs.
Note: To use the doub le layer
capability of the double layer
recordable DVD drive, the blank
DVDs you purchase must sta te
Double Layer, Dual Layer , or DL.
Using other types of blank
media will result in less
capacity.

24

RECORDER

DVD-RAM/-RW

Blu-ray Disc

HD-DVD

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs,
accessing data, and recording
video and data to CDs and
DVD- RA M, DVD -R , o r DV D- RW
discs.

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs,
playing Blu-r ay Disc s, accessing
data, and recording video and
data to CDs, DVD-RAM, DVD-R,
DVD-RW, and Blu-ray discs.

Installing programs, playing
audio CDs, playing DVDs and
HD-DVDs, accessing data, and
recording vi deo an d data to
CDs, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, D VD-RW,
and HD-DVD discs.

www.emachines.com

Adjusting the v olume

You can adjust volume using your speakers’ controls or the
Windows volume controls. You can also adjust the volume of
specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:

• If you are usin g exter nal speakers, turn the knob on the

front of the speakers.

-OR­Use th e m ute and vo lum e c on tro l b utto ns o n the

keyboard. For more informat ion, see “Using the

keyboard” on page19.

To adjust the volume from Windows:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel

window opens. If your Control P anel is in Cat egory View,
click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.

2 Click Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio

Devices. Th e Sounds and Audio Dev ices Pro pertie s dialog

box opens.

3 Click the Volume tab.

4 Drag the Device V olume slider to change the volume or

click to se le ct th e Mute check box, then click OK.

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Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

Conf iguring the audio jac ks

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, they are
universal jac ks. This means that the y can be u sed f or more than
one purpose. For example, the blue jack on the computer can
be a stereo in jack or a stereo out jack. To use the audio jacks
for something other than the default audio device, you need
to configure the audio jacks.

To configure the audio jacks:

Shortcut

StartÖ Cont rol Pa ne l Ö Hardware and Sou nd Ö SoundÖ click the

device Ö Configure

1 Connect your audio device(s) to the computer audio

jack(s).

2 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Contro l Pa nel

wind ow o pe ns.

3 Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Dev ices, So unds and

Audio Devices, then click Advanced under Speaker

Settings. The Advanced Audio Properties dialog box
opens.

-OR­If your 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 .

26

www.emachines.com

Installing a print er , s canner , or other de vice

Important

Before yo u install a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device, see the

device documentation and installation instructions.

Your computer has one or more of the following ports:
IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire
and parallel. Y ou u se t he se por ts t o connect peripheral devices
such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras to your
computer. For more information about port locatio ns, see

“Checking Out Your Computer” on page 5.

IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and
hot-swapping, which means tha t your computer will usually
recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the
appropriate port. W hen you u se an IEEE1394 or USB device for
the first time, your computer will prompt you to install any
soft war e th e de vice needs. Aft er doi ng th is, y ou can d isco nnec t
and reconnect the device at any time.

Help

For more information about installing peripheral devices, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type installing devices in the Search box, then
pressE

NTER.

Parallel devices are not plug-and-play. See the device
documentation for detailed information and installation
instructions.

®

), Universal Serial Bus (USB),

27

Chapter 3: Set ting Up and Ge tting Started

28

Chapter 4

Upgrading Your C omputer

• Prev enting static electric ity disc harge

• Opening and c losing the ca se

• Installing memory

• Replacing t he syst em batt ery

• Adding or replacing an optical disc

drive

• Adding or replacing a har d driv e

• Replacing t he heat sink and

processor

• Adding or replacing an e xpansion

card

• Replacing the s yst em board

29

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Pre v enting static electric ity discharge

Warning

To a v oid expo sur e t o danger ou s elec tri cal vol tages and mo v ing 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.

The components inside your computer are extremel y 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.

• T ouch a bare metal surface on the back of the computer.

• Unplug the power cord and the modem and network

cables.

Caution

ESD can perman ently damage electrostatic discharge -sensi tive
components in your computer. Prevent ES D d ama ge by foll owing ESD guidelines
every time you open the computer case.

30

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 t o us e them. Do not lay components
on the outside of antistatic bags becau s e onl y t he i nsid e
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.

www.emachines.com

Opening the cas e

Your computer case provides easy access to internal
components.

Remo ving t he side panel

Warning

To a v oid expo sur e to danger ou s elec trica l volt ages and mo v ing parts, t urn
off yo ur comput er , t hen unp lug the power cor d and modem cable bef or e openin g
the cas e.

To remove the side panel:

1 Follow the instructions in “Preventing static electricity

discharge” on page30.

2 Shut down your computer, then disconnect the power

cord and modem, network, and all peripheral device
cables.

3 Press the power button for ten seconds to drain any

residual power from your computer.

4 Loosen the two captive thumbscrews on the back edge

of the side panel. (These screws cannot be removed.)

5 Slide the side panel toward the back of your computer,

then pull the panel away from your computer.

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Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Remo ving t he f ront bez el

To r e m ov e t h e fr o n t be z e l:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

2 Press the three bezel retention tabs, then swing the left

side of the bezel awa y f rom t he computer and remo veit.

Tabs

32

www.emachines.com

Clo sing the cas e

Replac ing the f ront bez el

To replace the front bezel:

1 Slide the tabs on the right side of the bezel into the slots

on the right side of the computer.

Tabs

2 Swing the left side of the bezel in to insert the release

tabs on the left side of the bezel into the slots on the left
side of the computer.

3 Press the left side of the bezel firmly until the release

tabs snap into place.

Replac ing the side panel

To replace the side panel:

1 Make sure that all of the internal cables are arranged

inside the computer so they will not be pinched when
you close the computer.

2 Slide the side panel toward the front of the computer

until the back of the side panel is flush with the back of
the computer.

33

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

3 Tighten the two thumbscrews on the back edge of the

side panel, then reconnect the cables and power cord.

Installing memory

When you upgrade the comput er memory , mak e sure t hat you
install the correct type of memory module for your computer.
Your computer uses DIMM memory.

To install or replace DIMM memory:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

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 memory module banks on your system board.

34

www.emachines.com

4 If you are removing a DIMM from the memory module

bank, gently pull the plastic tabs away from the sides of
the memory module and remove it.

- OR ­If you are adding a DIMM to an empty memory module

bank, gently pull the plastic tabs away from the sides of
the memory module bank.

5 Align the notches on the new DIMM with t h e notches on

the memory module bank and press the module firmly
into the bank. The tabs on the sides of the memory
module should secure the memory module
automatically. When the modul e is secure, you hear a
click.

6 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

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 appears.

10 Click Start, Control Panel, then c lic k Performance and

Maintenance (if in Category view). Click System. The

amount of memory in your computer is shown at the
bottom of the System Properties dialog box in the
General tab.

35

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Adding or r eplacing an opti cal disc dri ve

Tools

You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or replace a CD or DVD drive.

To add replace an optical disc drive:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

2 Remove the front bezel by following the instructions in

“Removing the front bezel” on page 32.

Important

The color and shape of your replacement drive’s front cover may

vary from your original drive.

3 If you are installing a new drive (not replacing an old

one), remove the two driv e retention screw s in the dri v e
bay, then go to Step 8. For the location of the screw s, see
the photo in Step6.

4 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 th e new drive.

36

Drive data cable Drive power cable

5 Note any ju mpe r s etti ngs on the ol d d rive an d se t th e

jumper on the new drive to be the same.

www.emachines.com

6 Remove the two drive retenti on screws.

Drive retention screws

7 Slide the drive forward and out of the drive bay.

8 Slide the new drive into the drive bay, lin e up the screw

holes on the driv e ba y wit h t he sc r ew holes on t he dri ve,
then replace the two drive retention screws.

