Gateway 901 User Manual

Gateway 901 Series

Family Room Media Center

User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Setting Up Family Room Media Center 1

About your Family Media Center 2

Planning your Family Media Center setup 3

Locating connections 3

Connections overview 4

Setting up the hardware 6

Setting up and synchronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse 8

Connecting the audio and video source 12

Connecting the IR control cable 14

Connecting a display device 15

Connecting an audio system 17

Setting up the software 19

Chapter Two: Getting Started 21

Checking out your Gateway Family Media Center 22

Front 22

Back (Gateway FMC-901 Media Center) 25

Back (Gateway FMC-901X Media Center) 27

Learning about the remote 30

Using the remote 31

Learning about the wireless mouse 32

Using the wireless mouse 33

Fine-tuning the wireless mouse pointer control 34

Changing the wireless keyboard or mouse channels 38

Determining the wireless keyboard or mouse channels 35

Turning the wireless keyboard or mouse power on or off 35

Learning about the wireless keyboard 36

Starting the Windows XP Media Center 38

Using the Windows XP Media Center 39

Chapter Three: Using My TV 42

Watching TV 42

Using the remote to play TV recordings 43

Using the Guide 45

Table of Contents

Manually updating the Guide 46

Recording TV programs 47

Using Recorded TV 49

Changing My TV Settings 50

Burning recorded TV programs to DVD 51

Chapter Four: Using My Music 53

Getting started with My Music 54

Adding music files to the Media Library 54

Adding music CDs to the Media Library 55

Playing My Music 57

Chapter Five: Using My Pictures 61

Getting started with My Pictures 62

Organizing picture files 63

Viewing My Pictures 64

Using More Info 65

Playing audio during a slide show 66

Chapter Six: Using My Videos 67

Getting started with My Videos 68

Organizing video files 69

Viewing My Videos 70

Using More Info 71

Chapter Seven: Using Play DVD 73

Playing a DVD 74

Chapter Eight: Using Radio 77

Table of Contents

Playing the Radio 78

Using the remote to play Radio recordings 80

Changing Radio Settings 81

Chapter Nine: Using Other Features 83

Changing Windows XP Media Center Settings 84

Using More Programs 85

Using Online Spotlight 86

Chapter Ten: Getting Help 87

Media Center FAQs 88

Wireless keyboard and mouse troubleshooting 91

Getting more help 93

Using Help and Support 94

Other Family Media Center resources 95

Documentation 95

Windows Update 95

Web site 95

Contacting Gateway 96

Appendix A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information 103

SettingUp

Family Room Media Center

• Plan your Family Media Center setup

• Set up hardware and software

ChapterOne

About your Family Media Center

The Family Media Center provides rich entertainment and powerful computing capabilities. You can run the Windows XP Media Center while using other programs or just enjoy the Windows XP Media Center in full-screen mode without using other programs.

Use the Family Media Center remote the same way you use remotes for other home entertainment systems. You can use the remote and Family Media Center to watch and record TV, play videos and music, and view pictures.

Use the wireless keyboard and mouse to run Windows XP Media Center and other programs.

Planning your Family Media Center setup

Locating connections

You’ve probably already decided where you want to locate your Family Media Center, but before you start setting up the Media Center, take a few minutes to make sure that all of these connections are available in the location you’ve selected.

Internet connection — Your Family Media Center needs an Internet connection to update the program guide and to access the Internet. Make sure that you have access to a dial-up or broadband Internet connection before starting your Media Center software setup. Contact your Internet service provider for more information about setting up your Internet connection.

Video source — Make sure that you have access to a video source before starting your Family Media Center setup. Your Media Center receives video input from a coaxial, composite video, or S-Video cable. The video source usually comes from an antenna, direct cable TV connection, cable box, or satellite receiver. Cable boxes and satellite receivers are also called set-top boxes.

Connections overview

Your Family Media Center accepts a variety of audio and video inputs and it can output audio and video to a number of audio and video devices. This is a sample setup diagram of a Media Center configuration. The possible audio and video input connections to your Family Media Center and the audio and video output connections from the Media Center are shown. For detailed information about setting up the Media Center, see “Setting up the hardware” on page 6.

Caution:

Ventilation slots are located on the sides of your Family Media Center to allow for correct ventilation. To ensure reliable operation and to protect your Media Center from overheating, make sure that the ventilation slots are not blocked and that there is space around the ventilation slots for air circulation.

