Gateway ALR 8200 User Manual

Gatew ay ALR 8200 User’ s Guide
Part #8504078 A MAN SYS US 8200 USR G DE R2 12/98
Notices
Copyright © 1998 Gateway 2000, Inc. All Rights Reserved 610 Gateway Drive N. Sioux City, SD 57049 USA
All Rights Reserved
This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted by any means or in any form, without prior consent in writing from Gateway 2000.
The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate. However, changes are made periodically. These changes are incorporated in newer publication editions. Gateway 2000 may improve and/or change products described in this publication at any time. Due to continuing system improvements, Gateway 2000 is not responsible for inaccurate information which may appear in this manual. For the latest product updates, consult the Gateway 2000 web site at www.gatewa y.com. In no event will Gatewa y 2000 be liable for direct, indirect, special, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect or omission in this manual, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
In the interest of continued product development, Gateway 2000 reserves the right to make improvements in this manual and the products it describes at any time, without notices or obligation.
T r ademark Acknowledgments
AnyKey, black-and-white spot design, ColorBook, CrystalScan, Destination, EZ Pad, EZ Point, Field Mouse, Gateway 2000, HandBook, Liberty, T eleP ath, Vivitron, stylized “G” design, and “Y ou’ve got a friend in the business” slogan are registered trademarks and “All the big trends start in South Dakota” slogan, GA TEW AY, and Gateway Solo are trademarks of Gateway 2000, Inc. Intel, Intel Inside logo, and Pentium are registered trademarks and MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS, and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only, and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright © 1998 Advanced Logic Research, Inc. (ALR) All Rights Reserved 9401 Jeronimo Irvine, CA 92618 USA
All Rights Reserved
This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted by any means or in any form, without prior consent in writing from ALR.
The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate. However, changes are made periodically. These changes are incorporated in newer publication editions. ALR may improve and/or change products described in this publication at any time. Due to continuing system improvements, ALR is not responsible for inaccurate information which may appear in this manual. For the latest product updates, consult the ALR web site at www.alr . c om. In no e vent will ALR be liable for direct, indirect, special, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect or omission in this manual, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
In the interest of continued product development, ALR reserves the right to make improvements in this manual and the products it describes at any time, without notices or obligation.
T r ademark Acknowledgments
ALR is a registered trademark of Advanced Logic Research, Inc. All other product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only, and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Contents

Preface ................ .............. .............. .......... .............. .............. ...iii
About this guide...................................................................................... iv
Conventions used in this guide............................................................... v
Important safety instructions.................................................................. vi
Getting Started ....................... ........................ .................. ........ 1
Before you begin..................................................................................... 2
Assembling your system......................................................................... 3
Inspecting the contents..................................................................... 3
Setting up the server......................................................................... 4
Starting up the system............................................................................. 6
Quick check...................................................................................... 6
Troubleshooting guidelines............................................................. 7
System Features .................................................... .................9
Basic features......................................................................................... 10
Front panel............................................................................................. 11
Buttons............................................................................................ 12
Internal 3.5-inch drive bay............................................................. 12
LED indicators ............................................................................... 12
5.25-inch drive bays....................................................................... 13
Bezel doors and keylock................................................................ 13
RAID bay backplane...................................................................... 13
3.5-Inch LVD SCA drive bays...................................................... 13
3.5-inch diskette drive.................................................................... 13
Rear panel.............................................................................................. 14
Power supplies................................................................................ 15
Fans................................................................................................. 16
Chassis keylock.............................................................................. 16
Expansion slot cover plates............................................................ 16
I/O ports.......................................................................................... 17
Operating systems................................................................................. 18
Maintaining and Cleaning Your System ............ ....................19
Maintaining your hard drive ................................................................. 20
Using ScanDisk.............................................................................. 20
Contents i
Using Check Disk.......................................................................... 21
Using Disk Defragmenter.............................................................. 22
Protecting against viruses..................................................................... 23
Cleaning your system ........................................................................... 24
Cleaning the mouse........................................................................ 24
Cleaning the keyboard................................................................... 25
Cleaning the monitor screen.......................................................... 25
Cleaning the computer and monitor cases.................................... 25
Appendix .............. .............. .............. ......... .............. .............. ..27
Acronyms and abbreviations................................................................ 28
Terms and definitions........................................................................... 32
Regulatory compliance statements....................................................... 35
FCC Notice .................................................................................... 35
Industry Canada Notice................................................................. 35
CE Notice....................................................................................... 36
VCCI Notice .................................................................................. 36
Australia/New Zealand Notice...................................................... 37
Index ....................................................................................... 39
ii Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Pref ace

About this guide......................................................iv
Conventions used in this guide............................... v
Important safety instructions.................................. vi

About this guide

The purpose of this User’s Guide is to help y ou unpack, assemb le, and install the system. This guide provides step-by-step setup and o perating instructions along with detailed illu strations throughout t he document. Below is a summary of the sections to f ollo w:
Chapter 1: Getting Started co vers inf ormation about the internal and external features as w ell as the syst em architecture and supported operat ing systems.
Chapter 2: System Features expl ains the main features of your system, including ho w to assembl e it, identifying connec tors and arranging your workspace.
Chapter 3: Maintaining and Cleaning Your System explains how to perform routine maintenance and cleaning on y our system.
We recommend you take time to r ead through the manual bef ore using the system. If you encounter a prob lem, refer to the h andy troublesho oting section in this guide.
iv Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Con ventions used in this guide