9 Reconnect the drive cables u sing your notes fr om Step4,

or according to the manufacture r’s instructions.

10 Replace the front bezel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the front bezel” on page 33.

11 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

37

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Adding or r eplacing a harddrive

Tools

You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or replace a hard drive.

To add or replace a ha rd drive:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

2 Disconnect and label all hard drive cables, noting their

locations and orientation. (You wil l reconnect t he cables
after you install the new drive.)

38

3 Disconnect the hard drive cage fan cable from the

system b oa rd.

www.emachines.com

4 Loosen the screw that secures the hard drive cage to the

computer. (This screw cannot be removed.)

5 Remove the hard drive cage from the computer.
6 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. Two screws on each
side secure each hard drive to the cage.

Hard drive screws (top) Hard drive screws (bottom)

Hard drive screws (top) Hard drive screws (bottom)

7 If you are replaci ng a driv e, note any jumper settings on

the old drive and set the jumper on the new drive to be
the same.

- OR ­If you are adding a new drive, set the jumper as

instructed by the drive’s user guide.

8 Slide the new hard drive into the cage, then secure it to

the cage using either the screw s you remo ved prev iously
or the mounting screws provided with your new drive.

39

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

9 Line up the tabs on the right side of the cage with the

slots on the inside of the case, then slide the cage into
the case.

Hard drive cage tabs Slots on inside of case

10 Tighten the cage thumbscrew, then plug the hard drive

cage fan cable back into the system board.

11 Connect the driv e cables. If you are replacing a dri ve , use

your note s fro m S tep 2.

12 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

13 Reconnect all external cables and the power cord.
14 Tur n on yo ur c o m p uter.
15 If you are using the new hard drive as your primary

drive, install Windows using the ope rating system DVD
that came with your computer. For mor e information on
restoring your system, see “Recovering your sy stem” on

page 89.

Re placing the heat sink and processor

Tools

You need a Phillips screwdriver to replace the heat sink.

To replace the heat sink and processor:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

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 Unplug the heat sink fan cable from the system board.

40

www.emachines.com

4 Loosen the four captive screws (these screws cannot be

removed) that secure the heat sink and fan assembly to
the system board, then remove the assembly and place
it on a stable surface wit h the flat surf ace of the heat sink
(the side with the thermal grease) up.

Screws (only one shown)

5 Push the proc essor relea se lev er do wn, lift it completely

up, then lift the processor retention bracket.

6 Remove the processor from the system boa rd.
7 Install the new processor onto the system board. Make

sure that Pin 1 on the processor (indicated 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 retention bracket and lever to their locked
position.

41

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

8 If this is a new heat sink, remove the strip on the heat

sink that covers the gray thermal grease.

-OR­If you are re-using a heat sink, carefully scrape or wipe

off the old thermal paste (isopropyl alcohol works well),
then re-apply a small bead of th ermal grease (about the
size of a small pea) to the surface that contacts the
processor.

9 Place the heat sink and fan assembly on the processor,

then tig hten th e scre ws that secu re it to the sys tem
board.

10 Connect the heat sink fan cable to the system board.
11 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

Adding or r eplacing an expansion car d

To add or replace an expansion card:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

2 If you are replacing an expansion card, disconnect any

cables th at are attache d to the c ard, no ting their
locations and orientation. (You may need to reconnect
the cables after you in stall the n ew card.)

3 Open the card retention lever.

42

www.emachines.com

4 If you are replacing a card, remove the old expansion

card. You can slightly seesaw the card end-to-end to
loosen the card, bu t do not ben d the card sideways.

Caution

Do not touch the contacts on the bottom part of the expansion

card. Touching the contacts can cause electrostatic damage to the card.

5 Install the new card into the expansion slot. You can

slightly seesaw the card end-to-end to help insert the
card, but do not bend the card sideways.

6 If you have just replaced an expansion card, reconnect

the expansion card cables (if any) using your note s from
Step 2. If you have added a new e xpansion card, connect
its cables acco rding to its user guide.

7 Press the card retention lever back into place.
8 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

43

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Re placing the s yst em batt ery

Warning

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrect ly replaced. Replace onl y with the
same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used
batteries following the manufacturer’s instructions.

If the computer clock does not keep time or the settings in the
BIOS Setup utility are not saved when you turn off your
computer, replace the system battery. Use a battery of the
same size and voltage as the original battery that was in your
computer.

To replace the battery:

1 Restart your computer.
2 During the restart, press and hold the F1 key. The main

menu of the BIOSSetup utility opens.

3 Write do w n all v alue s in th e menus and submenu s, t he n

exit from the utility.

Caution

Any custom BIOS settings you have made will be lost when you
remove the system batte ry. All settings will return to their factory
defaults.

44

4 Shut down your computer.
5 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

6 For more stability, place your computer on its side. To

avoid scratching the case, place it on a towel or other
non-abrasive surface.

www.emachines.com

7 Locate the old battery on the system board and note its

orientation. You will need to install the new battery the
same way.

Important

Your computer’s battery location may vary from the illustration

below.

Battery release tab

8 Push the battery release tab. The battery pops out of the

socket.

9 Make sure that the positive (+) side of the new battery

is facing up (usually the side that the battery type and
model number are etched into), then press the battery
into the socket until it snaps in to place.

10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

11 Reconnect all external cables and the power cord.
12 Turn o n y o ur co m p ut er.
13 While your computer starts, press and hold the F1 key.

The main menu of the BIOS Setup utility opens.

14 In the BIOS Setup utility, restore any settings that you

wrote down in Step 3.

15 Save all your settings and exit the BIOS Setup utility.

45

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

Re placing the s yst em board

To replace the system board:

1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in

“Removing the side panel” on page 31.

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 Remove all expansion cards by following the directions

in “Adding or replacing an expansion card” on page42.

4 Remove all memory modules by f ollowi ng the direc tions

in “Installing memory” on page 34.

5 Disconnect all the power and data cables from the

system board, noting their locations and orientation.
(You will reconnect the cables after you install the new
board.)

Tip

Yo u ca n labe l e ach cable with tape to make it easier to r e-con ne ct
them l ate r.

6 Remove the four screws that secure the power supply to

your computer, then slide it out of your computer.

46

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7 Remove the se v en s yst em board s cr ew s. (T he illustr ation

below is a typical system board, and your sy stem board
may be different.)

Screws

Screws

8 Lift the system board up and out of the case.
9 Align the new system board on the screw holes in the

case, then secure it i nto the c ase with the screws.

10 If your replacement system board does not include a

processor, remove the processo r and heat sink assembly
from the old s y stem board by f ollo wing t he direc tions in

“Replacing the heat sink and processor” on page 40,

then install th em into the ne w syst em board b y fol lowing
the directions in the same procedure.

11 Slide the pow er supply back int o the cas e, the n install the

four screws to secure the power supply to the case.

12 Connect all power and data cables using your note s from

Step 5.

13 Reinstall any memory you removed previously.
14 Reinstall any expansion cards you removed previously.
15 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in

“Replacing the side panel” on page33.

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Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

48

Chapter 5

Maintaining Your C omput er

• Setting up a maint enance schedu le

• Caring f or y our computer

• Cleaning your comput er

• Updating Window s

• Using Bi gFix

• Managing hard drive space

• Scheduling mainten ance tasks

• Moving f rom y our old comput er

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Set ting up a mainten ance schedule

Use the following table to set up a regular maintenance
schedule.

Maintenance task Weekly Monthly When

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 ha rd drive X X
Back up files X X X
Clean computer case and

peripheral devices

Caring f or y our computer

To extend the life of your computer:

• Be careful not to bump or drop your computer, and do

not put any objects on top of it. The case, although
strong, is not made to support extra weight.