Connect to the Internet using:

• RJ-11 jack

• RJ-45 jack

Connect to an audio device using:

• 1/8” Digital Out jack

• 1/8” Analog Out jacks (front, rear, subwoofer/center speakers)

• Toslink Digital Out jack

Connect to a display device using:

• DVI-D Out jack

• S-Video Out jack

• VGA Out port

Connect to your Family Media Center using:

• Cable set-top box (S-Video, composite, or coaxial connection)

• Satellite receiver set-top box (S-Video, composite, or coaxial connection)

• Antenna (coaxial connection)

Setting up the hardware

Gateway FMC-901 Media Center

1 Connect the modem or

broadband Internet (optional)

2 Connect the audio/video source

A coaxial (TV in) connection carries both the

audio and video signals.

If you use an S-Video

or a Composite video connection, you will also need to connect audio using RCA or Toslink stereo plugs.

For detailed instructions about connecting the audio/video source, see page 12.

3 Connect the IR control

Plug one end of the IR control into your

computer, then stick the other end to the set-top box sensor window.

remove the adhesive paper from the back of the IR control

For detailed instructions about connecting the IR control cable, see page 14.

Gateway FMC-901X Media Center

4 Connect to a display

Connect to a monitor or television using a

VGA, DVI, or television cable.

For detailed instructions about connecting to a display device, see page 15.

5 Connect to an audio system

For detailed instructions about connecting to an audio

system, see page 17.

6 Install the mouse, keyboard, and remote batteries.

For more information, see “To install and charge the mouse battery pack” on page 8.

For more information, see “To install the keyboard batteries” on page 9.

7 Plug in your Media Center 8 Turn on your Media Center

Press the power button on the front of your Family Media Center.

9 Sync up wireless devices

keyboard mouse

For more information, see “Sychronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse” on page 8.

Setting up and synchronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse

Before using the wireless mouse and keyboard, install the batteries into both devices, connect the power adapter to the mouse charging cradle, charge the mouse for 9 hours before using, and synchronize the mouse and keyboard with the radio frequency (RF) receiver on your Family Media Center.

To install and charge the mouse battery pack

Press the battery

release button on the end of the mouse, then remove the battery pack and discard the plastic insulator tab.

Insert the battery

pack back into the battery compartment.

Connect the power

adapter to the mouse charging cradle, then plug the power adapter into the power outlet.

Place the mouse in the charging cradle. The cradle’s

LED indicator light, located at the bottom of the cradle, turns solid green and the mouse LED indicator will faintly flash green while the batteries are charging.

The mouse LED indicator lights continuously when it is fully charged and ready to use.

Tip:

To conserve power, the mouse enters a “sleep mode” when it is left on and not used for more than 24 hours. Click any mouse button to wake the mouse from “sleep mode.”

Tip:

When the battery drops to 20% of its full charge, the mouse LED indicator blinks intermittently while in use. To optimize the NiMH

battery, recharge it at the end of each day’s use.

Tip:

If you do not need a fully charged battery for extended use, you can remove the mouse from the charging cradle at anytime. You do not need to wait for the mouse’s LED indicator light to stop flashing.

Tip:

The keyboard cover may be attached to the back of the keyboard when you receive it. Remove the keyboard cover from the back of the keyboard, as shown below, to access the battery compartment cover.

To protect the keyboard when not in use, you can place the keyboard cover over the keyboard keys.

To install the keyboard batteries

Press the keyboard cover tabs down to remove

the keyboard cover from the back of the keyboard.

Remove the battery compartment cover.

Insert 4 AAA batteries into the battery

compartment. Make sure that you match the + and – on the batteries with the + and – symbols inside the battery compartment.

Replace the battery compartment cover and

keyboard cover.

Tip:

When synchronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse, make sure that you synchronize (teach) both the keyboard and mouse during the same Learning mode session. If you synchronize one wireless device and later enter the Learn mode to synchronize the other wireless device, the Learn mode erases all previous learned settings from memory and looks for new devices.

After the Teach/Learn sequence is complete, the receiver, keyboard, and mouse remain synchronized after turning off your Family Media Center or changing the channels the devices operate on. You only have to perform the Teach/Learn sequence when the devices are first installed or when adding additional devices to the system. For more information about changing the mouse or keyboard channels, see “Changing the keyboard or mouse channels” on page 34.