Throughout this booklet, you will see the fol lo wing con ventions :
Convention Description
NTER
E
TRL+ALT+DEL
C
Setup
User’s Guide
Important!
Keyboard key names are prin ted in small capitals.
A plus sign indicates th at the ke ys must be pressed simultaneously.
Commands to be entered, options to select, and messages that appear on your monitor are printed in bold.
Names of publications and files are printed in italic.
An important informs you of special circumstances.
Caution!
Warning!
A caution warns you of possible damage to equipment or loss of data.
A warning indicates the possibility of personal injury.
Preface v

Important safety instructions

Observe the following gui delines w hen performing any w ork on y our system:
Foll ow all instructions marked on t his product and in the
documentation.
Unplug this product from the w all outlet be fore cleaning. Do not
use liquid or aerosol cleaners . Use a damp cloth for cle aning.
Do not use this product near water . Do not spill liquid on or int o the
product.
Do not place this product on an unstab le surface.
Openings in the system cabinet are provi ded for ventilat ion. Do not
block or co ver these openings. Do not pl ace this product near or
upon a radiator or heat re gister .
Use only the po w er source i ndicated on the po w er suppl y. If you
are not certain about y our pow er s ource, consult y our reseller or the
local pow er compan y.
This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding plug (a plu g
with a grounding pin). This plug will only fit into a grounded
pow er outle t. This is a safety feat ure. If you ar e unable to i nsert the
plug into the outlet, contact y our electri cian to replace the out let.
vi Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Do not walk on the po w er cord or allow anything to rest on it.
If you use an extensi on cord with this system, make sure the total
ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extens ion cord do
not exceed the extensi on cord ampere rating. Also, the total ampere
requirements for all products pl ugged into the w all outlet must not
exceed 15 amperes.
Never insert objects of any kind i nto the system vent ilation slot s.
Do not attempt to service the system y ourself exc ept as explaine d
elsewher e in the manual. Adjust onl y those controls co v ered in the
instructions. Opening or remo ving co vers marked “Do Not
Remove ” may e xpose y ou to dangerous v oltages or other risks.
Refer all servicing of those compartments to qualified service
personnel.
Under any of the follo wing conditions, unplug the system from the
wall outlet and re fer servicing to qualified personnel:
The pow er cord or plug i s damaged.
Liquid has been spilled into the s ystem.
The system does not operate properl y w hen the operating instructions are follo w ed.
The system was dropped, or the cabinet is damaged.
The product exhibits a dis tinct change in performance.
Important!
The system power cord serves as the main disconnect for the computer. The wall outlet must be easily accessible by the operator.
Preface vii
viii Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Getting Started

Before you begin ..................................................... 2
Assembling your system......................................... 3
Starting up the system.............................................. 6
1

Before y ou begin

Congratulations on your purchase. With the arriv al of your ne w system, you are probabl y eager to assemb le the computer and ha ve it operat ing. This section helps you:
Assemble the system
Connect the monitor and keybo ard
Start up the system
Carefully read and f ollo w these instructions to e nsure that yo ur system operates correctly.
2 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Assembling y our system

Prepare a clean, flat, and firm surface for your computer . Allo w at
least three inches at the r ear of the chassis for cabling and ai r circulation.
Protect your computer from extreme temper ature and humidity . Do
not expose y our computer to direct s unlight, heater ducts, and other heat-generating objects.
Keep your sys tem a wa y fr om equipment that generates magnet ic
fields. Even a telephone placed too closely to the sys tem may cause interference.
Protect your system aga inst A C po w er spikes b y using a 3-prong,
115-V or 230-V (depending on the voltage supplied in yo ur locality) po wer cord , and a n A C surge control po w er strip. The system includes a TAC400 po w er suppl y. The pow er suppl y ships with a single hot-sw appab le module and can support up to tw o modules. The system requires a separate wal l outlet for each po wer supply module.

Inspecting the contents

Unpack the carton and inspect the contents. Standar d systems include th e following items:
Server
Po w er cab les
User’s guide
Maintaining and troubleshooti ng guide
Utilities
Enhanced keyboard
Check the packing list to ensure al l equipment and associated manuals are included in your shipment. Inspect ev erything carefull y.
Important!
Keep the product carton and foam packing, in case you have to ship t he system. If you return the system in different packaging, your warranty may be voided.
Getting Started 3

Setting up the server

Refer to Figure 1 and the f ollo wing procedures w hen connecti ng optional peripherals to your s ystem.
1.
2.
Important!
Shielded cables are required by the FCC.
3.
4.
4 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Figur e 1: Connecti ng P er ipher als
Connect the keyboard and mouse to thei r respecti ve ports using the pictures on the server’s rear co ver as a guide.
Connect the monitor video cab le to the video port. The location of the port may vary depending on w hether you use th e integrated video or a video card.
Connect the monitor po w er cable to an A C outlet or , pr eferabl y, a surge control outlet station.
Verify that the voltage s elector s witch on the po w er suppl y is set for the proper voltage (1 15V or 230V). If the syste m includes tw o hot-swap modul es, each module has a v oltage selector switc h.
Connect the pow er cab le to t he AC -In po w er socket on t he po w er
5.
supply. If the system includ es both hot-sw appab le modules, there will be an AC-I n po we r socket on each module.
Connect the other end of the po w er cab le(s) to an A C out let.
6.
Getting Started 5
Warning!
For safety reasons, both upper and lower bezel doors must be closed and locked while the system is running.