• When transporting your computer, we recommend that

you put it in the original packaging m aterials.

• Keep your computer away from magnetic fields.

Magnetic fields can erase data on hard drives.

• Never turn off your computer when the drive indicator

is on because data on the hard drive could be lost or
corrupted.

needed

X

50

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• Avoid subjecting y our computer to extreme temperature

changes. The case can become brittle and easy to break
in cold tempe ratures and can me lt or warp in high
temperatures. Damage due to either extreme is not
covered by your warranty. As a g eneral rule, your
computer is saf e st at t emperatur es that ar e comf ortab le
for yo u.

• Keep all liquids away from your computer. When spilled

onto computer components, almost any l iquid can result
in expensive repairs that are not covered under a
standard warranty.

• Avoid dusty or dirty work environments. Dust and dirt

can clog the in tern al m ech an ism s a nd can le ad to
permanent damage to the computer.

• Do not block the ventilation fan slots. If these slots are

blocked, your computer may overheat, resulting in
unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the
computer.

• When storing your computer for an extended period of

time, unplug ACpower.

Cleaning y our comput er

Keeping your computer clean and the vents free from dust
helps keep your computer performing at its best. You may
want to g athe r t hese ite ms an d pu t to ge ther a c om pu ter
cleaning kit:

• A soft, lint-free cloth

• An aerosol can of air that has a narrow, straw-like

extension

• Cotton swabs

• An optical disc drive cleaning kit

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Cleaning t he ex terior

Warning

When you shut down yo ur computer, the power turns off, but some
electrical current still flows through it. To avoid possible injury from electrical
shock, unplug the power cord, modem cable, and network cable from the wall
outlets.

• Always turn off your computer and other peripheral

devices before cleaning any components.

• Use a damp, 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 finis h on c ompon ents.

• 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 th e ve n ts wi t h a d a mp clo t h . Be c aref u l
not to d rip any water in to th e v ent s.

Cleaning t he ke y board

Y ou should occasionally clean the ke yboard t o remov e dust and
lint trapped under the keys.

To clean the keyboard:

1 Use an aerosol can of air with a narrow, straw-like

extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the
keys.

2 If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your

computer and turn the keyboard upside down. Let the
liquid drain, then let the keyboard dry before trying to
use it again. If the ke y boar d does not work af t er it dries,
you may need to replaceit.

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Cleaning t he monitor

Caution

A flat-pa nel di spla y i s made of spec i all y c oat e d gla s s and can be sc rat c he d

or damaged by abrasive or ammonia-based glass cleaners.

To clean the monitor:

• To clean an LCD flat panel monitor, use a soft cloth and

water t o clean the scr een. Dampen the cloth (nev er apply
liquid directly to the screen), then wipe the screen with
the cloth.

• T o clean a CR T monitor, use a soft clot h and glass c leaner

to clean the monitor screen. Squirt a little cleaner on the
cloth (never direc tly on the sc reen), then wipe the screen
with the cloth .

Cleaning t he mouse

If the mouse pointer begins moving erratically across the
computer screen or becomes difficult to control precisely,
cleaning the mouse will likely improve its accuracy.

To clean the mouse:

• Wipe the bottom of the mouse with a damp, lint-free

cloth.

Cleaning optical dis cs

Optical d iscs (CD s, DVDs, and Blu -ray Discs) g et dirty from
frequent handling.

To clean an optical disc :

• Wipe from the center to the edge , not around in a circle,

using a product made especially for the purpose.

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Updating Windo ws

Windows Update helps you keep your computer up-to-date.
Use Windows Update to choose updates for your computer’s
operating system, software, and hardware. New content is
added to the site regularly, so you 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 the online User Guide. Windows Update can also be
controlled through the Windows Security Center. For more
information, see “Protec ting Y our Comput er” in the online User
Guide.

Help

For more information about Windows Update, click Start, then c lick Help
and Support. Type windows update in the Search box, then pressE

Using BigF ix

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54

Y our computer ma y have BigF ix installed (not av ailable in some
locations). BigFix monitors your computer for problems and
conflict s. I t automatically gathers information about th e l atest
bugs, security alerts, and updates from BigFix sites on the
Internet. Wheneve r 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 t a rt B i g Fi x :

1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Syste m Too ls ,

then click BigFix.

2 To learn more about BigFix, click Help, then click

Tutorial.

www.emachines.com

Managing hard dr iv e space

Windows provides seve ral utilities you can use to check hard
drive space, delete unnecessary files, defragment files, and
back up files.

Checking hard driv e space

To check hard drive space:

1 Click Start then click My Computer. The My Computer

wind ow o pe ns.

2 Right-click t he dri v e t hat you w ant t o c heck for available

file space , then c lick Properties. Drive space information
appears.

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Deleting unnece ssary files

Delete unnece ssary file s, such a s temporary f iles and file s in the
Recycle Bin, to free hard drive space.

To delete unnecessary files:

1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer

wind ow o pe ns.

2 Right-click the hard drive that you want to delete files

from (for example, Local Disk (C:)), then click
Properties. The Properties dialog box opens at the

General tab.

56

3 Click Disk Cleanup. The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens.
4 Make sure that the check box beside each file type you

want to delete is selected. For more information about
file types you can delet e, read the de scriptions in the Disk
Cleanup dialog box.

5 Click OK, then click Yes.

www.emachines.com

Checking the hard dri ve f or 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 flawed areas on
the hard drive so Windows does not use them.

If you use yo ur computer several hours every day, you
probably want to run Error-checking once a week. If you use
your computer less f requently , 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 My Computer. The My Computer

wind ow o pe ns.

2 Right-click t he driv e that you want to c heck f or errors (f or

example, Loca l Disk (C: )), then click Properties. The
Properties dialog box opens.

3 Click the Tools tab.

4 Click Check Now, c lick t he options y ou want t o us e , t hen

click Start. For help, press F1. Windows checks the drive
for errors. This process m ay take several minu tes.

After Windo ws has finished checking the driv e for err ors,
it provides a summary of the problems that it found.

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

5 Correct any problems that are found by following the

on-screen instructions.

6 Click OK.

Help

For more information about checking the hard drive for errors,
click Start, then click Help and Support. Type checking for disk
errors in the Search box, then press E

Defragme nting the hard dr iv e

When working wi th files, sometimes Windows divides the file
information in to pieces and s tores them in different places on
the hard drive. This is cal led fragmentation, and it is normal.
In order for your computer to use a file, Windows must search
for the pieces of the file and put them back together. This
process slows the hard drive performance.

Disk Defragmenter organi z e s the data on the dri ve so each file
is stored as one unit rather than as mul tiple pieces scattered
across different areas of the drive. Defragmenting the
information stored on the drive can improve hard drive
performance.

While Disk Defragmenter is running, do not us e y our 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.

NTER.

58

Tip

Because defragmenting a drive may take hours to complete (depending
on the size of the driv e being defragmented), consider starting the process when
you will not need the computer for several hours.

To defragment the hard drive:

1 Disconnect your computer from the network.
2 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer

wind ow o pe ns.

3 Right-click the hard drive that you want to defragment

(for ex ample, Local Disk (C:)), th e n c l i c k Properties. The
Properties dialog box opens.

www.emachines.com

4 Click the Tools tab.

5 Click Defragment now. If Disk Defragmenter does not

start automatic ally, click Defragment.

6 Disk Defrag menter shows its p rogress on the disp lay.

When finished, Disk Defragmenter asks if you want to
quit the program.

7 Click Close, then click the X in th e to p- rig ht cor ne r to

close the Disk Defragmenter wind ow.