To synchronize the wireless mouse and keyboard

Press and hold the Learn button on your Family

Media Center for 2 seconds then release the button. The Status light on the Family Media Center’s front panel blinks slowly to indicate the receiver is in the Learn mode.

Before synchronizing the mouse and keyboard,

make sure that the batteries are installed in the keyboard and the battery pack is fully charged and installed in the mouse. For more information, see “Setting up and synchronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse” on page 8.

Learn button

Teach button

Press and release the

Teach button located on the bottom of the mouse. The Status light on the Family Media Center’s front panel blinks rapidly for four seconds, then begins blinking slowly.

Press and release

the Teach button on the top left corner of the wireless keyboard.

Teach button

To exit the Learn mode, press the Learn button on

your Family Media Center for two seconds. If you do not exit the Learn mode, it will automatically time out after five minutes.

Connecting the audio and video source

Your Family Media Center has connectors for coaxial (TV), S-Video, or composite video. Select the connector that your video source supports:

• Coaxial (TV) — The video and audio signals are both carried on one cable. The coaxial cable is the way to connect a direct cable or an antenna video source to your Media Center.

• S-Video or composite video — S-Video signals provide the sharpest picture. Alternatively, you can use composite video for a slightly less sharp (but better than coaxial) video signal. If you use S-Video or composite video, you also need to connect the audio source using RCA stereo plugs.

To connect coaxial (TV)

Connect a coaxial cable (not included)

•

from a video device, such as a direct cable connection, a cable set-top box, a satellite set-top box, or an antenna, to the Coaxial In (TV) port on the back of your Media Center.

Tip:

The quality of the video coming into your Family Media Center determines the quality of the video output to your Media Center display device. A direct cable connection, cable set-top box, or satellite set-top box usually provides a better quality signal than an antenna. Use the highest quality video source available for best video display results.

The quality of cable used to connect the video source to your Media Center has an affect on the video output quality from your Media Center. Use high quality video cables to connect the video source to your Media Center.

Caution:

If the video devices connected to your Media Center are not grounded correctly, your Media Center could be damaged. For more information about correct grounding, see the safety and regulatory information on page 103.

To connect S-Video or composite video

Connect an S-Video or composite video cable

from a video source (such as a cable set-top box, a satellite set-top box, or other video device) to the S-Video In or Composite Video In port on the back of your Family Media Center.

- OR -

Connect an RCA cable (not included) from the

Audio Out jacks on the video device to the Audio In RCA jack on the back of your Media Center.

Connecting the IR control cable

If your Family Media Center configuration uses a set-top box for the Media Center video source, connect the infrared (IR) control cable from the Family Media Center to the set-top box IR sensor window. The IR control cable sends input from the remote sensor to your set-top box to change channels.

To connect the IR control cable

Plug the IR control cable into the IR control port

on the back of your Family Media Center.

Locate the IR sensor by shining a flashlight

through the set-top box IR sensor window. Look for a 1/2 to 3/8 inch metallic rectangle with a 1/8 inch dark circle in the middle. This is the IR sensor.

Remove the adhesive paper from the back of the

IR control.

Place the sticky side of the IR control on the

set-top box sensor window. Make sure that the IR control is placed directly in front of the IR sensor that you located in step 2.

Tip:

The Family Media Center IR control cable sends infrared signals to your set-top box or satellite receiver. However, some set-top boxes are set to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from the remote. Before using the Family Media Center remote, make sure that the set-top box is set to accept infrared signals. See your set-top box guide for information about remote settings.

Connecting a display device

You can use a computer monitor, flat-panel display, TV, or other display device. Some older TVs provide a lower quality display than computer monitors or flat-panel displays that are optimized for your Family Media Center.

Your Media Center provides display outputs from a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port, VGA (monitor) port, or an S-Video port. Select the highest quality port that your TV supports:

• DVI — Best. Use this if your TV has a DVI port.

• VGA — Better. If your TV does not have a DVI port but has a VGA port, use this.

• S-Video — Good. S-Video display quality is usually good for TV images. The display quality for the Media Center computer functions, however, is not as good as DVI or VGA output. S-Video display output is not optimized for computer video display.

If you did not purchase a display device when you purchased your Media Center and your video display does not provide the image quality that you expected, contact a Gateway sales representative to help you select a display device that is optimized for your Media Center. See “Contacting Gateway” on page 96 for Gateway contact information.