Starting up the system

Press the On/Off switch on the front panel to start the system. The green LED on the front panel lights.
If you turn off y our system, y ou must w ait at least ten se conds before y ou turn the system back on.
The system self-checks the memory even i f the monitor is not connec ted. If the monitor is connected and on, the scr een displa ys the start-up sequence.
If more than one CPU is installed, the system displays w hich CPU
it is currently testing. If any errors are encountered, your system displa ys them on the
monitor. If a monitor is not connected or th e system is unab le to displa y an
error, an error beep code sounds.
If the system encounters an error , it is most l ikel y a nonfatal one, meaning the system will function until t he error is corrected (usually through t he BIOS Setup). In the rare case of a fatal error, see “Quick check” on page6. If the information in this guide does not hel p you solv e the prob lem, check your
Maintaining and T r oubleshooting Guide
for instructions.
Important!
% HIPE] MR ZMHIS QE] FI GEYWIH F] PEVKI QIQSV] GSRJMKYVEXMSR 3RGI XLI FSSXYT WIUYIRGI LEW GSQTPIXIH ]SYV HMWTPE] [MPP VIXYVR

Quick chec k

Sometimes, the simplest things can cause troub le. To avoid unnecessary service calls, be sure you check o v er the basi cs before you call for support. If your system does not oper ate correctly, re-read the instructions for the procedure(s) you ha v e performed. If an error occurs within an application, consult the documentation supplied wit h the softw are.
This section identifies solutions to common problems.
6 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Looking things over
In any complex sy stem, there is potential for a forgotten c onnection, a forgotten s witch, or a loose conne ctor . If y ou try to start up the server and it does not start up, perform the follo wing checks:
Is the pow er cord c onnected to the CPU system and an A C outlet?
Is the AC outlet suppl ying po w er?
If a pow er stri p is used, is it switched on? Is the cir cuit breaker set ?
Does the voltage select ion switch on t he system’s pow er suppl y
reflect the proper v oltage?
V erifying your configuration
If your system is not ope rating correctly, the BIOS may contain an in valid configuration parameter. Enter the BIOS pro gram and check your configuration settings. The BIOS Setup utility , configuration fields, and the options for those fields are provided in the
.
Guide
Maintaining and T r oubleshooting

Troubleshooting guidelines

Important!
If the CMOS has been corrupted by a power outage or an interrupted flash update and you plug the system into a power outlet, it will power up immediately . This is normal.
As you troubleshoot y our system, k eep the follo wing guidel ines in mind:
Never remo v e the system co v ers while the system is on.
Do not attempt to open the monitor . I t is extremel y dangerous.
Even if the monitor po w er is disconnect ed , stored ener g y in the monitor’s components can cause a painful or harmful shock.
If a peripheral such as the k eyboard, mouse, drive, or pri nter does
not work, ensure that all connections are secure. If the screen displa ys an error message, write it do wn
word-for -w ord. You ma y be asked about i t when calli ng Technical Support.
Only qualified personnel should open the system for maintenanc e.
If you are qualified to maintain the system your self, make certain
you are properl y grounded before opening the syst em chassis.
Getting Started 7
8 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

System F eatures

Basic features......................................................... 10
Front panel............................................................. 11
Rear panel.............................................................. 14
Operating systems ................................................. 18
2

Basic features

Intel Pentium® II processor (speed depends on the model)
Autodetection of 66/100-MHz memory bus for all processor
speeds to accommodate processors using either memory bus speed SMP design supporting up to two proc essor modules
Intel MP Specification V1.1 and 1.4 compliant
32-bit PCI and 16-bit ISA bus master
64-bit processor and memory data path
Extended PCI-to-PCI bridge support
64-MB Error Checking and Correcting (ECC) memory,
expandable to 1-GB us ing ECC 72-bit SDRAM DIMMs Integrated 2-MB DRAM PCI Graphics (Cirrus Logic GD54M30)
Eight expansion slots: five PCI, one shar ed PCI/RAIDport, one
shared PCI/ISA, and one ISA slot Integrated PCI Ultra2 SCSI (Adaptec 7890) with tw o 68-pin
connectors, dual-channel Ultra-DMA PCI IDE interface, and floppy controller s upporting 1.44 MB and 2.88 MB formats.
RAIDport ready: the shared PCI/RAIDport slot supports the
addition of a RAIDport card to pro vide RAID capabil ity.
10 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Low vo ltage dif ferential (LVD) support for SCSI devices. LVD
SCSI allows faster disk access and greater data inte grity Po w er suppl y unit that suppo rts dual 400 W redundant po w er
supply modules with hot s wap c apability. The system ships with a single module. If you i nstall the optiona l second module, the po w er supply supports load sharing and N+1 fault tol erance.
Phoenix upgradable Flash BIOS, Year 2000 Ready
The system is equipped with InforManager™ (IFM), a special
feature consisting of both hardw are and soft ware d esigned to monitor and report the operating status of the syst em and its devices: CPUs, po w er supplies, RAM, ambient t emperatures, voltages, and fan operation. For further information about the InforManager™, refer to the I nforMana ger™ User’s Guide.

Front panel

D
The front panel of the system is equipped wit h switches, LEDs, and dri ve bays (see F igure 2.)
Keyboard lock butt on/ECC clear
Power button
3.5-inch diskette
drive
Reset button
Internal 3.5-inch drive bay
Power LED Hard disk activity LED CPU 1 activity LED CPU 2 activity LED ECC fault LED Power supply fault LE
5.25-inch drive bays
Bezel doors
(open)
3.5-inch
LVD SCA
drive bays
Bezel key lock
SCSI disk activity LEDs
RAID bay backplane (behind drive bays)
Figur e 2: Front Panel
System Features 11

Buttons

The following table sho ws the front panel buttons and t heir functions. Se e Figure 2 on page 11 for the locations of the buttons.
Switch Function
Power Turns the system ON or OFF. Reset Allows you to reset the system without having to
power it off and then on again
Keyboard lock Enables or disables the keyboard functions and
clears the error fla g after an ECC error. Pressing this button does not corr ect the error condition. If the error condition has not been corrected, the LED will light again.