Help

For more information about defragmenting the hard drive, click

Start, then click Help and Support. Type defragmenting in the
Search box, then press E

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Backing up file s

Backing up files and removing them from the hard drive frees
space for new files on the hard drive. It also protec ts you from
losing import ant 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 hav e a re cordable drive). Use a backup device, such
as a recordable disc drive, to do a complete hard drive backup.
If you do not have a high-capacity back up dev ice and you want
to purchase one, you can visit www.gateway.com

Help and Support. Type back up in the Search box, then pr ess E

.

Help

For more inf ormatio n about back ing up fil es, cl ick Start, th en c lic k

NTER.

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www.emachines.com

Scheduling maint enance ta sks

The Scheduled Task Wizard lets you schedule maintenance
tasks such as running Disk Defragmenter and checking your
drives for errors.

Important

Your computer must be on during scheduled tasks. If your computer is off,

scheduled tasks will not run.

To start the Scheduled Task Wizard:

1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Syste m Too ls ,

then click Scheduled Tasks. The Scheduled Tasks
wind ow o pe ns.

2 Double-click the Add Scheduled Task icon. The

Scheduled Task Wizard opens.

3 Click Next, then click the task or program you want to

schedule and follow the on-screen instructions to
customize the task.

Help

For more information about scheduling tasks, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type task scheduler in the Search box, then
press E

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Mov ing fr om your old computer

Using the F iles and Se ttings T ran sfer W iz ard

You can move your files, folders, software settings, and user
account settings (such as displa y, Internet, and e-mail settings)
from your old computer to your new one using the Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard. The wizard also moves specific files
or entire folders, such as MyDocuments, My Pictures, and
Favorites.

To open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard:

• Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Syste m Too l s ,

then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

T r ansf erri ng files an d set tings manu ally

Y ou can manu ally 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.

62

Finding your documents

Many programs save your personal data files in the
My Documents folder. Look in your old computer’s documents
fold e r for p er so n al d at a fi le s .

To find files in the documents folder:

1 In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Documents.

The My Documents window opens and displays man y of
your saved personal data files. Go to Step4.

- OR ­In Windows98, WindowsMe, 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 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.

www.emachines.com

Finding other files

Use Window s Find or S earc h t o locate other person al data file s.
For more information, see your online User Gu ide.

You can often identify different data file types by looking at
the file’s extension (the part of the file name following the last
period). For example, a document file might have a .DOC
extension and a spr eadsheet fi le might hav e an .XL S ex t ension.

File type File usually ends in...

Documents .DOC, .TXT, .RTF, .HTM, .HTML, .DOT
Spreadsheets .XLS, .XLT, .TXT
Pictures .JPG, .BMP, .GIF, .PDF, .PCT, .TIF, .PNG, .EPS
Movies .MPEG, .MPG, .AVI, .GIF, .MOV
Sound and music .WAV, .CDA, .MP3, .MID, .MIDI, .WMA

To find files using Find or Search:

1 In Window sXP , c lick Start, t hen cl ick Search. The Search

Results window opens.

- OR ­In Windows98, WindowsMe, or Windows 2000, click

Start, Find or Search, then click For Fi les o r Fold ers.
The Sea rch Results window opens.

2 Type the filename you want to search for, then press

ENTER. The search results are displayed.

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

T ransferring Internet settings

You can use different methods to transfer your Internet
account from your old computer to your new one.

Setting up your ISP

• If your curren t Internet servic e provider (ISP) software

came pre-installed on your new computer, run that
setup program. If it asks to set up a new account or an
existing one, choose to set up an existing account.

• If your current ISP software is not pre-installed on your

new computer, lo cate the original Internet setup
program provided by your local ISP, or contact your ISP
to see if they ha v e an update d version of the ir sof tw ar e,
and install it on your new computer.

• If you use MSN as your ISP, or if you know your ISP

settings, use the Windows Internet Connection Wizard.

To use the Internet Connection Wizard:

1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories,

Communications, then click New Connection Wizard.
The New Connection wizard opens.

2 Configure your Internet settings by following the

on-screen instructions.

64

T ransfer ring your e-mail and address book

See your old e-mail program’s online help for information on
exporting and importing e-mail messages and the address
book. You can often export all of your old e-mail messages or
address book t o recor dable media, then import t hem into y our
new computer’s e-mail program. You may also want to
consider printing the old information or using your old
computer to send the e-mail messages to yourself, then using
your new computer to retrieve the e-mail messages.

Tr ansferring your Internet shortcuts

You can export and import your old Netscape Navigator
bookmarks or Microsoft Internet Explorer favorites. For more
information, see your Internet browser program’s on line help.

www.emachines.com

Installing yo ur old print er or scan ner

Windows may have built-in support for older printers,
scanners, or other peripheral devic es. This means you do not
need any additional softw are . Newer de vice s, howe v er , us ually
require your original software installation discs or diskettes.

If you have tr ou bl e a fter you in st a ll the soft wa re for you r o ld
device s, you can use S ystem R estor e to rest ore your computer’ s
previous settings.

Installing a USB printer or scanner

USB dev ices ma y have sp ecial installati on instructions. See your
USB device’s installa tion g uide.

Installing a parallel port printer

Y ou can u su all y i nstall par a llel po rt pr in t er s b y following these
steps.

To install your old printer:

1 Shut down and turn off your computer.
2 Connect your parallel port printer.
3 Turn on your printer, then turn on your computer.
4 If Windows detects your printer, install your printer by

following the on-screen instructions. You are finished.

- OR ­If Windows does not detect the printer, go to the next

step.

5 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel

window opens. If your Control P anel is in Cat egory View,
click Printers and Other Hardware.

6 Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes, then click

Add Printer. The Add Printer wizard opens.

7 Install your printer by following the on-screen

instructions.

See your peripheral device’s user guide for installation
information and tips. Because most installation software is
periodically updated, you should also check the manuf acturer’s
Web site for software updates.

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Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer

Installing your ol d progr ams

You probably use some programs that did not come installed
on your new computer, such as personal finance software,
graphics programs, or games.

Spend some time going through your old computer’s Start and
Programs menus, making note of any programs you want to
install on your new computer. Locate your original program
installat ion d iscs and in stalla tion g uides. Your origina l discs
and guides should contain any serial numbers or productID
keys that may be required for program installation and
registration. Remember to check the publisher’s Web site for
important program updates.

If you have tr ouble af t er installi ng your old pr ogr ams, you ca n
restore your computer’s previous settings using System
Restore.

66

Chapter 6

Troubleshooting

• Safe ty guidelines

• First steps

• Troubleshooting

• Reco ver ing your s yst em

• T elephone support

67

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

Saf ety guideline s

While troublesho oting your computer, follow these safety
guidelines:

Warning

Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is tu rned

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 preventing damage from static
electricity, see “Preventing static electricity discharge” on page30.

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.

First step s

68

If yo u ha v e pr obl ems w it h y our c ompu te r, try thes e t hing s fi rst :

• Make s ure tha t th e p ower co rd i s c on necte d to you r

computer and an ACoutlet and that the ACoutlet is
supplying power.

• If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure

that it is turned o n.

• If a peripheral dev ice (such as a k e yboard or mous e) does

not work, make sure that all connections are secure.

• Make sure that your hard drive is not full.

• If an error message appea rs on the screen, write down

the exact message. The message m ay help Customer
Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.

www.emachines.com

• 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.

Help

For more inf ormation about tr oubleshooting, cli ck Start, then c lick

Help and Support. Type troubleshooting in the Search box, then

NTER.

pressE

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting topics are listed in alphabetical order.