Tip:

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 TVs use this interlaced method to display the picture on the screen, a standard interlaced analog television 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 Family 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 Family Media Center computer functions. The progressive scan picture is also brighter and easier on your eyes.

Tip:

If you want the audio to play from the external TV that you connected to, connect the Audio out jacks (analog or digital) to your TV Audio in jacks. If you do not connect the Audio out jacks to your TV, the sound will continue to play from your Family Media Center and other sound system connected to your Media Center.

Help:

By default, if your display device was purchased with your Family Media Center computer, the computer uses a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 for computer monitors. Many TVs cannot display this high resolution and may shift, scramble, or scroll the picture. For a better picture on a TV display, you may need to lower the Family Media Center screen resolution to 800 x 600 or 640 x 480. For more information about adjusting display settings, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type the keyword changing display settings in the Search box, then press Enter.

To connect a display device

Connect a VGA cable (not included), S-Video

cable, or DVI cable (not included) to the VGA port, S-Video port, or DVI port on the back of your Family Media Center.

Connect the other end of the cable to the VGA

port, S-Video port, or DVI port on the back of your TV.

OR OR

Turn the TV on and select the TV In video source.

For more information about selecting the TV In video source, see your TV’s documentation.

Connecting an audio system

If you purchased a sound system with your Family Media Center, use the setup poster and other documentation that was included with the sound system to set it up.

If you have an existing stereo or home theater, you can connect your Media Center to an existing sound system. Use:

• 1/8” stereo to RCA plug Y-cables to connect the Family Media Center to an analog sound system.

• 1/8” stereo to 1/8” stereo plug to connect the Family Media Center to digital audio inputs (S/PDIF).

• Toslink digital cable to connect your Family Media Center to digital audio inputs (S/PDIF).

Gateway FMC-901 Media Center Gateway FMC-901X Media Center

Connect rear left and right analog speakers with 1/8" stereo to RCA plug Y-cables

Connect front left and right analog speakers

with 1/8" stereo to

RCA plug Y-cables

Connect center/

subwoofer speakers

with 1/8" stereo to

RCA plug Y-cables

Connect digital

(S/PDIF) audio with

Toslink digital cable

Connect front left and right analog speakers

with 1/8" stereo to

RCA plug Y-cables

Connect center/

subwoofer speakers

with 1/8" stereo to

RCA plug Y-cables

Connect digital

(S/PDIF) audio with

Toslink digital cable

Connect digital (S/PDIF) audio with 1/8" stereo to 1/8" stereo plug for digital output or use 1/8" stereo to RCA plug for analog output

Connect rear left and right analog speakers with 1/8" stereo to RCA plug Y-cables

1/8” stereo to 1/8” stereo plug Toslink digital cable1/8” stereo to RCA plug Y-cables

Tip:

The audio system setup varies, depending on your sound system audio inputs. See your sound system’s user guide for more information about connecting audio inputs.

After you have connected your add-on sound system, use the sound and audio properties to select speaker setup options.

To select speaker options in XP Media Center 2004

Click Start, Control Panel, Sounds, Speech,

and Audio Devices, then click Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices

Properties dialog box opens.

Click the Volume tab, then click the Advanced

button in the Speaker Settings section. The Advanced Audio Properties dialog box opens.

Click the Speakers tab, click the arrow button

to open the Speaker setup list, then click the speaker setup that most closely matches your sound system type.

Click OK to save your speaker setup.

Tip:

If you have a Gateway FMC-901 Family Media Center model, you can also configure audio inputs with the SigmaTel audio Speaker Wizard and SigmaTel Universal Jacks dialog box. Click Start, All Programs, SigmaTel, then click one of the SigmaTel programs.

Setting up the software

1 Complete the Windows XP setup

After you’ve turned on your Family Media Center, wait for it to start up, then follow the on-screen instructions.

2 Complete external devices setup

Connect devices, such as a printer or scanner, after you

complete the Windows setup. Follow the instructions that came with the device.

3 Start the Windows XP

Media Center setup wizard

After you’ve completed the initial

Windows setup, press the Start button on your remote.

Tip:

The Windows XP Media Center setup wizard requires Internet access to complete the Windows XP Media Center software configuration. Before starting the Windows XP Media Center setup wizard in step 3, make sure that your Internet connection is set up. Contact your Internet service provider for more information about setting up your Internet connection.

Before starting the Windows XP Media Center setup wizard, check for Windows Updates to make sure that Windows XP Media Center has the most recent software releases and security updates installed. For more information, see “Windows Update” on page 95.

