Gateway 3018GZ, 3040GZ, 3522GZ, 3545GZ, 3550GZ Reference Manual

...

Download

REFERENCEGUIDE

Contents

Chapter 1: About this reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

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

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

Gateway contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Gateway model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

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

For more information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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

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

Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Keyboard area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chapter 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook . . . . 13

Connecting the AC adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a network . . . 17

Starting your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Waking up your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Turning off your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Restarting (rebooting) your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Using the status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Key types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

System key combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Using the EZ Pad touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Turning your wireless radio on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chapter 4: Using Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Contents www.gateway.com

Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Removing a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Adding and removing a PC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Using an optional port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Installing a printer or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Connecting a USB printer, scanner, or digital camera . .36 Connecting an IEEE 1394 video camera or MP3 player .36

Viewing the display on a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Ordering accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Chapter 5: Managing Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Monitoring the battery charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Changing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Recalibrating the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Extending battery life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Conserving battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Using alternate power sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Changing power modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Changing notebook power settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Changing alarm options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Changing advanced settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Activating and using Hibernate mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Chapter 6: Traveling with Your Notebook . . . . 55

Packing your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Traveling by air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Radio frequency wireless connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Additional tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Contentswww.gateway.com

Chapter 7: Maintaining Your Notebook . . . . . . 61

Caring for your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Cleaning your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Cleaning the notebook screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Chapter 8: Upgrading Your Notebook. . . . . . . . 65

Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Adding or replacing memory modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Replacing the hard drive kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Chapter 9: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

CD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Device installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

External DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Networks (wired) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Networks (wireless) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

iii

Contents www.gateway.com

Pointing device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Appendix A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal

Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Important safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Regulatory compliance statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Wireless guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Laser safety statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

EPA ENERGY STAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Environmental information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

CHAPTER 1

About this reference

• About this guide

• Accessing the online User Guide

• Gateway contact information

• Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

•For more information

CHAPTER 1: About this reference

About this guide

This guide includes information and maintenance instructions that are specific to your model of Gateway notebook. For all other notebook information, see your online User Guide.

Accessing the online User Guide

In addition to this guide, the online User Guide has been included on your hard drive. The User Guide is an in-depth, easy-to-read manual that includes information on the following topics:

■ Help and technical support

■ Using and customizing Windows and other

software

■ Controlling audio and video settings

■ Using the Internet

■ Protecting your files

■ Playing and recording media

■ Networking

■ Maintenance and troubleshooting

To access the online User Guide:

■ Click Start, All Programs, then click

Gateway Documentation.

Gateway contact information

Gateway model and serial number

Important

The label shown in this

ordered, and location.

section is for

informational

purposes only. Label

information varies by

model, features

The label on the bottom of your notebook contains information that identifies your notebook model and its features. Gateway Customer Care will need this information if you call for assistance.

Online Support: Tech Support Phone: Hours: Model: S/No:

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the bottom of your notebook includes the product key code for your operating system.

CHAPTER 1: About this reference

For more information

For more information about your notebook, visit Gateway’s Support page at www.gateway.com the Web address shown on your notebook’s label. The Support page also has links to additional Gateway documentation and detailed specifications.

CHAPTER 2

Checking Out Your Notebook

•Front

•Left

•Right

•Bottom

• Keyboard area

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook

Front

Battery

Power

indicator

Component Icon Description

charge indicator

Power indicator

Battery charge indicator

■

LED on - notebook is on.

■

LED blinking - notebook is in Standby mode.

■

LED off - notebook is off.

■

LED blue - battery is fully charged.

■

LED purple - battery is charging.

■

LED blinking red - battery charge is very low.

■

LED solid red - battery is malfunctioning.

Left

Power connector

Component Icon Description

Monitor port

Docking port

Ventilation fan

Memory card reader

PC Card slot

Power connector

Plug the AC adapter cable into this connector.

Component Icon Description

Left

Monitor port Plug an analog VGA monitor or projector into

Docking port

Ventilation fan

PC Card slot Insert one Type II PC Card into this slot. For

this port. For more information, see “Viewing

the display on a projector or monitor” on page 37.

Connect the optional port replicator to this port. Warning: Power is passed through this port. This docking connection is certified to UL 1950 for use only with port replicators designed for your Gateway notebook.

Helps cool internal components. Warning: Do not work for long periods with the notebook resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may become hot enough to harm your skin. Caution: Do not block or insert objects into these slots. If these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook. Caution: Provide adequate space around your notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not use the notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.

more information, see “Adding and removing a

PC Card” on page 33.

Memory card reader

Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player, PDA, or cellular telephone into the memory card reader. For more information, see

“Using the memory card reader” on page 32.

The memory card reader supports Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, Mini Secure Digital®, MultiMediaCard™, RS-MultiMediaCard™, and Secure Digital™ cards.

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook

Right

USB ports

Ethernet

jack

Modem jack

IEEE 1394 port

Kensington lock slot

Microphone jack

Headphone jack

Component Icon Description

USB ports Plug USB devices (such as a CD or DVD drive,

Ethernet jack Plug an Ethernet network cable into this jack.

Modem jack Plug a dial-up modem cable into this jack. For

IEEE 1394 port

Headphone jack

diskette drive, flash drive, printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports.

The other end of the cable can be plugged into a cable modem, DSL modem, or an Ethernet network jack. For more information, see

“Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a network” on page 17.

more information, see “Connecting the dial-up

modem” on page 16.

Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire i.Link®) device (such as a digital camcorder or MP3 player) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port.

Plug amplified speakers or headphones into this jack. The built-in speakers are turned off when speakers or headphones are plugged into this jack.

Microphone jack

Kensington™ lock slot

Plug a microphone into this jack.

Secure your notebook to an object by connecting a Kensington cable lock to this slot.

Bottom

Memory bay

Speaker

Hard drive

bay

Battery latch

Battery

Speaker

Ventilation fan

Customer care label

Component Icon Description

Hard drive bay

Speakers Provide audio output when headphones or

Memory bay Install a memory module into this bay. For

The hard drive is located in this bay. For more information, see “Replacing the hard

drive kit” on page 70.

amplified speakers are not plugged in.

more information, see “Adding or replacing

memory modules” on page 67.

Battery latch Slide to release the battery. For more

information, see “Changing batteries” on

page 43.

Battery Provides power when the notebook is not

plugged into AC power.

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook

Component Icon Description

Ventilation fan

Customer Care label

Helps cool internal components. War ning: Do not work for long periods with the notebook resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may become hot enough to harm your skin. Caution: Do not block or insert objects into these slots. If these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook. Caution: Provide adequate space around your notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not use the notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.

Includes the Customer Care contact information. For more information, see

“Gateway contact information” on page 3.

Keyboard area

Power button

Keyboard

Status indicators

To uc h pa d

Component Icon Description

Power button

Keyboard Provides all the features of a full-sized,

Tou ch pa d Provides all the functionality of a mouse. For

Status indicators

Press to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power button for Standby/Resume mode. For more information on configuring the power button mode, see

“Changing notebook power settings” on page 47.

computer keyboard. For more information, see “Using the keyboard” on page 21.

more information, see “Using the EZ Pad

touchpad” on page 25.

Inform you when a drive is in use or when a button has been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. For more information, see

“Using the status indicators” on page 20.

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook

CHAPTER 3

Using Your Gateway Notebook

• Connecting the AC adapter

• Connecting the dial-up modem

• Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a network

• Starting your notebook

• Turning off your notebook

• Restarting (rebooting) your notebook

• Using the status indicators

•Using the keyboard

• Using the EZ Pad touchpad

•Adjusting the volume

• Turning your wireless radio on or off

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Connecting the AC adapter

Warnin g

Do not attempt to

disassemble the AC

adapter. The AC

adapter has no

user-replaceable or

user-serviceable parts

inside. The AC adapter

has dangerous

voltages that can

cause serious injury or

death. Contact

Gateway about

returning defective AC

Make sure that you use

the AC adapter that

notebook or one of the

same type purchased

must be of the same

rating as the original

cord or your notebook

If the battery is not

fully charged before

you use your notebook

on battery power for

battery life may be

much shorter than you

expect. If the battery

life seems short even

after being charged for

battery may nee d to be

battery” on page 44.

adapters.

Caution

came with your

from Gateway.

Replace the power

cord if it becomes

damaged. The

replacement cord

type and voltage

may be damaged.