Add-in cards

The computer does not recognize an add-in card

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Make sure that y ou hav e installed the required sof tware .

For more inf ormation, see t he documentation t hat came
with your add-in card.

Audio

See “Sound” on page 88.

CD or DVD driv es

See “Optical disc drives” on page84 .

DVD drives

• See “CD or DVD drives” on page 69.

69

Ethernet

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

You cannot see the other computers on your network

• Make sure that your Ethernet cable is plugged into the

Ethernet jack on your computer. Make sure that the
other end is plugged into a router.

• Make sure that all comp uters are plug ged into a

powered electrical outlet and turned on.

• Make sure that the router is plugged into a powered

electrical outlet and turned on. Most routers have lights
that in di cate th ey ar e wo rki ng . Fo r m ore in form ati on ,
see the documentation that came with your router.

• Make sure that all comput ers on your network have the

same workgroup name.

• Make sure that all comput ers ar e usin g th e same Subne t

Mask.

• If you assigned IP addresses to the computers, make sure

that all computers have diff erent IP addres ses. 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.

70

The computer does not recognize an add-in Ethernet card

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Make sure that y ou hav e installed the required sof tware .

For more infor mation, see the doc umentation that came
with your Ethernet card.

• Reseat the card. For more i nformation abou t open ing

your computer case, see “Opening the case” on page 31.
For more informati on about you r Ethernet card, se e the
documentation that came with your Ethernet card.

Your Ethernet network is running slower than you expect

• If your Ethernet network is running slower than you

expect, check the speed of each Ethernet component.
For best results, all Ethernet components should be
standard Ethernet ( 10 Mbps), Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps or
10/100Mbps) , or Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps or
10/100/1000 Mbps) . A mixture of Ethernet, Fast
Ethernet, and Gigabit Et herne t components w ill r esult in
your network running at the slowest component speed.

Expansion cards

The computer does not recognize an expansion card

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Make sure that y ou hav e installed the required sof tware .

For more inf ormation, see t he documentation t hat came
with your expansion card.

File management

Help

For more information about restoring deleted files, click Start, then click

Help and Support. Type System Restore in the Search bo x, t hen pr es sE

A file was accidentally deleted

If a file was deleted while holding down the S
cannot be restored.

To restore deleted files:

1 Double-click the Recyc le Bin icon.
2 Righ t-cli ck the f ile you wan t to resto re, th en cli ck

Restore. The file is restored to the place where it was
originally deleted from.

If the Recycle Bin was emptied before you try to
restore a file, the file cann ot be res tored.

www.emachines.com

NTER.

HIFT key, the f il e

Hard driv e

You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message

• Delete unnecessary files from the hard drive using Disk

Cleanup. For instructions on deleting unnecessary files,
see “D eletin g unnec essary fil es” on pa ge 56.

Help

For more inf ormati on about fil e management, clic k Start, then
click Help and Suppor t. Type file management in the Search box,
then pressE

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

• Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the Recycle Bi n

icon, then clicking Empty Recycle Bin.

Caution

All deleted files will be lost when you empty the Recycle Bin.

• Save your files to another drive. If the hard drive is full,

copy any files not regularly used to backup media, then
del ete th em fro m the hard drive.

You see a “Data error” message

• This may be the result of a defective area on the hard

drive . To fix hard drive problems, run the Error checking
program. For instr uctions on fixing har d dri v e problems,
see “Checking the hard drive for errors” on page 57.

The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message

• Restart your comp uter.

• Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart your computer.

• If your computer has been subjected to static electricity

or physical shock, you may need to reinstall the
operating system.

You see a “Non-system disk” or “disk error” error message

• Your hard drive may have become damaged.

Internet

72

See also “Modem (dial-up)” on page 79.

You cannot connect to the Internet

• If you are using a dial-up modem, make sure that the

modem cable is plugged into the modem jack and not
the Ethernet network jack. See your setup poster to
make sure that the connections have been made
correctly.

- OR ­If you are using a cable or DSL modem, make sure that

the modem cable is plugged i nto the Ethernet network
jack and not the modem jack. See your setup poster to
make sure that the connections have been made
correctly.

www.emachines.com

• Make sure that your account with your Internet service

provider (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, “Modem (dial-up)” on

page 79.

Help

For more information about troubleshooting Internet
connections, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type
troubleshootin g conne ctions in t he Search box, t hen pres sE

You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to brows e th e Inte rnet

NTER.

• This problem can occur when you ha ve typed a URL (Web

address) incorrectly, you have lost your Internet
connection, or your ISP is having technical difficu lties.

• Double-check the URL or try a different URL. If the error

message still appears, disconnect from the ISP
connection and close your browser, then reconnect and
open the browser. If you still get the error, your ISP may
be having technical difficulties.

Connecting to a Web site takes too long

Many factors can affect Internet performance:

• The condition of the telephone lines in y our r esidence or

at your local telephone service

• The condition of the Internet computers to which you

connect and the number of users accessing those
computers

• The complexity of graphics and multimedia on Web

pages

• Having multiple Web browsers open, performing

multiple downloads, and having multiple programs
open on your computer

People are sending yo u e-mail messages, but you ha v e not received any mail

• Click the receive button in your e-mail program.

• Make sure that your account with your Internet service

provider (ISP) is set up correctly. Contact your ISP for
technical support.

73

Keyboard

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

The keyboard does not work

• Make s ure th at the keyboa rd c ab le is p lu gg ed in

correctly. For more information, see the poster that came
with your computer.

• Remove all extension cables and switch boxes.

• Clean the keyboard by using an aerosol can of air with

a narrow, straw-like extension to remove dust and lint
trapped under the keys.

• Try a keyboard that you know works to make sure that

the keyboard port wor ks.

• Reinstall the keyboard device driver.

A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “keyboard stuck” or “key failure” error message

• Make sure that nothin g is resting on the keyboard.

• Make sure that a key is not stuck. Press each key to

loosen a key that might be stuck, then restart your
computer.

Liquid spilled in the keyboard

• If you spilled liquid in the keyboard, turn off your

computer and unplug the key boar d. Cl ean the k eyboard
and tur n i t up s id e down t o dr a i n i t. L et the ke yboard dry
before using it again. If the ke yboard does not work aft er
it dries, you may need to replace it.

74

Media Center

To view Media Center troubleshooting information that is not
covered in this section, go to the support Web Site at

www.emachines.com

Help

For more information about Windows Media Center, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type Windows Media C ent er in the Search box, then
pressE

NTER.

The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV

Many factors, such as the display type, quality of the video
source, ty pe of connection used, quality of video cables, displa y
device screen resolution, size of TV, age of the TV, or the type
of TV (interlaced or progressive scan), can affect the video
quality si gnifican tly:

• Display type—The Media Center is best viewed on

• Quality of video source—The quality of the video

• Type of connection used—You can connect the Media

www.emachines.com

.

display devi ce s that were offered with t he Media Center
computer when you purcha sed it from eMachine s. Other
types of display devices, including retail TVs, may
provide low er quality video. If you did not or der a display
device when you purchased your Media Center
computer, a progressive scan display device with a VGA
input is the best choice.

signal coming into the Media Center computer has an
affec t on the video quality. The video displayed from the
Media Center is only as good as the source video signal.
Cable, digital cable, and satellite usually provide better
quality than an antenna.

Center computer video output to a TV. However, the
connection type has an affect on the video quality. The
Media Center has two video outputs:

• VGA—If your TV includes a VG A port, connect t he VGA

cable from the Media Center computer’s VGA
(monitor) port to the TV’s VGA In port for the best
quality. Many TVs do not have a VGA port.