Internal 3.5-inch drive bay

The system includes an internal 3.5-inch dri ve ba y to acco mmodate a
3.5-inch IDE hard driv e or other 3.5-inch de vice that does not need to be accessed from outside the system.

LED indicators

The following table sho ws the front panel indica tor LEDs and their functions. See Figure 2 on page 11 for the locations of the indica tor LEDs.
12 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
LED Meaning When Lit
Power The system is on. Hard disk controller
activity P1 activity The first CPU is active. P2 activity The second CPU is active. ECC fault A memory error has been detected. Power supply fault One of the power supplies has failed.
The hard disk is being accessed.
LED Meaning When Lit
Hard disk activity The corresponding LVD SCA drive is being
accessed.
Power The system is on.

5.25-inch drive bays

The 5.25-inch driv e ba ys pro vide space f or up to five 5.25-inch de vices such as CD-ROM dri ves, 5.25-inc h diskette dri ves, or tape dri ves.

Bezel doors and ke ylock

The top bezel door pro vides access t o the po w er , reset, and ke yboard inhibi t switches, as w ell as t he 3.5-inch diskett e driv e and the 5.25-inc h driv e ba ys. The low er beze l door pro vides access t o the 3.5-inch lo w v oltage differential (LVD) SCA drive ba ys. Both doors can be locked to pre vent unauthorized access.

RAID bay bac kplane

The RAID bay backplane supports connection of up to six 3.5-inch hot-swappa ble, LVD , SCA, SCSI hard driv es. The backplane automatic ally sets SCSI ID numbers and pro vides termination. Settings allo w you to divide the backplane into one or tw o channels and to connect a SCSI CD-ROM dri ve to the backplane as w ell.
Warning!
Both upper and lower bezel doors must be closed and locked while the system is running.

3.5-Inch LVD SCA drive ba ys

The 3.5-inch LVD SCA drive bays all ow y ou to install up to six 1- or
1.6-inch hot-sw appable SCSI hard driv es. The drives use a guide rai l system that allo ws easy installati on and remo v al. Cooling for the dri ve bays is provided by internal fans.

3.5-inch diskette drive

The standard system is equipped with one half-height 1.44-MB 3.5-inch diskette.
System Features 13

Rear panel

The rear panel of the system is equipped with I /O ports, connectors, and switches (see F igure 3).
Status light, power supply 1 (PS1)
Power supply
module 1
Power supply
module 2 (optional)
Serial port 1
Parallel port
Serial port 2
Mouse port
Keyboard port
Video port
AC plug, PS1 Volt age selecti on
switch, PS1 Status light, optional
power supply 2 (PS2) AC plug, PS2
Volt age selection switch, PS2
Chassis fan vent
Secondary PCI slot
14 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Dual USB ports
Ethernet p ort
Secondary
PCI slots 1 & 2
covers
4/ISA sl ot 1 co ver
Chassis key lock
Primary PCI slot covers
Secondary PCI slot 3/RAIDport slot cover
ISA slot 2
Figur e 3: Rear Panel

P ower supplies

The system supports two 400-Watt redundant pow er suppl y modules capable of load shari ng. The standard configuration includes a single module. The second module can be purchased as an opti on and pro vides redundancy and hot-sw ap capabilit ies.
P ower supply status lights
Each pow er suppl y module has a multi-col or status light.
Green indicates normal operating mode
Amber indicates standby mode
No light indicates the po w er suppl y module is not re ceiving po w er
or has failed
V oltage selector switches
Located on the back of the po w er suppl y module, this s witch must be set to the proper AC line vol tage used in your locality (115VAC or 230VAC). If the optional second module is instal led , the re are tw o Voltage Selector Switches.
AC power-in connectors
This is a connector into the po we r supply t hat pro vides t he electrical current to the system and its peripheral s. Using the po w er cabl e supplied with th e system, connect the pow e r supply in to a wall out let. If the optional second module is installed , there are tw o A C P o w er -In connectors. If you use both modules, plug each po wer ca ble into a se parate wal l outlet, preferab ly on separate circuits.
Caution!
The voltage selector switches are set at the factory . Changing them may result in sev ere damage to the server.
System Features 15

Fans

The exhaust fans pro vide airfl ow through the system to k eep the interior temperature to acceptab le lev els. Do not b lock this vent.

Chassis ke ylock

The chassis keylo ck allo ws you to s ecure the panels to t he chassis to pre vent unauthorized access to the syste m and its peripherals.

Expansion slot cover plates

These are co ver plates f or their corresponding expansion s lots on the system board.
16 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

I/O ports

The following table sho ws the r ear panel I/O ports and their descript ions. For t he locations of th e ports refer to Figur e 3 on page 14.
Port Definition
Serial ports 1 and 2 These are high speed serial ports that use the
First-In-First-Out (FIFO) protocol. If you have a serial mouse, connect it to Serial P ort 1 (COM1). Other serial devices such as serial printers or modems are also connected to these ports.
Parallel port Parallel devices such as parallel printers and
scanners can be connected to this port.
Mouse port This port supports any mouse with a miniature
circular DIN (mini-DIN) connector.
Key board port This port supports any keyboard with a miniat ure
circular DIN (mini-DIN) connector.
Video port Connects your monitor to the video interface
card.
Stacked dual USB ports
Integrated LAN port This port supports an RJ45 connector to your
These ports support any USB compliant de vices. USB keyboa rds and m ice ma y not be compa tib le with power management functions.
LAN. The LAN port has two small LEDs. These LEDs provide the following information:
The green LED lights when the integrated
ethernet circuit detects a valid link to the network
The amber LED lights when the integrated
ethernet circuit communicates at 100Mbps.
Important!
If your mouse has a mini-DIN connector, you must connect it to the mouse port.
System Features 17