Important

the first time, the

three hours, the

recalibrated. For

information on

recalibrating the

battery, see

“Recalibrating the

You can run your notebook using an AC adapter or your notebook’s battery. The battery was shipped to you partially charged. You should use the AC adapter right away to fully charge the battery. Allow three hours for the battery to fully charge.

To connect the AC adapter:

1 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.

2 Connect the AC adapter to your

notebook’s power connector.

Connecting the AC adapter

Important

If the battery charge

indicator does not turn

blue after three hours,

contact Gateway

Customer Care at the

location shown on the

Customer Care label.

For more information,

see “Gateway contact

information” on

page 3.

3 Plug the power cord into a wall outlet. The

battery charge indicator turns on (see

“Front” on page 6 for the location of the

battery charge indicator). If the battery charge indicator does not turn on, complete the following steps until it turns on:

a Unplug the adapter from your

notebook, then plug it back in.

b Press FN+F1 to toggle the status

lights on and off.

4 When you finish using your notebook for

the first time, turn off your notebook and leave your notebook connected to AC power until the battery charge indicator turns blue.

Protecting from power source problems

Warnin g

High voltages can

enter your notebook

through both the

power cord and the

modem connection.

To protec t y our

notebook and avoid

electrical shock, use a

surge protector. 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

unplug both the surge

that has an

antenna/cable TV

jack. During an

electrical storm,

protector and the

modem.

During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your notebook can increase to levels far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage. Protect your notebook and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector, which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your notebook.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Connecting the dial-up modem

Warnin g

To re du ce the risk of

fire, use only No. 26

AWG or larger

telecommunications

line cord.

Your notebook has a built-in 56K modem that you can use to connect to a standard telephone line.

To connect the modem:

1 Insert one end of a modem cable into the

modem jack on the right side of your notebook.

2 Insert the other end of the modem cable

into a telephone wall jack. The modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines.

3 Start your notebook, then start your

communications program.

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a network

Your notebook has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network.

To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network:

1 Insert one end of a network cable into the

network jack on the right side of your notebook.

2 Insert the other end of the network cable

into a cable modem, DSL modem, or Ethernet network jack.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Starting your notebook

Warnin g

Do not work for long

periods with the

notebook resting on

your lap. If the air vents

are blocked, the

notebook may

become hot enough to

harm your skin.

Caution

Provide adequate

space around your

notebook so air vents

are not obstructed. Do

not use the notebook

on a bed, sofa, rug, or

other similar surface.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about changing the

power button mode,

see “Changing

notebook power

settings” on page 47.

To start your notebook:

1 Lift the LCD panel.

2 Press the power button located above the

keyboard.

3 If you are starting your notebook for the

first time, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your notebook.

Waking up your notebook

Tips & Tricks

For more information about Standby mode,

see “Changing

notebook power

settings” on page 47.

When you have not used your notebook for several minutes or if you close the LCD panel without turning off your notebook, it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in Standby, the power indicator flashes. If your notebook is in Standby mode, press the power button to “wake” it up.

Power button

T urning off your notebook

Important

If for some reason you

cannot use the Turn

Off Computer option

in Windows to turn off

your notebook, press

and hold the power

button for about five

seconds, then release

it.

To turn off your notebook:

1 Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer.

The Turn Off Computer dialog box opens.

2 Click Turn O ff. Windows shuts down and

turns off your notebook.

Restarting (rebooting) your notebook

Important

If your notebook does

battery for more than

not turn off immediately, complete the

following

steps until the

notebook turns off:

1. Press and hold the power button for

about five seconds,

then release it.

2. Unplug the power

cord and remove the

10 seconds.

If your notebook does not respond to keyboard, touchpad, or mouse input, you may have to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your notebook to normal operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your notebook.

To close unresponsive programs and restart your notebook:

1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Windows Security

dialog box opens.

2 Click Task Man ager. The Windows Task

Manager dialog box opens.

3 Click the program that is not responding.

4 Click End Task. 5 Click X in the top-right corner of the

Windows Task Manager dialog box.

6 If your notebook does not respond, turn it

off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again.

As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status runs automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Using the status indicators

Important

If none of the

indicators are on, you

may need to press

N+F1 to toggle the

status indicators on.

Status indicators inform you when a drive is being used or when a button has been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. The status indicators are located below the touchpad.

Indicator Icon Description

Wireless network (optional)

■

LED on - wireless IEEE 802.11 radio is turned on.

■

LED off - wireless IEEE 802.11 radio is turned off.

Num lockWireless network Power

Hard drive Caps lock

Battery charge

Hard drive

Power

Battery charge

Num lock

Caps lock

■

LED blinking - hard drive is being accessed.

■

LED off - hard drive is not being accessed.

■

LED on - notebook is on.

■

LED blinking - notebook is in Standby mode.

■

LED off - notebook is off.

■

LED blue - battery is fully charged.

■

LED purple - battery is charging.

■

LED blinking red - battery charge is very low.

■

LED solid red - battery is malfunctioning.

■

LED on - numeric keypad is turned on.

■

LED off - numeric keypad is turned off.

■

LED on - caps lock is turned on.

■

LED off - caps lock is turned off.

Using the keyboard

Tips & Tricks

You can attach an

external keyboard to

the notebook using a

USB port. You do not need to shut down the notebook to connect a

USB keyboard.

N key

Your notebook features a full-size keyboard that functions the same as a desktop computer keyboard. Many of the keys have been assigned alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows, function keys for specific system operations, and the Num Lock keys for the numeric keypad.

Function keys/ System keys

Numeric keypa d

Windows key

Application key

Arrow keys/ Navigation keys

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Key types

The keyboard has several different types of keys. Some keys perform specific actions when pressed alone and other actions when pressed in combination with another key.

Key type Icon Description

Function keys

System keys

FN key Press the FN key in combination with a colored

Windows key

Numeric keypad

Application key

Press these keys labeled F1 to F12 to perform actions in programs. For example, pressing F1 may open help. Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions. Important: Press F

Press these colored keys in combination with the

N key to perform specific actions. For more

information, see “System key combinations” on

page 23.

system key to perform a specific action.

Press this key to open the Windows Start menu. This key can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer utility).

Use these keys to type numbers when the

numeric keypad is turned on. Press FN+ to

turn on the numeric keypad.

Press this key for quick access to shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.

N + F11 to input F12.

Arrow keys Press these keys to move the cursor up, down,

Navigation keys

right, or left.

Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document.

System ke y combinat ions

When you press the FN key and a system key at the same time, your notebook performs the action identified by the text or icon on the key.

Using the keyboard

Press and hold FN, then press this system key...

To...

Toggle the status indicators on or off. For more information, see “Using the status

indicators” on page 20.

Turn the optional wireless network on or off. For more information, see “Wireless Networking” in your online User Guide. Warning: Radio frequency wireless communication can interfere with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11a communication devices are examples of devices that provide wireless communication.

Enter Standby mode. Press the power button to leave Standby mode. For more information, see “Changing notebook

power settings” on page 47.

Toggle the notebook display in the following order:

■

The LCD

■

An external monitor or projector (a monitor or projector must be plugged into the monitor port on your notebook)

■

Both displays at the same time For more information, see “Viewing the

display on a projector or monitor” on page 37.

Display the power status box in the upper-left corner of your display. The box shows the battery charge level, the BIOS version, and whether the optional wireless network is being used. Press the key combination again to close this box.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

Press and hold FN, then press this system key...

To...

Turn the optional Bluetooth feature on or off. Warning: Radio frequency wireless communication can interfere with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. Bluetooth communication devices are examples of devices that provide wireless communication.

Increase the LCD panel brightness above the normal brightest setting. Use this feature in bright lighting situations, such as outside in bright sunlight. Press a second time to decrease the brightness below the normal lowest brightness setting. Use this feature in dim lighting situations. Press a third time to return the display to the normal brightness setting. Important: Using this feature will affect battery performance.

Decrease volume. For more information, see “Adjusting the volume” on page 27.

Increase volume. For more information, see

“Adjusting the volume” on page 27.

Mute the sound. Press the key combination again to restore the sound. For more information, see “Adjusting the volume” on

page 27.

Increase the brightness of the display.

Decrease the brightness of the display.

Using the EZ Pad touchpad

Tips & Tricks

For instructions on

how to adjust the

double-click speed,

pointer speed,

right-hand or

left-hand

configuration, and

other touchpad

“Changing the mouse

settings, see

or touchpad settings”

in the online User

Guide.

Tips & Tricks

You received your

notebook with the EZ

Pad touchpad set to

only accept clicking by

using the touchpad

buttons. You can

change this feature to

allow tapping on the

touchpad to simulate

clicking the left button.