• S -Video—If your TV does not have a VGA port, but

includes an S-Video port, connect the S-Video cable
from the Media Center computer’s S-Video Out port
to the TV’s S-Video In port. S-Video display quality is
usually good for TV images. The display quality for
the Media Center computer functions, however, is
not as good as VGA output. S-Video display output
is not optimized for computer video display.

75

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

• Quality of video cables—Poor quality or the incorrect

type of video cables can cause problems and affect the
video quality. eMachines recommends using
high-quality video cables.

Cable connections must be made correctly for opti mal
video quality. A poor cable connection can lower video
quality.

• Screen resolution—Many TVs cannot display the

default high resolution of your computer and may shift,
scramble, or scroll the picture. For a bette r picture on a
TV display, you may need to lower the Media Center
screen resolution to 800 × 600 or 640× 480. For more
information about ch angin g the screen resolutio n, see
the “Customizing Windows” chapter in the online User
Guide.

• Size of displ ay device—Small computer monitors for

standard computer applications are generally not
optimized for motion video playback. Although they
offer excellent resolutions and refresh rates, they are
designed to make static white backgrounds with black
text look readable. Some small display devices do not
make colorful motion video look its best. Generally,
video will look better on a larger display device.

• Age of the TV—Newer TVs usually have more advanced

features, produce a better quality picture, and support
higher screen resolutions. The Media Center video
display will li kely be better on a newer mode l TV.

• Typ e of TV (interlaced or progressive scan)

Many TVs use int er laced video. I nter laced v ideo display s
a video frame with two passes of alternating scan lines.
The TV screen first displays the video image odd lines
one a t a t ime, seque nt ial ly from top to botto m, th en i t
fills in the other half of the video image with the even
lines. Because most TVs use this interlaced method to
display the pi cture on the screen, a sta nd ard in terlace d
analog TV will most likely flicker when displaying thin
lines and small text. An interlaced video display device
will produce a lower quality display, especially when
viewing and using the Media Center computer functi ons.

Progressive scan video displays a video frame with one
pass of sequential scan lines. A progressive scan TV
displays the entire picture, drawn sequentially from top
to bott om, without t he odd/e ven int erlacin g. This r esults
in a fuller, sharper picture and better display quality for
viewing and u sing the Media Center computer func tions.
The progressive scan picture is also brighter and easier
on your eyes.

76

www.emachines.com

You need to configure your Media Center computer to output to a TV

• Your Media Center computer detects whether you are

using a VGA or an S-Video display device and
automatically changes the display settings for the type
of display device you are using. For more information,
see the support Web site at www.emachines.com

Yo u want t o change displa y settings t o get bett er TV or D VD image quality

.

• Adjust the display device brightness, contrast, hue, and

saturation. For more information, see the support Web
site at www.emachines.com

You want to know whether you can burn programs that were recorded with your Media Center computer to a DVD

.

• Y es, you can. T he Media Center sa ves recorded progr ams

in the DVR-MS format. You can burn a DVR-MS file to a
DVD with D VD recording (burning) sof twar e and with the
Media Center itself.

You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on other computers

• Yes, you can. A DVR-MS file recorded to DVD can be

replayed on another Media Center computer or on a
non-Media Center computer that has a DVD player and
DVD de coder sof tw ar e (s uch as W inD VD ). The non- Media
Center computer must also have at lease WindowsX P
with Service Pack (SP) 1 or 2, Windows Media Player9 or
late r, an d the Wi nd ows pa tch Q 810243 Up da te.

You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on your home DVD player

• Yes, you can. DVDs recorded with the Media Center can

be played on a home DVD player.

77

Memory

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

Yo u get the f ollo wing “Do wnload Er ror” message when the computer tries to update the Program Guide:

• You must be connected to the Internet to update the

Program Guide. Make sure that your Internet account is
set up and connected to the computer. For information
about manually updating the Program Guide, see
“Manually updating the Media Center Program Guide” in
your online User Gui de.

Help

For more information about troubleshooting memory errors, click Start,
then cl ick Help and Support. Type memory e rror in the Search box, then
press E

NTER.

You see a “Memory error” message

• Use a third-party diagnostic program to help determine

if a memory module is failing.

You see a “Not enough memory” error me ssage

• Close all programs, then restart your computer.

Memory card reader

Driv e lett ers f or the mem ory card sl ots do not appea r in the My Computer window

• Reboot your computer.

Modem (cable or D SL)

• See the documentation that came with your modem for

additional troubleshooting information.

78

Modem (dial-up)

See also “Internet” on page 72.

Your modem does not dial or does not connect

• Make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the

modem jack and not the Ethernet network jack. See your
setup poster to make sure that the connections have
been made co rrectly.

• Make sure that your computer is connecte d to the

telephone line and the telephone line has a dial tone.

• Make s ure th at th e m od em ca ble i s le ss th an 6 fee t

(1.8 meters) long.

• Remove any line splitters or surge protectors from you r

telephone line, then check for a dial tone by plugging a
working telephone into the telepho ne wall jack.

• If you have additional telephone services such as call

waiting, call me ss aging, or v oice mail, mak e sur e that al l
message s are c lear ed and c all waiting is disabled befor e
using the modem. Contact your t elephone service t o get
the correct code to temporarily disable the service. Also
make sure that the modem dialing properties are set
correctly.

www.emachines.com

To check the dialing properties:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control

Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in
Category V iew, click P rin t ers and Other Hardw ar e.

2 Click Phone and Modem Options, then click the

Dialing Rules tab.

3 Click the location from which you are dialing, then

click Edit.

4 Make sure that all settin gs are co rrect.

Help

For more information about dialing properties, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type dialing in the Search box, then
pressE

NTER.

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

• Disconnect any answering machine, fax machine, or

prin ter tha t i s o n th e sa me li ne as th e m od em . D o n ot
connect these devices to the same telephone line as the
modem.

• Make sure that you are not using a digital, rollover, or

PBX line. These lines do not work with your modem.

• Check for line noise (scratchy, crackling, or popping

sounds). Line noise is a common problem that can cause
the modem to connect at a slower rate, abort
downloads, or even disconnect. The faster the modem,
the less line noise it can tolerate and still work correctly.

Listen to the line using your telephone. Dial a single
number (such as 1). When the dial tone stops, listen for
line noise. Wiggle the modem cable to see if that makes
a difference. Make sure that the connectors are free from
corrosion and all sc rew s in the wall or t elephone wall jack
are secure.

You can also call your telephone service and have the
telephone line checked for noise or low line levels.

• Try another telephone 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 lower connection

speed. If reducing the connect speed lets you connect,
call your telephone service. The telephone line may be
too noisy.

80

You cannot connect to the Internet

• The ISP may be hav ing technical diff iculties. Contac t your

ISP for technical support.

• See if the modem works with a different

communications program. The problem may be with
just one program.

• Review the troubleshooting information under

“Internet” on page72.

Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K

Current FCC regulations restrict actual data transfer rates over
public telephone lines to 5 3 K. Other factors, such as line noise,
telephone service provider equipment, or ISP limitations, may
lower the speed even further.

If your computer has a v.90 modem, the speed at which you
can upload (send) data is limited to 33.6K. If your comput er has
a v.92 modem, the speed at which you can upload data is
limited to 48K. Your ISP may not support 48K uploads.

www.emachines.com

Yo ur fax c ommunications progr am only sends and re ceiv es faxes a t 14,4 00 bps when you h ave a 56 K mo dem

• Current fax technology only supports a maximum send

and receive rate of 14,400 bps.

The modem is not recognized by your computer

• Make s ure th at the li ne c on ne cted to th e m od em is

working and plugged into the appropriate port on your
computer. See your setup poster to make sure that the
connections have been made correctly.