Operating systems

Important!
The Pentium® II processor in this system is designed to support 32-bit operating systems and applications. To ensure optimum system performance, use only 32-bit programs on the system.
Important!
SCO UNIX versions 3.2.4.2 and ODT 3.0 require both MPX 3.X and APIC Driver
1.X to support more than one processor.
The system is 100% Intel MP Specification V1.1 or V1.4, BIOS-selectable compliant. The follo wing operating syste ms support symmetrical multi-processing (SMP):
Nov ell NetWare SMP 4.1 and 4.11
SCO UNIX 3.2.4.2
SCO UNIX ODT 3.0
SCO UNIX Open Server 5.X
UnixW are 2.01 and 2.1
Solaris® 2.1
IBM OS/2 SMP 3.0 Warp
Microsoft Windo ws NT™ Server 3.51 and 4.0
Microsoft Windo ws NT™ Workstation 3.51 and 4.0
Microsoft Windo ws NT™ Server 4.0 Enterprise
Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS)
Because each operating system operates differ ently, it is best to reference your softw are documentation for specific instructions on what to do after the system boots.
The following operating systems run on the system but do not support the system’s multiprocessing capabilities:
If you are unsure w hether or not y our application sup ports SMP, contact the product manufacturer .
18 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Microsoft Windo ws®95
NeXTStep OS 3.3
Nov ell NetWare 3.1x and 4.x
3

Maintaining and Cleaning Your System

Maintaining your hard drive.................................. 20
Protecting against viruses...................................... 23
Cleaning your system............................................ 24

Maintaining y our hard drive

Hard drives need regular mai ntenance because running the system sof twar e divides files, creates spaces betw een data, and otherw ise decreases the hard drive’s performance. Windo ws 95 and W indo ws NT provide maintenance tools that help prev ent possib le hard dri ve prob lems. The most important tools for hard dri ve maintena nce are the pro grams ScanDisk (W indo ws 95 only), Check Disk (W indo ws NT onl y), and Disk Defragmente r (Wi ndo ws 95 only).

Using ScanDisk

ScanDisk is a W indo ws 95 program that l ets you check y our hard disk f or damaged areas and then repairs them. We suggest you scan your hard dri ve from at least once a wee k to once a month, depending on ho w often and how much y ou use your comp uter .
To use ScanDisk
1.
Click on the
System Too ls,
button. Then click on
Start
and then
ScanDisk.
Programs,
then
Accessories,
then
2.
3.
4.
20 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
The ScanDisk window opens. In the ScanDisk windo w, click on the driv e you w ant to scan. If you onl y want to chec k your files and folders for errors, select the
Standard
errors, select the Because the
we recommend y ou normally use the
option button. If you w ant to do a more thorough scan for
Thorough
Thorough
option.
option takes more time than the
Standard
option and do a
Standard
option,
Thorough
check at least once a month. If you selected
Standard
uses when it checks files and folders, click on the
and you want t o change the settings ScanDi sk
Advanced
button, select the options in the ScanDisk Adv anced Options windo w, then click on the
button to close the windo w.
OK
If you select ed
Thorough
when it checks the disk’s surface, click on the
and want to change the settings ScanDisk uses
button, select the
Options
options from the Surface Scan Options windo w, then click on the button to close the windo w.
If you wa nt ScanDisk to automatic ally fix any errors it finds, select the
5.
Automatically fix errors
option in the ScanDisk windo w.
OK
Click on the
6.
button in the ScanDisk windo w.
Start
When the scan is complete, the ScanDisk Results wi ndo w opens giving you details of the scanni ng operation.
If you want to scan another dri ve, click on t he
7.
button to return
Close
to the ScanDisk windo w, select another drive, then go to Step 6. When you are finished using ScanDisk, click on
8.
Close.

Using Check Disk

Windo ws NT pro vides the Chec k Disk utility to maintai n the hard dri ve. Check disk enables y ou to check the dri v e for errors, fix file system errors, and attempt to reco v er bad sectors on the dri ve .
Use Check Disk from once a wee k to once a month, depending on ho w often you use y our computer . Also use Check Dis k whene ver y ou ha ve an y hard drive problems.
To use Check Disk
Right-click
1.
In the Wi ndows NT Expl orer windo w , right-click the dr ive y ou want to
2.
and then click
Start
Explore
.
check. You can only check one dri ve at a time. Click
3.
Click the
4.
Click
5.
Properties
Check Now
.
tab.
Tools
in the Error-checking dialog bo x.
Maintaining and Cleaning Your System 21
6.
Check
Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
drive.
to scan the entire hard
7.
Click
If the scan finds bad sectors, a screen message notifies
Start.
you.

Using Disk Defragmenter

The Disk Defragmenter program that comes with W indo ws 95 hel ps maintain the integrity of y our hard dri ve b y rearranging files so that unused space on your hard dri ve is not scattered around t he driv e, but is containe d in one contiguous area on the disk. You ma y notice, after running Disk Defragmenter, t hat your pro grams run a little faster and more ef ficiently. That is because the hard dri ve head can go directl y to the data it needs instead of skipping around to dif ferent pl aces on the disk to find pieces of data.
We suggest you run Disk Defragmenter at least once a w eek to once a month, depending on how much y ou use y our system.
To run Disk Defragmenter
Click on the
1.
Programs, Defragmenter.
then
button, then follow the popup menus through
Start
Accessories,
and then
System Tool s.
Then select
Disk
2.
3.
22 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
A dialog box opens asking y ou to select a dri ve t o defragment. Select the driv e from the pull-do wn menu, then c lick
OK.
A dialog box o pens sho wing the pro gress of the defragmentation. When defragmentation is complete, a dia log bo x opens and asks you i f you want to qu it the Disk Defragmenter pro gram.
If you are finished defragmenting the drives i n your system, cl ick If you hav e more dri ves to defr agment, click
and return to Step 2.
No
Yes.