For more information,

see “Changing the

mouse or touchpad

settings” in the online

User Guide.

The EZ Pad™ consists of a touchpad and two buttons.

Tou ch pa d

Left button

Right button

When you move your finger on the touchpad, the pointer (arrow) on the screen moves in the same direction.

You can use the EZ-Pad left and right buttons below the touchpad to select objects.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

To... Do this...

Move the pointer on the screen.

Select an object on the screen.

Start a program or open a file or folder.

Move your finger around on the touchpad. If you run out of space and need to move the pointer farther, lift your finger, move it to the middle of the touchpad, then continue moving your finger.

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

Position the pointer over the object. Press the left button twice in rapid succession. This action is called

double-clicking

Access a shortcut menu or find more information about an object on the screen.

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

To... Do this...

Adjusting the volume

Move an object on the screen.

Adjusting the volume

Tips & Tricks

For instructions on

how to adjust the

volume in Windows,

see “Adjusting the

Volume” in the online

User Guide.

You can use the volume control to adjust the overall volume of your notebook.

To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:

■ If you are using external speakers, turn the

knob on the front of the speakers.

Position the pointer over the object. Press the left button and hold it down, then use the touchpad to move (drag) the object to the appropriate part of the screen. Release the button to drop the object where you want it.

-OR-

Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more information, see

“System key combinations” on page 23.

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

T urning your wireless radio on or off

Warnin g

Radio frequency

communication can

commercial aircraft.

regulations require

wireless devices to be

airplane. IEEE 802.11a,

IEEE 802.11g, and

devices are examples

of devices that provide

interference to other

devices or services is

harmful or perceived as harmful, the option to use a wireless device

may be restricted or

eliminated. Airports,

hospitals, and oxygen

or flammable gas

laden atmospheres

are limited examples

where use of wireless

eliminated. When in

environments where

you are uncertain of

the sanction to use

wireless devices, ask

authorization prior to

using or turning on th e

wireless

interfere with

equipment on

Current aviation

turned off while

traveling in an

IEEE 802.11b,

Bluetooth

communication

wireless

communication.

Warnin g

In environments where the risk of

devices may be

restricted or

the applicable

authority for

wireless device.

Your Gateway notebook may have a factory-installed wireless networking card.

To turn the wireless IEEE 802.11 radio on or off:

■ Press FN + F2. The wireless status indicator

turns on or off. For the location of the wireless status indicator, see “Using the

status indicators” on page 20.

To turn the Bluetooth radio on or off:

■ Press FN + F6. The first time you use

Bluetooth, you need to configure your notebook using the Initial Bluetooth Configuration Wizard.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about using your

notebook on a wireless

network, see “Wireless

Networking” in the

online User Guide.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

Bluetooth Help Topics.

about using

Bluetooth, click Start,

All Programs,

My Bluetooth Places.

When the My

Bluetooth Places

window opens, click

Help, then click

Turning your wireless radio on or off

CHAPTER 3: Using Your Gateway Notebook

CHAPTER 4

Using Accessories

• Using the memory card reader

• Adding and removing a PC Card

• Installing a printer or other peripheral device

• Viewing the display on a projector or monitor

• Ordering accessories

CHAPTER 4: Using Accessories

Using the memory card reader

You can use memory cards to transfer pictures from a digital camera to your notebook. You can also use the memory card reader to transfer data between your notebook and a device that uses memory cards, such as a PDA, MP3 player, or cellular telephone.

Memory card types

Important

RS-Multimedia Card

and Mini Secure

Digital cards require

the use of an adapter

that is available with

the media.

The memory card reader supports Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, Mini Secure Digital®, MultiMediaCard™, RS-MultiMediaCard™, and Secure Digital™ cards.

Inserting a memory card

To insert a memory card:

■ Insert the memory card into the memory

card slot with the label facing up and the arrow on the label pointing towards the notebook.

Using a memory card

To access a file on a memory card:

1 Click Start, then click My Computer.

2 Double-click the drive letter (for example,

the E: drive), then double-click the file name.

Removing a memory card

Adding and removing a PC Card

Important

Do not use the remove

hardware icon in

the taskbar to remove

the memory card. If you use the remove

hardware icon, your

notebook may not

recognize your

memory card reader

until you restart your

remove some memory

pushing them into the

notebook.

Important

You ma y be ab le to

card types without

notebook.

To remove a memory card:

1 Push the memory card into your notebook.

The memory card pops out slightly.

2 Pull the memory card out of your

notebook.

Adding and removing a PC Card

Your notebook has a PC Card slot (also known as a PCMCIA card slot). This slot accepts one Type II card. You do not need to restart your notebook when changing most cards because your notebook supports hot-swapping. Hot-swapping means that you can insert a PC Card while your notebook is running. If your PC Card does not work after hot-swapping, see the PC Card manufacturer’s documentation for further information.

CHAPTER 4: Using Accessories

■ Push the card firmly into the PC Card slot,

Important

If the remove

hardware icon does

not appear on the

taskbar, click the show

icons button.

hidden

1 Click the remove hardware icon in the

2 Release the eject button by pressing the

3 Eject the PC Card by pressing the eject

To insert a PC Card:

label-side up, until the outer edge of the card is flush with the side of your notebook.

To remove a PC Card:

taskbar, the PC Card name, then click Stop.

-OR-

Turn off your notebook.

PC Card eject button once.

button again.

Using an optional port replicator

Although you can attach devices directly to your notebook, a port replicator lets you make all of those connections at one time. When you travel with your notebook, you merely disconnect from the port replicator instead of unplugging all the devices.

A port replicator also provides additional ports and other expansion features not included with your notebook. For more information about using a port replicator, see the port replicator user guide.

Installing a printer or other peripheral device

Important

Before you install a

printer, scanner, or

other peripheral

device, see the device

documentation and

installation

instructions.

Help and

For more information

click Start, then click

installing devices

Support

about installing

peripheral devices,

Help and Support.

Type the keyword

in the Search box,

then click the arrow.

Your notebook has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire

) and Universal Serial Bus (USB). You use

i.Link

these ports to connect peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras to your notebook.

IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot swapping, which means that your notebook will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the appropriate port. When you use an IEEE 1394 or USB device for the first time, your notebook will prompt you to install any software the device needs. After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.

CHAPTER 4: Using Accessories

Connecting a USB printer , scanner, or digital camera

Important

USB devices may have

special installation

instructions. See your

USB device’s

installation guide.

Your notebook has a two USB ports for connecting devices such as a diskette drive, flash drive, printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse.

To connect your USB device to your notebook:

Important

For more information

about using the USB

port on your device,

see your device’s

documentation.

Tips & Tricks

For the location of the

USB ports on your

notebook, see “Right”

on page 8.

1 Connect one end of the USB cable to your

device.

2 Connect the other end of the cable to a

USB port on your notebook.

Connecting an IEEE 1394 video camera or MP3 player

Important

For more information

about using the IEEE

1394 port on your

device, see your

device’s

documentation.

Tips & Tricks

For the location of the

IEEE 1394 port on your

notebook, see “Right”

on page 8.

Your notebook has a 4-pin IEEE 1394 port (also known as a Firewire® or i.Link® port) for connecting devices such as a video camera.

To connect your IEEE 1394 device to your notebook:

1 Connect one end of the IEEE 1394 cable to

your video camera.

2 Connect the other end of the cable to the

IEEE 1394 port on your notebook.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about editing video, see your User Guide.

Viewing the display on a projector or monitor

Important

Press FN+F4 to switch

between viewing the

display on the LCD

panel and viewing the

display on the

projector or monitor.

Important

If an external monitor

or projector is

connected and you

close the LCD panel,

your notebook may

turn off the LCD panel,

but will not enter

Standby mode.

Tips & Tricks

For the location of the

VGA port on your

notebook, see “Left” on

page 6.

You can use your notebook for giving presentations by connecting an external monitor or projector to your monitor (VGA) port. Your notebook supports simultaneous LCD and external display. Simultaneous display lets you control the presentation from your notebook and at the same time face your audience.

To use a projector or external monitor:

1 Turn off your notebook.

2 Plug the projector or monitor cable into

the VGA port on your notebook.

3 Turn on your notebook.

4 Plug the projector’s or monitor’s power

cord into an AC power source and turn it on.

Windows recognizes the new hardware and searches for its driver. You may need to install the driver from the disc supplied by the manufacturer or download the driver from the manufacturer’s Web site.