• If the modem shares the telephone line with another

device, make sure that the telephone line is not in use
(for example, someone is on the telephone, or another
modem is in use).

• Use the modem cable that came with your computer.

Some t elephon e cable s do no t meet cable st andar ds and
may cause problems with the connection.

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Run Windows modem diagnostics.

To run modem diagnostics:

1 Close all open programs.
2 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control

Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in
Category V iew, click P rin t ers and Other Hardw ar e.

3 Click the Phone and Modem Options icon, then

click the Modems tab.

4 Click y our modem, then c lick Properties. The Modem

Properties dialog box opens.

5 Click the Diagnostic tab, then click Query Modem.

If information about the modem appears, the
modem passed diagnostics. If no modem
infor mation is a v ailabl e , a w hit e sc re en appears w ith
no data, or if you get an error such as port already
open or the modem has failed to respond, the modem
did not pass diagnostics.

Help

For more information about modem troubleshooting, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type modem t r oub le s ho o tin g in the

Search box, then pressE

NTER.

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

The modem is noisy when it dials and connects

When your modem tries to connect to another modem, it
begins handshaking. Handshaking is a digital “getting
acquainted” conversation between the two modems that
establishes connection speeds and communication protocols.
Y ou may hear unusual handshaking sounds when the modems
first connect. If the handshaking sounds are too loud, you can
turn down the modem volume.

To turn down the modem volu me:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control

Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in
Category V iew, click P rin t ers and Other Hardw a re.

2 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem Options

icon, then click the Modems tab.

3 Click the modem you want to adjust, then click

Properties.

4 Click the Modem tab, then adjust the Speaker

volume control.

5 Click OK twice to close the Phone and Modem

Options dialog box.

Monitor

82

The screen resolution is not correct

• Change the scree n resoluti on from the Display Settings

dialog box. For more information, see the “Customizing
Windows” chapter in the online User Gu ide.

The computer is running but there is no picture

• Make sur e th at t he m onit o r is pl ugge d in an d tur ned on.

If th e m o n ito r is t u rn e d on , th e pow e r L E D s h o u ld b e l i t .

• Adjust the brightness and contra st controls to t he center

position.

• Make s ure th at the mon ito r c ab le is con ne cted to th e

video port on the back of your computer.

• Check the cable for bent or damaged pins.

• Reinstall the device driver.

• Connect a monitor that you know works to your

computer.

Mouse

www.emachines.com

The color is not uniform

• Make s ure th at th e m on ito r wa rms up for a t l eas t

30 minutes before making a final judgment about color
uniformity.

The text on the display is dim or difficult to read

• Adjust the brightness and contrast controls.

• Change the display settings. For more information, see

the “Customizing Windows” chapter in the online User
Guide.

For more information about display types, see your monitor
and video card documentation.

Help

For more information about changing the screen resolution, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type screen resolution in the Search box, then
pressE

NTER.

The mouse does not work

• Make sure that the mo use c able i s p lugg ed i n correctly.

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Remove all extension cables and switch boxes.

• T ry a mou se you know is working to make sure that the

mouse port works.

The mouse works erratically

Networks

You cannot connect to your company network

Every network is unique. Contact your company computer
department or network administrator for he lp. For more
information about setting up a network in your home, see the
“Networking Your Computer” chapter in the online User Guide.

• If the mouse pointer begins mov ing erratically ac ross the

computer display or becomes difficult to control
precisely, cleaning the mouse will likely improve its
accuracy.

• Clean the mouse by wiping the bottom with a clean,

damp cloth. Make sure that the optical sensor is clean
and free of debris.

83

Help

For more information about network troubleshooting, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type ne twork troublesho oting in the Search box,
then pressE

NTER.

Optical disc drive s

The computer does not recognize a disc or the CD or DVD drive

• Make sure that the di sc label is f acing up, then try again.

• Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are flawed or

become scratched and cannot be read by the disc drive.

• If you are trying to play a DVD, make sure that you have

a DVD drive. To identify your drive type, see the “Using
Drives and Media Files” chapter in the online User Guide.

• Your computer may be experiencing some temporary

memory problems. Shut down and restart your
computer.

• Some music CDs hav e copy prot ection sof tware . Y ou may

not be able to play these CDs on your computer.

• Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning

optical d iscs” on page 53.

• Restart your computer, then enter the BIOS Setup utility

by pressing and holding F1 while your computer
restarts. Make sure that the IDE controllers are enabled.

• Make sure that th e drive is con figured c orrectly by

following the instructions in the drive documentation.

• Reinstall the device driver.

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

84

An audio CD d oes not prod uce sound

• Make sure that the di sc label is f acing up, then try again.

• Some music CDs hav e copy prot ection sof tware . Y ou may

not be able to play these CDs on your computer.

• Make sure that the volume controls are turned up. For

more informat ion, see “A d j us t i n g th e vo l u m e ” o n

page 25.

• Make s ure th at the mu te co nt rol s a re t urn ed off. Fo r

more informat ion, see “A d j us t i n g th e vo l u m e ” o n

page 25.

• Make sure that the speaker cables are connected

correctly and securely.

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning

optical d iscs” on page 53.

• Reinstall the audio device drivers.

www.emachines.com

A DVD movie will not play

• Make sure that you have a DVD drive. To identify your

drive type , see the “U sing Drive s and Media Files” chapter
in the online User G ui de..

• Make sure that the di sc label is f acing up, then try again.

• Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are flawed or

become scratched and cannot be read by the DVD drive.

• Shut down and restart your computer.

• Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning

optical discs” on page53.

• Reinstall the device driver.

• Make sure that th e DVD progra m h as bee n i nst al led o n

your computer.

• DVDs and DVD drives contain regio nal c odes tha t help

control DVD title exports and help reduce illegal disc
distribution. To be able to play a DVD, the disc’s regional
code and your DVD drive’s regional code must match.

The regional code on your DVD drive is determined by
your computer’s deli very address. The regional code for
the United States and Canada is1. The regional code for
Mexico is4. Your DVD drive’s regional code must match
the regional code for the disc. The regional code for the
disc is on the disc, disc documentation, or disc
packaging.

If the DVD movie does not play, the disc’s regional code
and your DVD drive’s regional code may not match.

Passwords

Your computer does not accept your password

• Make sure that CAPS LOCK is turn ed off, then retype th e

password.

85

Power

Printer

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

Your computer will not turn on

• Make s ure th at th e p owe r c ord is co nne cted to a n

ACpower source and to your computer, and that your
computer is turned on.

• If you r computer is plugged int o a s urge prot ec t or, make

sure that the surge protector is connected securely to an
electrical outlet, turned on, and working correctly. To t est
the outlet, plug a working device, such as a lamp, into
the outl et and turn it on.

• Make s ure th at the powe r c ord is free from cu ts o r

damage. Replace any damaged cables.

The printer will not turn on

• Make sure that the printer is online. Many printers have

an online/offline button that you may need to press.

• Make sure that the power cable is plugged into an

ACpower source.

86

The printer is on but will not print

• Check the cable between the printer and y our computer .

Make s ure th at it is c on ne cted to th e c orre ct p ort .

• Make sure that the printer is online. Many printers have

an online/offl ine button that you may need to press so
the printer can start printing. Pres s the but t on to put t he
printer online.

• Check the cable for bent or broken pins.

• If the printer you want to print to is not the default

printer , mak e sure t hat you ha ve s elect ed it in the printer
setup.

To s e t a d e f a u l t p r i n te r :

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control

Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in
Category V iew, click P rin t ers and Other Hardw a re.

2 Click/Double-c lick the Printers and Faxes icon. The

Printers and Faxes wind ow op ens .