4 Conﬁ gure the Windows XP Media Center

software for your speciﬁ c requirements

Follow the on-screen instructions.

• Learn about your Gateway 901 Series Family Media Center

• Learn about the remote

• Learn about the wireless keyboard and mouse

GettingStarted

• Start the Windows XP Media Center

• Use your Family Media Center

ChapterTwo

Checking out your Family Media Center

Front

10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

23 45 6 7

Item Component Icon Description

1 Power button

Hard drive / card

reader indicator

3 Status display Indicates the current Media Center mode and status.

Press to turn the power on. Press to put the Family Media Center in Standby mode or resume from Standby mode.

LED blinks on and off as data is read from and written to the hard drive or memory card.

31 32 33 34 35 36 37

28 29 30

(FMC-901) DVD/CD-RW combo

drive (FMC-901X) DVD RAM/-R/CDRW

Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch DVDs, and store large ﬁ les onto recordable CDs and DVDs (recordable DVD is optional)

Item Component Icon Description

DVD/CD drive eject

button

Four-way scroll

button

7 OK button Press to make menu selections.

8 Home Press to navigate to the browser’s default home page.

9 Back Press to navigate to the previous browser page.

10 S-Video In port

11 Video In port (RCA) Plug an RCA cable from a video source, such as a VCR, into this port.

Press to open the CD/DVD tray.

Press the up

Plug an S-Video cable from a video source, such as a camcorder or VCR into this port.

, down , left , or right buttons to move the pointer around the Guide and menus.

Audio In jack

(Left RCA)

Audio In jack

(Right RCA)

14 USB ports (2)

15 Headphone jack Plug ampliﬁ ed speakers or headphones into this jack.

16 Learn

17 Mic-In jack

18 IEEE 1394 ports

19 IEEE 1394 ports

USB v2.0

Plug the left channel external audio input source, such as a stereo or camcorder, to this jack so you can play sound through the Family Media Center speakers or record sound on your Family Media Center.

Plug the right channel external audio input source, such as a stereo or camcorder, to this jack so you can play sound through the Family Media Center speakers or record sound on your Family Media Center.

Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices, such as a USB printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse, into these ports.

Press to put the Family Media Center into a “learn” mode to synchronize with the mouse and keyboard. For more information, see “Setting up and synchronizing the wireless keyboard and mouse” on page 8.

Plug an external microphone to record or transmit voice input.

Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device, such as a digital camcorder, into the 6-pin IEEE 1394 port.

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

Item Component Icon Description

20 SmartMedia SM Transfer ﬁ les from a digital device to your Media Center through the removable memory card drive.

21 CompactFlash CF Transfer ﬁ les from a digital device to your Media Center through the removable memory card drive.

SecureDigital Memory Stick

Memory Stick Pro MultiMedia Card

23 Volume + / - button Press to increase and decrease the volume level.

24 Channel + / - button Press to change the channel sequentially to a lower or higher channel number.

25 My TV button Press to open the Media Center My TV feature.

26 DVD Menu button Press to open the Media Center DVD player.

27 My Music button Press to open the Media Center My Music feature.

28 My Pictures button Press to open the Media Center My Pictures feature.

29 My Videos button Press to open the Media Center My Videos feature.

30 Radio button Press to open the Media Center My Radio feature.

31 Stop button Press to stop the currently playing media. For example, stop Live TV, recorded TV, and CD or DVD media.

32 Play button Press to play the selected media. For example, Live TV (that is buffered), recorded TV, and CD or DVD media.

33 Pause button Press to pause the currently playing media. For example, pause Live TV, recorded TV, and CD or DVD media.

34 Replay button

35 Skip button

36 Rewind button

SD MS

MS Pro

MMC

Transfer ﬁ les from a digital device to your Media Center through the removable memory card drive.

Press to replay the currently playing media in 7 second increments. For example review the previous 7 seconds of Live TV, recorded TV, and CD or DVD media.

Press to fast-forward the currently playing media in 7 second increments. For example review the previous 7 seconds of Live TV, recorded TV, and CD or DVD.

Press to rewind the currently playing media. For example, rewind Live TV (that is buffered), recorded TV, and CD or DVD media

37 Forward button

Press to fast-forward the currently playing media. For example, fast-forward Live TV (that is buffered), recorded TV, and CD or DVD media.

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