5 Right-click any empty space on the

desktop, then click Properties. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

6 Click the Settings tab.

7 Right-click the second monitor icon

(labeled 2), then click Attached.

8 Click Apply.

9 Adjust properties such as Screen

Resolution or Color Quality if necessary.

10 Click OK.

CHAPTER 4: Using Accessories

Ordering accessories

To order accessories, visit the Accessory Store at

www.gateway.com

Batteries

If you run your notebook on battery power for extended periods, you may want to buy an additional battery so you can swap batteries when necessary. See “Changing batteries” on

page 43 for more information about using an

additional battery.

Carrying cases

Gateway has large-capacity carrying cases if you need additional space for accessories or supplies.

Disc drives

Your notebook does not have a built-in CD or DVD drive. You can purchase an external drive to install programs, play audio CDs, play DVDs, access data, and record music, video, and data. See the user guide for the disc drive for more information about using a disc drive with your notebook.

Hard drives

If you want to increase your internal storage space, try replacing your existing hard drive with a larger drive. See “Replacing the hard drive kit”

on page 70 for more information.

Memory

Large programs, such as multimedia games or graphics programs, use a lot of memory. If your programs are running more slowly than you think they should, try adding more memory. See

“Adding or replacing memory modules” on page 67 for more information.

Ordering accessories

Port replicators

A port replicator also provides additional ports and other expansion features not included with your notebook. See the user guide for the port replicator for more information about using a port replicator with your notebook.

Printers

You can attach almost any type of printer to your notebook. The most common types are inkjet and laser printers, which print in color or black and white.

Inkjet printers and cartridges are relatively inexpensive, but they are slower than laser printers. Using an inkjet color printer, you can print pictures, banners, and greeting cards, as well as documents.

Laser printers and cartridges are more expensive, but they print much faster than inkjet printers. Laser printers are better than inkjet printers when you are printing large documents.

USB flash drive

Use a USB flash drive for storing files or transferring files to another computer.

CHAPTER 4: Using Accessories

CHAPTER 5

Managing Power

• Monitoring the battery charge

• Recharging the battery

• Recalibrating the battery

• Extending battery life

• Changing notebook power settings

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Monitoring the battery charge

Important

If the power cord or

battery icon does not

appear on the taskbar,

click the show hidden

icons button. If the

icon still does not

appear, make sure

that Always show

icon on the taskbar is

checked on the

Advance tab in the

Power Options

Properties dialog box.

For more information,

see “Changing

advanced settings” on

For more information

indicator, see “Front”

page 51.

Tips & Tricks

about the battery

charge status

on page 6.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about recalibrating

the battery, see

“Recalibrating the

battery” on page 44.

Your new Gateway notebook is designed to provide an exceptional balance of performance and portability. Your notebook uses the latest chipset and mobile processor technologies to manage the processor speed and power consumption for a greater battery life experience. This design provides you with maximum performance when plugged into AC power balanced with optimized battery life when on battery power.

Closely monitor the battery charge. When the battery charge gets low, change the battery or connect to AC power immediately to prevent losing any unsaved work. To monitor the battery charge:

■ Double-click the power cord icon or

battery icon in the taskbar. The Power Meter dialog box opens.

■ Look at the battery charge status indicator.

■ Wait for a Low Battery warning message to

appear.

If your battery charge indicator displays what looks like an inaccurate charge, you may need to recalibrate the battery.

Recharging the battery

Important

If the power cord icon

does not appear on

the taskbar, click the

icons button. If the

icon on the taskbar is

show hidden

icon still does not

appear, make sure

that Always show

checked on the

Advance tab in the

Power Options

Properties dialog box.

For more information,

see “Changing

advanced settings” on

page 51.

The battery recharges while it is installed and your notebook is connected to AC power. While the battery recharges, the battery charge indicator turns on and the power cord icon in the taskbar has a lightning bolt .

Changing batteries

Replacing the battery

Changing batteries

Danger of explosion if

battery is incorrectly

Replace only with a

battery specifically

manufactured for your

Gateway notebook.

Discard used batteries

hazardous material

The battery used in this

device may present a

fire or chemical burn

hazard if mishandled.

Do not disassemble,

(100°C), or incinerate.

battery promptly. Keep

away from children.

replaced.

according to local

regulations.

heat above 212°F

Dispose of used

Caution

If your notebook is

connected to an AC

outlet, you can change

the battery while the notebook is turned on. If your notebook is not

plugged into an AC

outlet, you must turn

the notebook off while

changing the battery

or you will lose any

unsaved data.

Warnin g

To replace the battery:

1 If your notebook is on and is connected

directly to AC power, go to Step 2.

-OR-

If your notebook is on and is not plugged into an AC outlet, save your work and turn off the notebook.

2 Close the LCD panel.

3 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is

facing up.

4 Press in the small square button on the

battery release latch, slide the latch in the direction shown, then slide the battery out of your notebook.

5 Slide a recharged battery into your

notebook until it snaps into place.

6 Slide the battery lock to the locked

position.

7 Turn your notebook over.

8 Open the LCD panel and press the power

button.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Recalibrating the battery

Important

Do not interrupt the

battery recalibration

interrupted, you must

start the process over

indicator still does not

Gateway Customer

Care at the location

Customer Care label.

For more information,

see “Gateway contact

process. If

recalibration is

again.

Important

If, after completing

this procedure, the

battery charge

show an accurate

charge, contact

shown on the

information” on

page 3

If your notebook unexpectedly goes into Standby mode while you are using it but the battery charge is not low, you may need to recalibrate your battery. You should also recalibrate the battery periodically to maintain the accuracy of the battery gauge.

To recalibrate the battery:

1 Connect your notebook to AC power and

let the battery charge completely.

2 Disconnect the AC power and restart your

notebook.

3 Completely discharge the battery by doing

the following:

a From the desktop, right-click on the

power icon, then select Adjust Power Properties.

b Click the Power Schemes tab.

c Click the arrow button to open the

Power Schemes list, then click Always On.

d Click the Alarms tab.

e Click to clear the Low battery

alarm and Critical battery alarm

check boxes. Let the battery drain until your notebook automatically turns off.

4 After the battery is completely drained,

reconnect your notebook to AC power.

5 Charge the battery completely until the

battery status indicator turns blue.

6 When you are ready to use your notebook

again, do the following:

a From the desktop, right-click the

power icon, then select Adjust Power Properties.

b Click the Power Schemes tab.

c Click the arrow button to open the

Power Schemes list, then click Portable/Laptop.

d Click the Alarms tab.

e Click to select the Low battery

alarm and Critical battery alarm

check boxes.

Extending battery life

Conserving battery power

Extending battery life

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about using power

management settings,

see “Changing

notebook power

settings” on page 47.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about using Hibernate

mode, see “Activating

and using Hibernate

mode” on page52.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about traveling with

your notebook, see

“Traveling with Your

Notebook” on

page 55.

To conserve power while using the battery to power your notebook:

■ Dim the display as low as is comfortable.

■ Remove PC Cards when you do not need

them. Many PC Cards use a small amount of power while inserted, even if they are not being used.

■ Modify the power management settings

for maximum power savings.

■ Close the LCD panel to turn off the display

while you are not using your notebook. The display stays off until you open the panel again.

■ Use Hibernate mode for maximum power

savings while your notebook is not in use.

■ Recharge the battery often, take an extra

battery, and fully recharge the batteries before traveling. For more information, see

“Recharging the battery” on page 42.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Using alternate power sources

To extend battery life, use alternate power sources whenever possible.

■ If traveling internationally, take electrical

adapters. Save the battery for times when you cannot use a power adapter. If you plan on taking your AC power adapter, also take a single-plug surge protector.

■ If you will have access to an EmPower™

in-flight power receptacle, an automobile power outlet, or an automobile cigarette lighter, use a power inverter. Save the battery for times when you cannot use a power adapter.

■ To find AC power outlets in airports, look

for them next to support pillars, in large areas such as boarding gates, and under banks of telephones.

Changing power modes

You can use the following power modes to lengthen the life of your notebook’s battery:

■ Standby - while your notebook is in

Standby, it switches to a low power state where devices, such as the display and drives, turn off.

■ Hibernate - (also called save to disk) writes

all current memory (RAM) information to the hard drive, then turns your notebook completely off. The next time you turn on your notebook, it reads the memory information from the hard drive and opens the programs and documents that were open when you activated Hibernate mode.