Protecting against viruses

A virus is a program written with malicious int ent for the sole purpose of creating hav oc in a comput er system. It attaches i tself to ex ecutab le files or boot sectors, so it can replicate an d spread. Some viruses may onl y cause your system to beep or displa y mess ages or images on the screen. Other viruses are highly destructi ve and corrupt or erase the contents of your files or diskettes. To be safe, never assume any virus is harmless.
Viruses spread through di rect contact with e xe cutabl e programs or boot sectors. Diskettes used in a contaminated syste m can get a virus and transfer the virus when used in anot her system. A virus can also sprea d through programs do wnloaded from bulleti n boards or the Internet.
To protect your system against viruses
Obtain an anti-virus program and scan the syst em regularl y.
Make backup copies of all files and write-protect the disk ettes.
Obtain all softwar e from reputab le sources and al w a ys scan ne w
software for an y viruses prior to inst alling files.
If you suspect y our system has been infected, find and remove the viruses immediately using an anti-vi rus program. Next, turn off your system and leav e it off for at least 15 seconds before turning it back on. This is th e only wa y to ensure the virus does not r emain in yo ur system RAM.
Maintaining and Cleaning Your System 23

Cleaning your system

Your system and its components need to be cleaned occasionall y. Some programs that help maintain the inte grity of the hard dri ves in y our system come as part of the Windo ws 95 and W indo ws NT opera ting systems. The following s ections contain information about ca ring for the v arious parts of your system.

Cleaning the mouse

If the mouse pointer on the screen mo ve s erratically w hen you mo v e the mouse, dirt is probably on the r ollers inside the mouse .
To clean the mouse
1.
Shut down the system.
2.
T urn your mouse upsi de do wn and remo ve the mouse ball co ver.
3.
Cup your hand under the mouse, then tu rn your mouse right-side up. The gray mouse-ball should drop into y our hand. If it doesn’ t, gentl y shake the mouse until the ball drops out of the soc ket.
4.
5.
24 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Once the mouse ball is free, use adhesi ve tape to pick up any dus t or lint on its surface and wipe a w a y dirt or lint inside the mouse- ball socket. You can also blo w into the s ocket to remo v e dirt and lint. If foreign matter is trapped insi de the socket or on t he rollers, use a cotton swa b dipped in isoprop yl alcohol to loosen i t. Allo w surfaces to dry completely after cleanin g.
Return the mouse ball to the socket and repl ace the co v er , then restart the system.

Cleaning the keyboard

Occasionally y ou should clean the k eyboard to free it of dust and l int particles trapped under the ke ys. The easiest w a y to do this is to blo w trapped dirt from under the keys using an aerosol can of ai r with a narro w, straw-li ke extensi on.
If you spill liquid on the keyboard, shut down the computer an d disconnect the keyboard. Turn the keyboard upside do wn to allo w the liquid to drain out ov ernight before trying to use it agai n. If it fails to w ork a fter draining, contact Technical Support.

Cleaning the monitor screen

Use a soft cloth and windo w cleaner to clean the monitor screen. Squirt a little cleaner on the cloth (ne v er directl y on the screen), an d wipe the screen with the cloth.

Cleaning the computer and monitor cases

Alw ays sh ut do wn the system and other periphe rals before cleaning any components.
Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean the computer case, monit or case, keyboard , spea kers, and other parts of you r system. Avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners becaus e they can damage the finish on your components.
Maintaining and Cleaning Your System 25
26 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Appendix

Acronyms and abbreviations................................. 28
Terms and definitions............................................ 32
Regulatory compliance statements....................... 35
A

Acron yms and abbreviations

AC - Alternating current ACPI - Advanced Configuration & Po w er Interface APIC - Advanced programmab le interrupt controller ASCII - American standard code for information interchange ASIC - Application specific integrated circuit ATAPI - A T advanced peripheral interface BIOS - Basic input/output system BIST - Basic integrity self-test CD - Compact disc CD-ROM - Compact disc, re ad-only memory CHS - Cylinder, head, sector CMOS - Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor CPU - Central processing unit DBE - Double bit errors DIMM - Dual inline memory module DMA - Direct memory access DMI - Desktop management interface DRAM - Dynamic random access memory ECC - Error correcting code ECP - Enhanced capabilities port EDO - Extended data output EMC - Electro-magnetic compatibility EMI - Electro-magnetic interference
28 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
EPP - Expanded parallel port ESD - Electro-static dischar ge FAT - File allocation tab le GB - Gigabyte IDE - Integrated driv e electronics I/O - Input/output IRQ - Interrupt request line ISA - Industry standard architecture KB - Kilobyte LAN - Local area network LBA - Logic al block addressing LED - Light-emitting diode LVD - Low voltage di fferent ial MB - Megabyte MBE - Multiple bit error Mbps - Megabits per second MIDI - Musical instrument digital interface MHz - Megahertz MS-DOS - Microsoft disk operating system NMI - Non-maskable interrupt NTFS - NT file system NVRAM - Non-volatile random-access memory OS - Operating system PCI - Peripheral component int erconnect
Appendix 29
PIC - Programmable interrupt controller PIO - Paged input/output PnP - Plug and play POST - Po wer -on self-t est PS/2 - Personal System/2 RAID - Redundant array of inexpensi ve dri ves RAM - Random-access memory RMA - Return material authorization ROM - Read-only memory rpm - Revolutions per minute RTC - Real-time clock SBE - Single bit error SCA - Single connector attachment SCI - Signal control interrupt SCSI - Small computer system interface SDRAM - Synchronous dynamic random access memory SE - Single-ended SEC - Single edge contact SMI - System management interrupt SMM - Server management module SMP - Symmetrical multiple proces sor SV GA - Super video graphics array TCP/IP - Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol UPS - Uninterruptable pow er suppl y
30 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
USB - Universal seria l bus V - Volt VAC - Volts alternating current VGA - Video graphics array VRM - Voltage regulator module W - W att
Appendix 31