3 Right-click the printer you want to be the default

printer, then click Set as Default Printer.

www.emachines.com

• Reinstall t he pr int er dri v er. See the guide that came wit h

your printer for instructions on installing the printer
driver.

You see a “Printer queue is full” error message

• Make s ure th at th e p rinte r is not set to work offli ne.

T o mak e sure that the pr inter is not set to w ork off line:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control

Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in
Category V iew, click P rin t ers and Other Hardw ar e.

2 Click/Double-c lick the Printers and Faxes icon. The

Printers and Faxes wind ow op ens .

3 Right-click th e na me o f th e p rin ter you want to use.

If the menu shows a c heck mark ne x t to Use Printer
Offline, click Use Printer Offline to cl ear th e ch e c k

mark.

• Wait until files have been printed before sending

additional files to the printer.

• If you print large files or many files at one time, you may

want to add additional memory to the printer. See the
printer documentation for instructions for adding
additional memory.

You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message

After adding paper, make sure that the printer is online. Most
printers have an online/offline button that you need to press
after adding paper.

Help

For more information about printer tr ou blesho oti ng, c l ic k Start, then clic k
Help and Support. Type printer troubleshooter in the Search box, then
pressE

NTER.

87

Sound

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

You are not getting sound from the speakers

• Make sure that the speakers are turned on.

• Make sure that the volume controls are turned up. For

more informat ion, see “A d j us t i n g th e vo l u m e ” o n

page 25.

• Make sure that mute contro ls are turned off. For more

information, see “Adjusting the volume” on page25.

• If you are using extern al speakers, see the speaker setup

poster to check your speaker connections.

• Make s ure th at th e u nive rsa l j ack s a re c on fig ure d

correctly. For more informat ion, see “Configu ring the

audio jacks” on page 26.

Help

For more information about sound troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type sound troubleshooter in the Search box, the n
press E

NTER.

88

www.emachines.com

Re cov ering y our sy stem

Reco ver ing your s yst em

Important

If your hard drive has fai le d an d you cannot restore the software from the
hard driv e , contac t G at ew a y Cu st omer Ca re f o r help. For a f ee , C ust omer Care may
be able to provide a set of recove ry discs to restore your computer.

For more help, you can find the Gateway Customer Care contact information on the label located on the front or side of your computer.

If you have problems with your computer and you need to
recover your system, you can restore specific drivers and
programs from a set of recover y discs, roll back your system
to a previous condition when drivers and programs were
working correctly, or reinstall everything from the computer’s
hard drive.

• To selectively restore device drivers or programs, see

“Recovering specific files and software” on page89.

- OR -

• To recover your system to a previous condition when

software and device drivers were working correctly, see

“Recovering your system using Microsoft System
Restore” on page90.

- OR -

• To reinstall everything, see “Recovering your system

from the hard drive” on page92.

Reco vering specific files and software

Y ou can perf or m a partial reco v ery b y reco v er ing specifi c file s,
such as devic e drivers and most pre-installed software. If you
need to recover software that did not come pre-installed on
your system , yo u ne ed to fol low th e so ftware ’s ow n
instructions for installation.

You can recover specific files using either the Start menu or a
driver and application recovery disc.

To restore your system from the driver and application

recovery discs:

1 Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, t hen click

Application & Driver Recovery.

- OR ­Turn on your computer, then insert the driver and

application disc #1into the CD or DVD drive. The
Application Recovery program opens.

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

2 Click the driver or application you want to install. To

select multiple items, press and hold C
each item.

TRL while clicking

3 Click Next. The items you selected are installed. When

the installation is finished, a message asks you if you
want to install more drivers or applications.

4 Click Yes to install more drivers or applications, or click

Quit to exit .

5 Store the discs in a safe place for future use. You are

done.

6 If your sy st em still ha s prob lems, f oll ow th e direc tions i n

“Recovering your system using Microsoft System
Restore” on page90.

Reco vering your s yste m using Microsoft Sy stem Restore

Before using Gateway System Recovery, you should try
Microsoft System Restore to determine whether you can
restore your system to a previous condition.

Every time you install new device drivers 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 poi nt. In most cases of hard-to-resolve
software problems, you can return to one of these restore
points to get your system running again.

To restore using Microsoft System Restore:

1 Press F1. The Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support

Center opens.

90

www.emachines.com

2 Click Undo changes to yo ur computer with System

Restore. The Welcome to System 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 k a r est ore point in t he list (S te p 2 on the s cr een).

5 Click Next. The Confirm Restore Point Selection dialog

box opens.

6 Make s ure th at you wan t to us e the restor e po int you

selected, 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
System R eco v ery . See “Recov er ing y our sy stem from the

hard drive” on page92 fo r i n st r uct i on s .

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

Reco vering your sy stem from the hard drive

Caution

Because of virus and spyware activity on the Internet, you should
disconnect all Internet connections before recovering your system. After
you reco ver your syst em, y ou can r einstall antiv irus and fir e wall so ftw are ,
then re-enable the Internet connection to update antivirus definitions
and install Windows Updates.

To recover your system from the hard drive:

1 Remove all CDs and DVDs from the disc drives,

disconnect all USB devi ces except the keyboard and
mouse, then disconnect your Internet cable.

2 If you can still run Windows, click Start, All Programs,

System Rec over y, Syst em Re cover y, then click Yes.

Your computer restarts, then the System Recovery
program starts.

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- OR ­Turn on or restart your computer and press F11 while

your computer is starting.

3 Insert the Opera ting System Rec overy CD /DV D when

prompted. The System Recovery program starts.

4 Click a system recovery option:

www.emachines.com

Caution

The Full System Restore option deletes all files on your hard drive
except t he r est o re fi les. Make sure that you bac k up al l perso nal data fil es
before continuing this process.

• Full System Restore (Destructive) reformats the

hard driv e and restore s the sy stem soft ware as it w as
when you purchased your computer. This process
deletes your data files.

• Full System Restore (with Backup)

(recommended) moves th e con tents o f the hard
drive to the C:\My Backup folder and installs a new
copy of WindowsXP. This option saves your existing
data files, but all programs must be reinstalled and
the pr ogr am s et tin gs r eco nfig ur ed. You need at l eas t
4 GB of hard drive space to use this restore option.

5 Click Next. The System Restore - Format 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.

Important

After you restore your system, it will appear with the same files
and programs it had when it shipped from the factory. You still need to
download Windows updates and antivirus updates to bring your
computer’s software up to date.

7 Click Restart. Your computer restarts, and Windows

finishes its setup an d inst allati on.

8 Reconnect your Internet cable and all USB peripheral

devices. You are done.

T elephone suppor t

Befor e calling Cust omer Care

If you have a technical problem with your computer, follow
these recommendations before contacting Customer Care:

• Make sure that your computer is connected correctly to

a grounded ACpower outlet that is supplying power. If
you use a surge protector, make sure that it is turned on.

• If a peripheral dev ice , such as a k e yboa rd or mous e, doe s

not appear to work, make sure that all cables are
plugged in securely.

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

• If you have recently installed hardware or software,

make sure that you have installed it according to the
instructions prov ided wit h it. If y ou did not purc ha se t he
hardware or software from e Machin es, see the
manufacturer’s documentation and technical support
resources.

• If you have “how to” questions about using a program,

see:

• Online He lp

• Printed documentation

• The Microsoft Windows documentation

• The software publisher’s Web site

• See the troubleshooting section of this chapter.

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 compute r
technician.

• Have y our cust omer ID, serial number , and or der number

available, along with a detailed description of your
problem, including the ex ac t t ex t of an y err or mes sage s,
and the steps you have taken.

• Make sure that your computer is nearby at the time of

your call. The technician may have you follow
troubleshooting steps.

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