Changing notebook power settings

Using power sa ving modes

Always save your work before using Standby mode. In Standby mode, your notebook reduces or turns off the power to most devices except memory. However, the information in memory is not saved to the hard drive. If power is interrupted, the information is lost.

When in Hibernate mode, your notebook saves all memory information to the hard drive, then turns the power completely off.

If your notebook

...and you want to...

...then

is...

On Enter

In Standby or Hibernate mode

Standby mode

Hibernate mode (must be activated)

Exit Standby or Hibernate mode

Press FN+F3.

Click Start, then click Tur n O ff Computer. Press and hold S then click Hibernate.

Press the power button.

HIFT,

Changing notebook power settings

You can change the function of your notebook’s power button, Standby system key, and power-saving timers by changing power settings on your notebook.

You can customize power settings from the Windows Control Panel by selecting power schemes, setting power alarms, adjusting advanced power settings, and activating Hibernate mode.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Changing the power scheme

Help and

For more information

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the scheme in the Search

Support

about changing the power scheme, click

keyword power

box, then click the

arrow.

Power sch emes (groups of power settings) let you

change power saving options such as when the display or hard drive is automatically turned off. You can select one of the defined power schemes or create a custom power scheme.

The processor installed in your notebook may use Intel® SpeedStep™ technology to conserve battery power. A SpeedStep-equipped processor can change its operating speed according to the power source. Your notebook’s default settings operate the processor at full speed while connected to AC power and at reduced speed (which uses less power) while using battery power. You can modify the Intel SpeedStep settings by the power scheme you select.

Changing notebook power settings

To change the power scheme:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click the Power Options

icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

3 Click the arrow button to open the Power

Schemes list, then click the power scheme

you want.

- OR -

Set the timers, then click Save As and type a name for the scheme.

4 Click OK.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Changing alarm options

Help and

For more information

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the options in the Search

Support

about changing the

alarm options, click

keywo rd alarm

box, then click the

arrow.

Alarms can alert you when the battery charge is

low.

To change the alarm options:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click the Power Options

icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

3 Click the Alarms tab.

4 Adjust the alarm settings, then click OK.

Changing advanced settings

Changing notebook power settings

Help and

For more information

management in the

Search box, then click

Support

about changing the

power management

settings, click Start,

then click Help and

Support. Type the

keyword power

the arrow.

Advanced power settings let you assign different

power saving modes to the power button and Standby system key. You can also select which power saving mode is activated when you close the LCD panel.

To change advanced power management settings:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click the Power Options

icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

3 Click the Advanced tab.

4 Click the arrow button to open a Power

buttons list, then click the power setting

mode you want to use.

5 Click OK.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

Activating and using Hibernate mode

Help and

For more information about using Hibernate mode, click Start, then

Support

click Help and

Support. Type the

keywo rd hibernate

in the Search box,

then click the arrow.

Hibernate (also called save to disk) writes all

current memory (RAM) information to the hard drive, then turns your notebook completely off. The next time you turn on your notebook, it reads the memory information from the hard drive and opens the programs and documents that were open when you activated Hibernate mode.

To activate Hibernate mode:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click the Power Options

icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

3 Click the Hibernate tab.

4 Click the Enable hibernation check box,

then click Apply. Hibernate mode is now an option you can select on the Advanced tab

Changing notebook power settings

in the Power Options Properties dialog box and in the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

To use Hibernate mode:

■ As an automatic power savings mode:

Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the Power Schemes tab. Click the arrow button to open a System hibernates list, then click the time you want to use.

- OR -

Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the Advanced tab. Hibernate is now an option in the Power buttons lists.

■ As a manually-selected power savings

mode: Click Start, then click Shut Down. Press

and hold S

HIFT, then click Hibernate.

CHAPTER 5: Managing Power

CHAPTER 6

Traveling with Your Notebook

• Packing your notebook

• Traveling by air

•Dial-up modem

• Radio frequency wireless connections

•Files

•Security

•Power

•Additional tips

CHAPTER 6: Traveling with Your Notebook

Packing your notebook

■ Remove all peripheral devices and cables.

Remember to pack those you will need while traveling.

■ Pack your notebook securely into a

briefcase or hand-carried luggage, and keep it sepa rate from toil etri es, l iqui ds, a nd food. Do not pack it in checked luggage.

■ Keep your notebook stable during travel.

Secure it to prevent it from sliding around in overhead bins and car trunks.

T raveling by air

■ Do not check your notebook as luggage.

■ Charge the battery in case airport security

asks you to start your notebook.

■ Have your notebook hand-inspected or

sent through the X-ray scanner, but never carry it through the metal detector.

■ Turn off you notebook for takeoff and

landing.

■ Turn off all wireless devices while in the

aircraft.

Dial-up modem

■ Take a telephone cord to connect the

modem to telephone jacks. If you are traveling internationally, take telephone jack adapters or an acoustic handset coupler.

■ Take a telephone line protector.

Radio frequency wireless connections

■ Take a telephone line tester to check for

unsafe lines, especially if you are traveling internationally.

■ Take remote access information with you

so you can connect to your ISP while outside of your usual calling area. A list of country dialing codes may be especially useful if you are traveling internationally.

Radio frequency wireless connections

■ Every country has different restrictions on

the use of wireless devices. If your notebook is equipped with a wireless device, check with the local radio approval authorities prior to your trip for any restrictions on the use of a wireless device in the destination country.

■ If your notebook came equipped with an

internal embedded wireless device, see

“Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information” on page 107 for general wireless

regulatory guidelines.

■ Wireless communication can interfere with

equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth communication devices are examples of devices which use wireless to communicate. To turn off your wireless IEEE 802.11 device, press F off your Bluetooth device, press F

N + F2. To turn

N + F6.

CHAPTER 6: Traveling with Your Notebook

Files

■ Copy your working files from your desktop

computer to your notebook before you travel.

■ If you need to access your desktop

computer files from your notebook while traveling, set up your desktop computer for remote access. Contact your network administrator for more information about remote access.

■ Take an external optical drive and extra

recordable media for transferring files between computers and backing up files.

Security

■ Get a locking cable for your notebook so

you can attach a cable lock and leave your notebook in your hotel room while you are away.

■ Always keep your notebook with you while

waiting in airports, train stations, or bus terminals. Be ready to claim your notebook as soon as it passes through the X-ray machine in security checkpoints.

■ Write down your notebook model number

and serial number (located on the bottom of your notebook) in case of theft or loss, and keep the information in a safe place. Also, tape your business card or an address label to your notebook and accessories.

■ Whoever sits next to you or behind you can

see your notebook display. Avoid working with confidential files until you can be sure of privacy.

Important

Use a password that

you can remember,

but that is difficult for

someone else to guess.

The password feature

is very secure, with no

easy way to recover a

forgotten password. If

you forget your

password, you must

return your notebook

to Gateway for service.

Power

■ Use a startup password to restrict access to

your notebook. The startup password is set using the BIOS utility.

■ Review the information in “Protecting your

notebook” in the online User Guide.

■ Take your AC power adapter to recharge

the battery. If you are traveling internationally, take power plug adapters.

■ Take a portable surge protector to protect

your notebook from power surges.

■ To get the best performance from your

notebook, avoid using the battery whenever possible, monitor the battery charge, and use the most efficient power management settings. For information on conserving battery power, using alternate power sources, and monitoring the battery charge, see “Managing Power” on page 41.

Additional tips

■ If you plan to use several USB peripheral

devices, take a portable USB hub to provide additional USB ports.

■ Take a network cable if you need to

connect to a network. Some hotels provide Internet connectivity only through their networks.

■ If your notebook has been exposed to cold

temperatures, allow it to warm to room temperature before turning it on.

CHAPTER 6: Traveling with Your Notebook

■ Carry proof of ownership or a merchandise

passport when traveling internationally.

■ Consult your insurance company and

credit card company to learn about emergency travel assistance if your notebook is lost or damaged.

■ Take an external optical drive and your

recovery discs (see “Drivers and applications recovery” in the online User Guide) in case you need to install an additional driver or software.

CHAPTER 7

Maintaining Your Notebook

• Caring for your notebook

• Cleaning your notebook

• Cleaning CDs or DVDs

CHAPTER 7: Maintaining Your Notebook

Caring for your notebook

To extend the life of your notebook:

■ Be careful not to bump or drop your

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

■ When transporting your notebook, we

recommend that you put it in a carrying case.

■ Keep your notebook away from magnetic

fields. Magnetic fields can erase data on hard drives.