T erms and definitions

This list of terms should help you get acquainted with t erms used in your computer’s documentation and in your system softw are.
Applications - Softw are installed on y our system. Sometimes cal led pro gr ams.
BIOS - Basic input/output system. The BIOS is softw are that is independent of any operati ng system. It enabl es the computer to communicate with the monitor , keyb oard , and other per ipheral de vices without using programs on the ha rd disk.
The BIOS on your computer is flash BIOS, w hich means that is has been recorded on a memory chip that can be updated if needed.
Boot - T o load the first software program (usuall y the operat ing system) that starts your computer . To perform a cold (or hard) boot, you turn the computer on when it is of f. To perform a warm (or soft) boot, you reset the computer when it is a lready turned on.
Boot disk - A disk containing operating s ystem programs requi red to start your computer . A boot disk can be a diskette, ha rd driv e, or CD .
Byte - The basic unit of measure for computer memory. A character, s uch as a letter of the alphabet, uses one b yte of memory. Each byte is made up of eight bits. Computer memory is often measured in kilob ytes (1,024 bytes) or meg abytes (1,048,576 b ytes).
Cache memory - Cache is very fast memory that can be located in the processor . Cache reduces the average time required for the proce ssor to get the data it needs from the main memory by storing r ecently accessed dat a in the cache.
CMOS memory - Complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory. CMOS memory is memory that is retained even when the compute r is turned off. The Setup pro gram settings and other parameters are maintained in CMOS memory.
Default - The option that the soft ware or syst em uses when y ou ha ve not made a choice yourself.
Disc - A compact disc (CD).
32 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide
Disk - The device used by t he computer to store and re triev e information. Disk can refer to a diskett e or a hard disk.
Diskette - A removab le disk, also called a flopp y. Hard drive - The dri ve instal led inside y our computer that stores a ll your
system and data files. Depending on its configuration, the computer ma y have more than one hard driv e. Each dri ve is assigned its o wn dri ve lett er . If you ha ve onl y one dri ve, its dr iv e letter is C, an d it is often called “the C drive.”
I/O - Input/output. Refers to de vices, such as printers, w hose purpose is to enter data into a computer or e xtract data from a computer. An I/O device is accessed through an I/O address: a l ocation in memory reserved for the device to e xchange information betw een itself a nd the rest of the com puter .
IRQ - Interrupt request line. The IRQ is a hardware line that a de vice uses to signal the processor w hen the de vice needs the proce ssor’s services. The number of IRQs is limited b y industry standards.
Operating system - A program that supervises the computer’s operation, including handling I/O , netw orking and connectivi ty, and device dri vers.
Path - A sequence of information that directs the syst em to the file it needs. For e xample, c:\windows\bubbles.bmp is the path to a graphics file on your system. The c: tells the system it is on the C hard dri ve, the \windo ws tells the system it is in th e windo ws folder , and bubbles.bmp is the file.
Pixel - A pix el is an indi vidual dot in a graphic displa y ed on y our computer . Pixels are so cl ose toget her that they l ook as though they are connected.
POST - Pow er -on self-test . POST tests you r computer’s components whenev er you turn on the computer .
Programs - Softw are installed on y our system. Pro grams are sometimes called applications.
RAM - Random access memory . RAM is the computer’s system memory . You can write to and read from RAM. Information stored in RAM is temporary and is erased when the c omputer is turned off.
Appendix 33
Refresh rate - The refresh rate is the rate at w hich the image on the monit or screen is rewrit ten to the screen. A fast ref resh rate helps ke ep the image from flickering.
Resolution - The resolution is the sharpness or clarity of the image on the monitor screen. Resolution is measured b y the number of pixe ls the screen can display. For example, a resolution of 800x600 means that t he screen can display 800 pix els in a ro w and can displa y 600 ro ws. The more pix els display ed , t he higher the resoluti on and the clearer the i mages.
ROM - Read-only memory. P ermanent computer memory dedicated to a particular function. F or example, t he instructions for starting the compu ter when you first turn on pow er are contai ned in R OM. You cannot write to ROM.
34 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Regulatory compliance statements

FCC Notice

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and , if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception. Howe ver , there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and televi sion reception, whi ch can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a Class A digital device. The accessories associated with this equipment are as follows:
Shielded video cable
Shielded pow er co rd
American Users
Caution!
The Federal Communications Commission warns users that changes or modifications to the unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
These accessories are required to be used in order to ensure compliance with FCC rule s .

Industry Canada Notice

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of Industry CanadaLe présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe A prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par Industrie Canada.
Canadian Users:
Appendix 35
Attention!
Couper le courant avant l’entretien.

CE Notice

European Users:
Japanese Users:
This Information T echnolo gy Equipment has been tested and found to compl y with the following European directives:
[i]EMC Directive 89/336/EEC amending directi ve 92/31/EEC & 93/68/EEC as per
-EN 50081-1:1992 according to EN 55022:1995 Class A EN 61000-3-2:1995 or EN 60555-2:1986 EN 61000-3-3: 1995
-EN50082-1:1992 according to EN 61000-4-2:1995 or IEC 801-2:1984 ENV 50140:1994 or IEC 801-3:1984 EN 61000-4-4:1988 or IEC 801-4:1998 [ii]Low Voltage Directive (Safety) 73/23/EEC as per EN 60950: 1992

VCCI Notice

This is a Class A product based on the standard of the V olunt ary Control Council for Interference by Information T echnolog y Equipment (VCCI). If this equipment is used in a domestic environment, radio disturbance may arise. When such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take corrective action.
36 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Australia/Ne w Zealand Notice

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3548 set out by the Spectrum Management Agency.
Caution!
Disconnect power before servicing.
Australian and New Zealand Users:
Appendix 37
38 Gateway ALR 8200 User’s Guide

Index

Numerics
3.5-inch internal drive bay 12 LVD SCA drives 13
5.25-inch devices 13
A
abbreviations 28 about this guide iv AC power, power supply 3 AC-in connector
connecting 5 power supply 15
activity indicators 12
LVD SCA SCSI 13 power supply modules 15 processor 12
Adaptec 7895 10 Australia/New Zealand Notice 37
B
backplane, RAID 13 BIOS
correctable errors 6 MP version selection 18 year 2000 ready 10
button
ECC clear 12 keyboard lock 12 on/off 12 power 12 reset 12
C
case, cleaning 25 CE Notice 36 chassis fan 16 chassis keylock 16
Check Disk, using 21 Cirrus Logic video chip 10 cleaning
computer case 25 keyboard 25 monitor case 25 monitor screen 25
mouse 24 configuration, verifying 7 connecting
AC power 5
keyboard 4
monitor 4
mouse 4, 17
peripherals 4
serial mouse 17
video 4 controller
diskette drive 10
IDE 10
ultraSCSI 10 conventions used in this guide v correcting BIOS configuration
errors 6
CPU. See processor
D
definitions of terms 32 DIMM, supported 10 Disk Defragmenter, using 22 disk drive
5.25-inch 13
IDE controller 10
LVD SCA activity indicators 13
LVD SCA, 3.5-inch 13
ultraSCSI controller 10 diskette drive, controller 10
Index 39
document conventions v DRAM, video 10 drive bay, SCSI SCA LVD 13
E
ECC
clear button 12 memory 10
Error Checking and Correcting. See
ECC
errors
messages 6 troubleshooting 7
expansion slots
ISA 10 PCI 10 PCI/ISA 10 PCI/RAIDport 10 shared 10
F
fans, chassis 16 FCC Notice 35 features
front panel 11 rear panel 14
system 10 flash BIOS 10 floppy drive. See diskette drive format meanings v front panel
features 11
illustration 11
G
graphics
DRAM 10
memory 10
PCI 10 guidelines for troubleshooting 7
H
hard drive
internal 3.5-inch bay 12 RAID bay 13 SCA LVD SCSI bay 13
hot-swap
power supply modules 10, 15 SCSI drives 10, 13
I
IDE controller, ultra DMA 10 indicators
LVD SCA SCSI drive
activity 13
power supply modules 12, 15 InforManager™ 10 Intel MP specification, sele cting 18 ISA, expansion slots 10
K
keyboard
cleaning 25
connecting 4
lock button 12 keylock, chassis 16
L
LED indicators 12 lights, indicator 12 low voltage different ial
activity indicators 13
drives 13
SCSI 10 LVD. See low voltage differential
M
manual conventions v memory
ECC 10
standard 10
supported 10
40 Book Title Goes Here
messages, error 6 monitor
cleaning 25 connecting 4
mouse
cleaning 24 connecting 4, 17
serial, connecting 17 MP specification, selecting 18 multiprocessing
supported OSs 18
when not supported 18
N
NeXTStep, versions supported 18 Novell NetWare, versions
supported 18
O
on/off button 12 operating systems
multiprocessing 18
NeXTStep 18
non-multiprocessing 18
Novell NetWare 18
OS/2 18
SCO UNIX 18
small business server 18
Solaris 18
supported 18
UnixWare 18
Windows 95 18
Windows NT 18 OS/2, versions supported 18
P
PCI
expansion slots 10
graphics 10 PCI/ISA, expansion slot 10 PCI/RAIDport, expansion slot 10
peripherals, connecting 4 power supply
AC-in connector 5, 15 characteristics 3 hot-swap modules 10, 15 InforManager 10 module failure indicator 12 status lights 15
voltage selector switch 4, 15 power switch 12 powering up the system 6 power-on self-test 6 processor
activity indicators 12
InforManager 10
operating systems supported 18
supported 10
testing 6
R
RAID, backplane 13 RAM
ECC 10
supported 10 rear panel
features 14
illustration 14 regulatory compliance statements 35 reset button 12
S
safety, closing the bezel doors 6 SCA. See single connector
attachment ScanDisk, using 20 SCO UNIX, versions supported 18 SCSI
activity indicators 13 controller 10
self-checks on power up 6
Index 41
shared expansion slots 10 single connector attachment
drives 13 hot-swap drives 10
small business server, versions
supported 18 Solaris, versions supported 18 status lights
front panel 12 power supply modules 15
system 12 support options 6 supported
DIMMs 10
memory 10
RAM 10 switch
ECC clear 12
keyboard lock 12
on/off 12
power 12
reset 12 system
errors 6
features 10
management 10
monitoring 10
power 6
self-checks 6
status lights 12
using
Check Disk 21 Disk Defragmenter 22 ScanDisk 20
V
VCCI Notice 36 verifying your configuration 7 video
chip manufacturer 10 connecting 4 DRAM 10
voltage requirements, power
supply 3
voltage selector switch
location 15 setting 4
W
warning, closing the bezel doors 6 Windows 95, supported versions 18 Windows NT, supported versions 18
42 Book Title Goes Here
T
testing, processor 6 textual formatting v troubleshooting guidelines 7 turning on the power 6
U
ultraSCSI, controller 10 UnixWare, versions supported 18
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