■ Never turn off your notebook when the

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

■ Avoid subjecting your notebook to

extreme temperature changes. The case (and LCD panel) can become brittle and easy to break in cold temperatures and can melt or warp in high temperatures. Damage due to either extreme is not covered by your warranty. As a general rule, your notebook is safest at temperatures that are comfortable for you.

■ Keep all liquids away from your notebook.

When spilled onto notebook components, almost any liquid 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 internal mechanisms and can lead to permanent damage to the notebook.

■ Do not block the ventilation fan slots. If

these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook.

■ When storing your notebook for an

extended period of time, unplug AC power and remove the battery after discharging it partway.

Cleaning your notebook

Keeping your notebook clean and the vents free from dust helps keep your notebook performing at its best. You may want to gather these items and put together a notebook cleaning kit:

■ A soft, lint-free cloth

■ An aerosol can of air that has a narrow,

straw-like extension

■ Cotton swabs

■ A DVD drive cleaning kit

Cleaning the exterior

Cleaning your notebook

When you shut down

your notebook, the

power turns off, but some electrical current still flows through your

notebook. To avoid

possible injury from

electrical shock,

unplug the power

cord, modem cable,

and network cable

from the wall outlets.

Tips & Tricks

You may want to

occasionally open the

memory bay door and

remove dust and lint

Warnin g

using an aerosol can of

air.

Always turn off your notebook and other peripherals before cleaning any components. Also, remove the battery before cleaning any components.

Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your notebook and other parts of your system. Do not use household abrasive or solvent cleaners because they can damage the finish on components.

Your notebook is cooled by air circulated through the vents on the case, so keep the vents free of dust. With your notebook turned off and unplugged, brush the dust away from the vents with a damp cloth. Be careful not to drip any water into the vents. Do not attempt to clean dust from the inside of your notebook.

CHAPTER 7: Maintaining Your Notebook

Cleaning the keyboard

You should clean the keyboard occasionally by using an aerosol can of air with a narrow, straw-like extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the keys.

If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your notebook and turn the notebook upside down. Let the liquid drain, then let the keyboard dry before trying to use it again. If the keyboard does not work after it dries, you may need to replace it. A replacement keyboard may not be covered by your warranty.

Cleaning the notebook screen

A notebook LCD screen

coated glass and can

damaged by abrasive

Caution

is made of specially

be scratched or

or ammonia-based

glass cleaners.

Use a soft cloth and water to clean the LCD screen. Squirt a little water on the cloth (never directly on the screen), and wipe the screen with the cloth.

Cleaning CDs or DVDs

Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a circle, using a product made especially for the purpose.

CHAPTER 8

Upgrading Your Notebook

• Preventing static electricity discharge

• Adding or replacing memory modules

• Replacing the hard drive kit

CHAPTER 8: Upgrading Your Notebook

Preventing static electricity discharge

Warnin g

To avoid exposure to

dangerous electrical

voltages and moving

parts, turn off your

notebook, unplug the

power cord, modem

cable, and network

cable, and remove the

battery before

opening the case.

Warnin g

To prevent risk of electric shock, do not insert any object into

the vent holes of the

notebook.

Important

Before installing or

replacing

components, you

should read and

understand the

information in this

section .

The components inside your notebook are extremely sensitive to static electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Before installing or replacing components, follow these guidelines:

■ Avoid static-causing surfaces such as

carpeted floors, plastic, and packing foam.

■ Remove components from their antistatic

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

■ Always hold components by their edges.

Avoid touching the edge connectors. Never slide components over any surface.

■ Wear a grounding wrist strap (available at

most electronics stores) and attach it to a bare metal part of your workbench or other grounded connection.

■ Touch a bare metal surface on your

workbench or other grounded object.

Adding or replacing memory modules

Important

Use only memory

modules designed for

your Gateway

notebook.

To ol s

Required

You need a small

Phillips screwdriver to

replace memory

modules.

Your notebook uses memory modules called SO-DIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules). The modules are available in various capacities and any module can be placed in any slot.

Memory bay

To add or replace memory modules:

1 Follow the guidelines under “Preventing

static electricity discharge” on page 66.

2 Turn off your notebook.

3 Disconnect from the optional port

replicator.

4 Disconnect the AC adapter, modem cable,

and network cable if they are connected to the notebook.

5 Disconnect all peripheral devices

connected to the notebook and remove any PC cards.

6 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is

facing up, then remove the battery. For more information, see “Changing

batteries” on page 43.

CHAPTER 8: Upgrading Your Notebook

7 Loosen the captive memory bay cover

screw (this screw cannot be removed).

Screw

8 Gently press outward on the clip at each

end of the memory module until the module tilts upward.

Clip

Adding or replacing memory modules

9 Pull the memory module out of the slot.

Important

Use only memory

modules designed for

your Gateway

notebook.

10 Hold the replacement module at a

30-degree angle and slide it into the empty memory slot. This module is keyed so it can only be inserted in one direction. If the module does not fit, make sure that the notch in the module lines up with the tab in the memory bay.

11 Gently push the module down until it clicks

in place.

12 Replace the memory bay cover, then

tighten the captive screw.

13 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook

over.

14 Connect the optional port replicator.

-OR-

Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable.

15 Reconnect all peripheral devices and

replace any PC cards.

CHAPTER 8: Upgrading Your Notebook

Replacing the hard drive kit

To ol s

Required

You need a small

Phillips screwdriver to

replace the hard drive.

You also need an

external recordable

disc drive to create the

Applications Recovery

Drivers and

disc.

Important

If your hard drive has

failed, Gateway will

send a replacement

hard drive already

loaded with your

operating system,

applications. Contact

number shown on the

label on the bottom of

drivers, and

Gateway Customer

Care at the Web

address or telephone

your notebook for

more information.

If you would like more hard drive capacity, you can replace your original drive with a higher-capacity drive.

Hard drive

To replace the hard drive kit:

1 Create a Drivers and Applications Recovery

disc. For more information, see “Creating Drivers and Applications Recovery discs” in the online User Guide.

2 Print the “Recovering Your System” chapter

from the online User Guide for use in

Step 20.

3 Back up any data you want to transfer to

the new hard drive. For more information, see “Backing up files” in the online User Guide.

4 Follow the guidelines under “Preventing

static electricity discharge” on page 66.

5 Turn off your notebook.

6 Disconnect from the optional port

replicator.

7 Disconnect the AC adapter, modem cable,

and network cable if they are connected to the notebook.

8 Disconnect all peripheral devices

connected to the notebook and remove any PC cards.

Replacing the hard drive kit

9 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is

facing up, then remove the battery. For more information, see “Changing

batteries” on page 43.

10 Remove the two hard drive bay cover

screws.

Screw

11 Slide the hard drive bay cover, then remove

it. The hard drive is attached to the back of the cover.

12 Remove the screws on the side of the hard

drive that secure the hard drive to the hard drive cover.

Screw

CHAPTER 8: Upgrading Your Notebook

13 Remove the metal shield covering the old

drive.

14 Insert the new drive label side up onto the

cover so the screw holes line up.

15 Replace the metal shield.

16 Replace the screws that secure the cover to

the drive.

17 Slide the new hard drive into your

notebook, then replace the cover screws.

18 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook

over.

19 Connect the optional port replicator.

-OR-

Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable.

20 For instructions on installing Windows,

your drivers, and your applications, see the “Recovering Your System” chapter you printed in Step 2.

21 Reconnect all peripheral devices and

replace any PC cards.

CHAPTER 9

Troubleshooting

• Safety guidelines

• First steps

• Troubleshooting

• Telephone support

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

Safety guidelines

Warnin g

Do not try to

troubleshoot your problem if power cords or plugs are damaged,

if your notebook was

dropped, or if the case

was damaged.

Instead, unplug your

notebook and contact

a qualified computer

For more information

electricity discharge”

technician.

Tips & Tricks

about preventing

damage from static

electricity, see

“Preventing static

on page 66.

First steps

Help and

For more information

troubleshooting, click

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

troubleshooting in the Search box, then

Support

about

keywo rd

click the arrow.

While troubleshooting your notebook, follow these safety guidelines:

■ Never remove the memory bay or hard

drive bay cover while your notebook is turned on, while the battery is installed, and while the modem cable, network cable, and AC power adapter are connected to your notebook.

■ Make sure that you are correctly grounded

before accessing internal components.

■ After you complete any maintenance tasks

where you remove the memory bay or hard drive bay cover, make sure that you replace the cover, reinstall any screws, then replace the battery before you start your notebook.

If you have problems with your notebook, try these things first:

■ Make sure that the AC power adapter is

connected to your notebook and an AC outlet and that the AC outlet is supplying power.

■ Make sure that the power cord is firmly

connected to the AC power adapter.

■ If you use a power strip or surge protector,

make sure that it is turned on.

■ Try turning the notebook on with the

notebook plugged in and the battery removed, then try turning the notebook on with the notebook unplugged and the battery installed.

■ If a peripheral device (such as a keyboard

or mouse) does not work, make sure that all connections are secure.

■ Make sure that your hard drive is not full.

■ If an error message appears on the screen,

write down the exact message. The message may help Gateway Customer Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.

■ If you added or removed peripheral

devices, review the installation procedures you performed and make sure that you followed each instruction.

■ If an error occurs in a program, see the

program’s printed documentation or the online help.

Troubleshooting

Audio

Audio troubleshooting is covered under “Sound”

on page 101.

Battery

Troubleshooting

Battery troubleshooting is covered under

“Power” on page 98.

CD drives

CD drive troubleshooting is covered under

“External DVD drives” on page 78.

Device installation

Help and

For more information

about IRQs, click Start,

keywo rd IRQs in the

Search box, then click

Support

then click Help and

Support. Type the

the arrow.

You have computer problems after adding a new device

Sometimes a new device, such as a PC Card, can cause a system resource (IRQ) conflict. Check IRQ usage to determine if there is an IRQ conflict.

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

2 Click/Double-click System, click the

3 Click View, then click Resources by type.

1 In the Device Manager window, check the

2 Remove the device you are trying to install,

3 Right-click the device or port you want to

To check IRQ usage:

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.

The Device Manager window opens.

Double-click Interrupt request (IRQ). All IRQs and their hardware assignments are displayed.

To free IRQ resources for the new device:

device list for a resource conflict. A resource conflict appears as a black exclamation point in a yellow circle.

then determine which one of the existing devices or ports you can disable.

disable, then click Disable. The device or port is disabled.

Display

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about adjusting the

brightness, see

“System key

combinations” on

page 23.

The screen is too dark

Adjust the brightness using the system keys.

The screen resolution is not correct

■ Change the screen resolution from the

Display Properties dialog box. For instructions on changing the screen resolution, see “Adjusting the screen resolution” in the online User Guide.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about adjusting the

brightness and

contrast, see “System

key combinations” on

page 23.

Troubleshooting

The text on the display is dim or difficult to read

■ Adjust the brightness and contrast using

the system keys.

■ Change the display settings. For

instructions on changing the display settings, see “Adjusting the screen and desktop settings” in the online User Guide.

■ Move your notebook away from sources of

electrical interference, such as televisions, unshielded speakers, microwaves, fluorescent lights, and metal beams or shelves.

The display has pixels that are always dark or too bright

This condition is normal and inherent in the TFT technology used in active-matrix LCD screens. Gateway’s inspection standards keep these to a minimum. If you feel these pixels are unacceptably numerous or dense on your display, contact Gateway Customer Care to identify whether a repair or replacement is justified based on the number of pixels affected.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about adjusting the

brightness, see

“System key

combinations” on

page 23.

The display is blank

■ Adjust the brightness using the system

keys.

■ Make sure the notebook is not in standby

or hibernate mode. For instructions on changing the power modes, see “Changing

power modes” on page 46.

■ The notebook may be sending its display

to an external monitor or projector. Press

N + F4 several times to toggle through the

attached display, an external monitor or projector, or both.

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

External DVD drives

Your notebook does not r ecogniz e a di sc

■ The disc may not be seated correctly in the

■ Make sure that the disc label is facing up,

■ If you are trying to play a DVD, make sure

■ Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are

■ Some music CDs have copy protection

■ Your notebook may be experiencing some

■ Clean the disc. For more information, see

tray. When you place a disc on the tray, make sure that you press the disc firmly onto the spindle so the retainers hold the disc in place.

then try again.

that you have a DVD drive and not a CD drive.

flawed and cannot be read by the drive.

software. You may not be able to play these CDs on your notebook.

temporary memory problems. Shut down and restart your notebook.

“Cleaning CDs or DVDs” on page 64.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about using your

volume control, see

“Adjusting the volume”

on page 27.

An audio CD does not pr oduce s ound

■ Make sure that the CD label is facing up,

then try again.

■ Some music CDs have copy protection

software. You may not be able to play these CDs on your notebook.

■ Make sure that the volume control on your

notebook is turned up.

■ Make sure that the Windows volume

control is turned up. For instructions on how to adjust the volume control in Windows, see “Adjusting the volume” in the online User Guide.

■ Make sure that Mute controls are turned

off.

■ Make sure that headphones are not

plugged into the headphone jack on the notebook.

Tips & Tricks

For instructions on playing a DVD, see

“Playing music and

movies” in the online

User Guide.

Troubleshooting

■ If you are using powered speakers, make

sure that they are plugged in and turned on.

■ Clean the disc. For more information, see

“Cleaning CDs or DVDs” on page 64.

■ Your notebook may be experiencing some

temporary memory problems. Shut down and restart your notebook.

■ Reinstall the audio device drivers. For more

information, see “Gateway Web site” in the online User Guide.

A DVD movie will not play

■ Make sure that the label or side you want

to play is facing up, then try again.

■ Make sure that you have a DVD drive and

not a CD drive.

■ Shut down and restart your notebook.

■ Clean the DVD. For more information, see

“Cleaning CDs or DVDs” on page 64.

■ Ma ke sure that the disc’s regional code and

your DVD drive’s regional code match.

■ Make sure that a DVD player program has

been installed on your notebook.

You cannot eject a CD or DVD

Your drive mu st be turned on to rem ove CDs a nd DVDs. If you do not want to turn on your drive, manually eject the disc by inserting an opened paper clip into the manual eject hole.

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

File management

Caution

If a file was deleted

while holding down

HIFT key, or if the

the S

Recycle Bin has been

emptied, the file

cannot be restored.

Help and

Support

For more information

about restoring

deleted files, click

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

keywo rd System

Restore in the Search

box, then click the

arrow.

Hard drive

All deleted files will be

lost when you empty

For more information

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

management in the

Search box, then click

Caution

the Recycle Bin.

Help and

Support

about file

management, click

keywo rd file

the arrow.

A file was accidentally deleted

■ Recover the file from the Recycle Bin by

following the instructions in “Deleting files and folders” in the online User Guide.

You see an “Insuf ficien t disk space ” er ror message

■ Delete unnecessary files from the hard

drive using Disk Cleanup. For instructions on deleting unnecessary files, see “Deleting unnecessary files” in the online User Guide.

■ Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the

Recycle Bin icon, then clicking Empty Recycle Bin.

■ Save your files to another drive. If the hard

drive is full, copy any files not regularly used to backup media, then delete them from the hard drive.

You see a “Data error” m essage

This may be the result of a defective area on the hard drive. To fix hard drive problems, run the Error checking program. For instructions on fixing hard drive problems, see “Checking the hard drive for errors” in the online User Guide.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about removing your

hard drive, see

“Replacing the hard

drive kit” on page 70.

Internet

Troubleshooting

The hard dr iv e cannot be acce ssed , or y ou see a “General failure reading drive C” error message

■ If a diskette is in an external diskette drive,

eject it and restart your notebook.

■ Make sure that the hard drive is installed

correctly. Remove it, firmly reinsert it, then restart your notebook.

■ If your notebook has been subjected to

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

You see a “Non-syst em disk”, “NTLDR is missing”, or “disk” error message

■ Eject the diskette from an external diskette

drive, then press E

NTER.

Tips & Tricks

For the location of

your modem and network jacks, see

“Right” on page 8.

Help and

For more information

about troubleshooting

Internet connections, click Start, then click

connections in the

Search box, then click

Support

Help and Support.

Type the keyword

troubleshooting

the arrow.

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.

-OR-

If you are using a cable or DSL modem, make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the Ethernet network jack and not the modem jack.

■ Make sure that you do not have a problem

with your modem. For more information, see “Modem (dial-up)” on page 88.

■ Make sure that your account with your

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

You see an “Unable to loca te host” m essage and are unable to browse the Internet

This problem can occur when you have typed a URL (Web address) incorrectly, you have lost your Internet connection, or your ISP is having technical difficulties.

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

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

■ The condition of the Internet computers to

■ The complexity of graphics and

■ Having multiple Web browsers open,

People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not receiv ed any mail

■ Click the receive button in your e-mail

■ Make sure that your account with your

your residence or at your local telephone service

which you connect and the number of users accessing those computers

multimedia on Web pages

performing multiple downloads, and having multiple programs open on your notebook

program.

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

Keyboard

The external k eyboard does not wo rk

■ Make sure that the keyboard cable is

plugged in correctly.

■ Remove all extension cables and

switchboxes.

■ 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.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about using your

keyboard, see “Using

the keyboard” on

page 21.

Troubleshooting

■ Try a keyboard that you know works to

make sure that the keyboard port works.

■ If you spilled liquid in the keyboard, turn off

your notebook and unplug the keyboard. Clean the keyboard and turn it upside down to drain it. Let the keyboard dry before using it again. If the keyboard does not work after it dries, you may need to replace it.

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

■ Make sure that nothing 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 notebook.

You are pressing a letter key and a number appears on the s creen

■ The numeric keypad is turned on.

Media Center

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

www.gateway.com

The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV

■ Many factors, such as the display type,

quality of the video source, type of connection used, quality of video cables, display device screen resolution, size of TV, age of the TV, or the type of TV (interlaced or progressive scan), can affect the video quality significantly:

■ Display type—The Media Center is

best viewed on display devices that were offered with the Media Center computer when you purchased it from Gateway. Other types of

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

Important

Cable connections

must be made

correctly for optimal

video quality. A poor

cable connection can

lower video quality.

display devices, including retail TVs, may provide lower quality video. If you did not order a display device when you purchased your Media Center computer, a progressive scan display device with a VGA input is the best choice.

■ Quality of video source—The

quality of the video signal coming into the Media Center computer has an affect 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.

■ Type of connection used—You

can connect the Media Center computer video output to a TV. However, the connection type has an affect on the video quality. If your TV includes a VGA port, connect the 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.

■ Quality of video cables—Poor

quality or the incorrect type of video cables can cause problems and affect the video quality. Gateway recommends using high-quality video cables that can be purchased from the Gateway Accessory Store.

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about changing the

screen resolution, see

“Adjusting the screen

resolution” in the

online User Guide.

Help and

For more information

display settings, click

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

display settings in

the Search box, then

Support

about adjusting

keyword changing

click the arrow.

Troubleshooting

■ Screen resolution—By default, if

your display device was purchased with the Media Center computer, the computer uses a screen resolution of 1024 × 768 for computer monitors and 800 × 600 for the Gateway 42inch Plasma TV. Many TVs cannot display this high of a resolution and may shift, scramble, or scroll the picture. For a better picture on a TV display, you may need to lower the Media Center screen resolution to 800 × 600 or 640 × 480.

■ Size of display 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 likely be better on a newer model TV.

■ Typ e of TV (interlaced or

progressive scan)

Many TVs use interlaced video. Interlaced video displays a video frame with two passes of alternating scan lines. The TV screen first displays the video image odd lines one at a time, sequentially from top to bottom, then it fills in the other half of the video image with the even lines. Because most

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

You need to configure your Media Center to output to aTV

■ Your Media Center computer detects if you

TVs use this interlaced method to display the picture on the screen, a standard interlaced 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 functions.

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 bottom, without the odd/even interlacing. This results in a fuller, sharper picture and better display quality for viewing and using the Media Center computer functions. The progressive scan picture is also brighter and easier on your eyes.

are using a VGA display device and automatically changes the display settings for the type of display device you are using. For more information, review the FAQ topic at www.gateway.com

You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality

■ Adjust the display device brightness,

contrast, hue, and saturation. For more information review the FAQ topic at

www.gateway.com

Troubleshooting

You want to kno w whet her y ou can bu rn videos that were recorded with your Media Center computer to a DVD

■ Yes, you can. The Media Center saves

recorded videos in the DVR-MS format. You can burn a DVR-MS file to a DVD with DVD recording (burning) software, such as Power2Go, and with the Media Center itself.

You want to kno w whet her y ou can pl ay recorded videos 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 decoder software (such as PowerDVD). The non-Media Center computer must also have Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 1 or 2, Windows Media Player 9 or later, and the Windows patch Q810243 Update.

You want to kno w whet her y ou can pl ay recorded videos on your home DVD player

■ Yes, you can. DVDs recorded with the

Media Center can be played on a home DVD player.

Memory

Tips & Tricks

For more information

about installing memory, see “Adding

or replacing memory

modules” on page 67.

Help and

For more information

about troubleshooting

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

Support

memory errors, click

keywo rd memory

error in the Search

box, then click the

arrow.

You see a “Memory e rror” mess age

■ Make sure that the memory module is

inserted correctly in the memory bay slot.

■ Use a third-party diagnostic program to

help determine if a memory module is failing.

You see a “Not enough memory” error message

■ Close all programs, then restart your

notebook.

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

Memory card reader

Drive letter for the memory card slot does not appear in the My Computer window

■ Reboot your notebook.

Modem (cabl e or DSL)

Tips & Tricks

For the location of

your network jack, see

“Right” on page 8.

Modem (dial-up)

Tips & Tricks

For the location of

your modem jack, see

“Right” on page 8.

Help and

For more information

properties, click Start,

the Search box, then

Support

about dialing

then click Help and

Support. Type the

keyword dialing in

click the arrow.

The modem does not connect

■ Make sure that the modem cable is

plugged into the Ethernet network jack and not the modem jack.

■ See the documentation that came with

your modem for additional troubleshooting information.

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.

■ Make sure that your notebook is

connected to the telephone line and the telephone line has a dial tone.

■ Make sure that the modem cable is less

than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

■ Remove any line splitters or surge

protectors from your telephone line, then check for a dial tone by plugging a working telephone into the telephone wall jack.

■ If you have additional telephone services

such as call waiting, call messaging, or voice mail, make sure that all messages are cleared and call waiting is disabled before using the modem. Contact your telephone service to get the correct code to temporarily disable the service. Also make sure that the modem dialing properties are set appropriately.

Troubleshooting

To check the dialing properties:

1 Click Start, then click Control

Panel. The Control Panel window

opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and

Other Hardware.

2 Click/Double-click the Phone and

Modem Options icon, then click the Dialing Rules tab.

3 Click the location from which you

are dialing, then click Edit.

4 Make sure that all settings are

correct.

■ Disconnect any answering machine, fax

machine, or printer that is on the same line as the modem. Do not 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 screws in the wall or telephone wall jack are secure.

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

CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting

■ Try another telephone line (either a

■ Try connecting with the modem at a lower

You cannot connect to the Internet

■ The ISP may be having technical

■ See if the modem works with a different

■ Review the troubleshooting information

Your 56K modem does not co nnect at 56K

Current FCC regulations restrict actual data transfer rates over public telephone lines to 53K. Other factors, such as line noise, telephone service provider equipment, or ISP limitations, may lower the speed even further.

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 to fix the original line.

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

difficulties. Contact your ISP for technical support.

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

under “Internet” on page 81.

Tips & Tricks

For the location of

your modem jack, see

“Right” on page 8.

If your notebook has a v.90 modem, the speed at which you can upload (send) data is limited to

33.6K. If your notebook has a v.92 modem, the speed at which you can upload data is limited to 48K. Your ISP may not support 48K uploads.

Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem

Current fax technology only supports a maximum send and receive rate of 14,400 bps.

The modem is n ot rec ognized b y you r notebook

■ Make sure that the line connected to the

modem is working and plugged into the appropriate port on your notebook.

Help and

For more information

troubleshooting, click

Start, then click Help

and Support. Type the

troubleshooting in

the Search box, then

Support

about modem

keywo rd modem

click the arrow.

Troubleshooting

■ 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 a different modem cable. Some

telephone cables do not meet required cable standards and may cause problems with the modem connection.

■ Shut down and restart your notebook.

■ 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 View, click Printers and

Other Hardware.

3 Click/Double-click the Phone and

Modem Options icon, then click the Modems tab.

4 Click your modem, then click

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 information is available, a white screen appears with 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.

CHAPTER 9: 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. You may hear unusual handshaking sounds when the modems first connect. If the handshaking sounds are too loud, you can turn down the modem volume.

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The

2 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem

3 Click the modem you want to adjust, then

4 Click the Modem tab, then adjust the

To turn down the modem volume:

Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Printers and Other Hardware.

Options icon, then click the Modems tab.

click Properties.

Speaker volume control.

Mouse

5 Click OK twice to close the Phone and

Modem Options dialog box.

Gateway 3018GZ, 3040GZ, 3522GZ, 3545GZ, 3550GZ Reference Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual