Gateway computer User Manual
GATEWAY COMPUTER
USERGUIDE
®
Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thank you for purchasing our computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using the Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting help in Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 2: Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Working safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Setting up your computer and computer accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Premium multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Elite multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . 18
Installing a printer, scanner, or other device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Chapter 3: Using Windows XP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Using the Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the Start menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Adding icons to the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Identifying window items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Working with files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Viewing drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Creating folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Copying and moving files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Deleting files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Searching for files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Using the Windows Search utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Browsing for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Working with documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Printing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Chapter 4: Recovering Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
System recovery options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Drivers and applications recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Creating drivers and applications recovery discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Copying drivers and applications recovery files to a network . . . . . . . . . 36
Creating discs from recovery files on a network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Recovering specific files and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Recovering your system from the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Chapter 5: Using the Internet and Faxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Learning about the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Setting up an Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Accessing your Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Using the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Connecting to a Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Downloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Using e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Sending e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Checking your e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Installing and configuring Microsoft Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Installing Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Configuring Microsoft Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Setting up your cover page template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Sending a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Sending a quick fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Faxing from programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Faxing a scanned document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Automatically retry sending a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Automatically canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Receiving and viewing a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Chapter 6: Protecting Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Hardware security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Kensington lock slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Data security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
About startup and hard drive passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
About Windows XP user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Using McAfee SecurityCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
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Using Windows XP Security Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Security updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Windows Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Chapter 7: Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Playing a DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Creating CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Creating audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Copying CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Playing music and movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Playing WAV audio files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Playing audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Creating audio files and music libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Creating music files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Building a music library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Editing track information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Creating and editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Transferring your video to your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Editing your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Saving your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Creating music CDs and video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Creating a music CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Creating a video DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Creating and copying data CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Creating a data CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Copying a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Advanced multimedia software features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Windows Media Player advanced features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
CyberLink Power2Go advanced features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Using Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Manually updating the Media Center Program Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Chapter 8: Networking Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Introduction to Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Using a router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Creating an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
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Installing Ethernet cards and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Setting up an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Sharing resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Mapping a network drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Adding a printer to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Chapter 9: Customizing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Adjusting the screen and desktop settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Adjusting the color depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Adjusting the screen resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Changing the colors on your Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Changing the desktop background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Selecting a screen saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Using an extended desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Using a second monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Viewing the display on a television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Modifying television settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Changing the mouse settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Adding and modifying user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Changing power-saving settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Changing advanced power settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Activating and using Hibernate mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Installing an uninterruptible power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Chapter 10: Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Setting up a maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Using BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Deleting unnecessary files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
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Scheduling maintenance tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Transferring files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Transferring Internet settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Installing your old printer or scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Installing your old programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Chapter 11: Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Appendix A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
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Contents
vi
CHAPTER 1
• Using the Gateway Web site
• Using Help and Support
• Using online help
Getting Help
1
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help
Thank you for purchasing our computer!
You have made an excellent decision choosing Gateway. We are sure that you will be pleased
with the outstanding quality, reliability, and performance of your new computer. Each and every
Gateway computer uses the latest technology and passes through the most stringent quality
control tests to ensure that you are provided with the best product possible.
Please read this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with our range of services and support.
We have highlighted some basic care and safety information to help you keep your computer
in good operating condition.
Gateway stands behind our value proposition to our customers—to provide best-of-class service
and support in addition to high-quality, brand-name components at affordable prices. If you ever
have a problem, our knowledgeable, dedicated customer service department will provide you
with fast, considerate service.
We sincerely hope that you will receive the utmost satisfaction and enjoyment from your new
Gateway computer for years to come.
Thanks again, from all of us at Gateway.
Using the Gateway Web site
Gateway’s online support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and provides the most
current drivers, product specifications, tutorials, and personalized information about your
computer. Visit the Gateway Support Web site at support.gateway.com
.
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Using Help and Support
Your computer includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help information,
troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support to answer questions about
Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway computer.
To start Help and Support:
• Click Start, then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens.
You can find help information by clicking a link, performing a search, or browsing the index.
Searching for a topic
To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in the Search box
located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click the arrow button.
For each search, you receive the following search result types:
• Suggested Topics—These topics are located in Help and Support and are relevant to your
search topic.
• Full-text Search Matches—These topics are located in Help and Support and contain the
words you entered in the Search box.
• Microsoft Knowledge Base—These topics are located on the Microsoft Web site and contain
the words you entered in the Search box. You must be connected to the Internet to search
for and access these topics.
To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results you want to
view. To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list.
3
Getting help in Media Center
If your computer has Windows XP Media Center Edition, you can access online help or refer to
the printed Windows XP Media Center Edition Guide.
To access Media Center help:
1 In the Media Center window, move the mouse to activate the Media Center tool bar. The
tool bar appears at the top of the window.
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help
2 Click the Help icon in the tool bar.
4
Using online help
Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform
a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting
a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a Help button.
You can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the index, searching for
a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help.
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Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity
The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes
the product key code for your operating system. If you ever reinstall Windows from the
installation CD or DVD, you will need to enter these numbers to activate Windows.
5
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help
6
CHAPTER 2
Using Your Computer
• Working safely
• Setting up your computer and computer accessories
• Starting your computer
• Turning off your computer
• Restarting (rebooting) your computer
• Using the keyboard
• Using the mouse
• Adjusting the volume
• Configuring the audio jacks
• Connecting the dial-up modem
• Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired
Ethernet network
• Installing a printer, scanner, or other device
7
Working safely
Before using your computer, read the following recommendations for setting up a safe and
comfortable work area and avoiding discomfort and strain.
Hands and arms are
parallel to the floor
CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
Top of screen is not
higher than eye level
Screen is perpendicular to
your line of sight
Feet are flat on the floor
Reducing eye strain
Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the monitor screen or shine directly into
your eyes.
• Position the computer desk and monitor so you can avoid glare on your screen and light
shining directly into your eyes. Reduce glare by installing shades or curtains on windows,
and by installing a glare screen filter on your monitor.
• Use soft, indirect lighting in your work area. Do not use your computer in a dark room.
• Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for long periods of time. Look away
from your computer occasionally, and try to focus on distant objects.
Setting up your computer desk and chair
When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make sure that the desk is the appropriate
height and the chair helps you maintain good posture.
• Select a flat surface for your computer desk.
• Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are positioned parallel to
the floor when you use the keyboard and mouse. If the desk is not adjustable or is too
tall, consider using a keyboard drawer.
• Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes your weight evenly, and keeps your
body relaxed.
• Position your chair so the keyboard is at or slightly below the level of your elbow. This
position lets your shoulders relax while you type.
• Adjust the chair height, adjust the forward tilt of the seat, or use a footrest to distribute
your weight evenly on the chair and relieve pressure on the back of your thighs.
• Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower curve of your spine. You can use a
pillow or cushion to provide extra back support.
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Setting up your computer and computer accessories
• Set up the monitor so the top is no higher than eye level, the monitor controls are within
reach, and the screen is tilted to be perpendicular to your line of sight.
• Place your keyboard and mouse at a comfortable distance. You should be able to reach
them without stretching.
• Set paper holders at the same height and distance as the monitor.
Sitting at your computer
• Avoid bending, arching, or angling your wrists. Make sure that they are in a relaxed position
when you type.
• Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back straight so your knees, hips,
and elbows form right angles when you work.
• Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.
• Avoid twisting your torso or neck.
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain
• Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.
• Take breaks to change your position, stretch your muscles, and relieve your eyes.
• Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a variety of tasks.
Protecting from power source problems
War ning
High voltages can enter your computer through both the power cord and the
modem connection. Protect your computer by using 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 that has an antenna/cable TV jack. During an electrical storm,
unplug both the surge protector and the modem.
During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your computer can increase
to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage. Protect your computer and
peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector, which absorbs voltage surges and
prevents them from reaching your computer.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) supplies battery power to your computer during a power
failure. Although you cannot run your computer for an extended period of time with a UPS, a
UPS lets you run your computer long enough to save your work and shut down your computer
normally.
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CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
Checking the voltage selection
Caution
If you set the voltage selection switch incorrectly, your system will be damaged.
Make sure this switch is set correctly for your location before turning on your computer.
In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60 Hz. The power
supply should always be set to this when your computer is operating in the United States.
In other areas of the world, such as Europe, the utility power is supplied at 230 volts at
50 Hz. If your computer is operating in an environment such as this, the voltage switch
should be moved to 230.
A power supply is integrated into your computer to provide power to the system board, add-in
cards, and peripheral devices. The voltage selection for your location is typically set at the factory.
Use the power selection switch on the back of your computer to set the power supply to 115V
or 230V. To verify that your system has the correct setting for your environment, check the
voltage selection switch.
To set the voltage selection switch:
• Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection switch to the correct
voltage position. For the location of the switch, see your setup poster or hardware
reference.
Starting your computer
To start your computer:
1 Connect the cables to your computer according to the setup poster.
2 Turn on your computer.
Important
Your computer has a built-in variable speed fan. In addition, your computer
uses a powerf ul processor which produces heat. Both the system fan and processor
can run at different speeds at times to ensure proper system cooling. You may
notice an increase in the fan noise when the fan is running at high speed and a
decrease in the fan noise when it switches to normal speed.
3 If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions to
set up your computer.
4 Attach and turn on any peripheral devices, such as printers or scanners, and see the
documentation that came with the device for setup instructions.
Waking up your computer
Tip
For more information about changing the power button mode, see “Changing
power-saving settings” on page 126.
When you have not used your computer for several minutes, it may enter a power-saving mode
called Standby. While in Standby, the power indicator flashes.
If your computer is in Standby mode, move the mouse or press the power button to “wake” it up.
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Turning off your computer
War ning
When you turn off your computer, certain components in the power supply and
system board remain energized. In order to remove all electrical power from your
computer, unplug the power cord and modem cable from the wall outlets. We recommend
disconnecting the power cord and modem cable when your computer will not be used
for long periods.
Important
If for some reason you cannot use the Turn Off Computer option in Windows to
turn off your computer, press and hold the power button for about five seconds, then
release it.
To turn off your computer:
1 Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box opens.
2 Click Turn Off. Windows shuts down and turns off your computer.
Restarting (rebooting) your computer
If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have to close programs
that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your computer to
normal operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your computer.
To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:
1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Task Manager window opens.
2 Click the Applications tab, then click the program that is not responding.
3 Click End Task.
4 Click X in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog box.
- OR -
If your computer does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again.
You are done.
Important
If your computer does not turn off, press and hold the power button for
about five seconds, then release it.
5 Click Start, Shut Down, click the arrow to open the What do you want the computer
to do? list, click Restart, then click OK.
As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status runs
automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts.
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CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
Using the keyboard
Premium multimedia keyboard features
The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons. Your keyboard also has status
indicators that show which keyboard feature is active.
Function keys
Editing buttons
Internet buttons
Audio playback buttons
Navigation keys
Indicators
Internet buttons
Windows keys Application key Directional keys Numeric keypad
Feature Icon Description
Editing buttons Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.
Function keys Press these keys to start program actions. Each program uses different function keys for
Internet buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet home page, search, or e-mail programs.
Audio playback
buttons
Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end of a line, up the
Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are activated. Press the
Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows Start menu. These keys can also be used in
Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Directional keys Press these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or left.
different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the function key
actions.
Press these buttons to play your audio files and to adjust the volume.
page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document.
corresponding key to activate the function.
combination with other keys to open utilities like F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer
utility).
Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (N
12
UM LOCK) is turned on.
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Elite multimedia keyboard features
The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons. Your keyboard also has status
indicators that show which keyboard feature is active.
Sleep button Internet buttons Audio playback buttons
Function keys
Windows keys
Application key
Navigation keys
Numeric keypad
Feature Icon Description
Sleep button Press this button to activate your computer’s Sleep (power-saving) mode.
Indicators
Function keys Press these keys to start program actions. Each program uses different function keys
Application buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet home page, search for files, or launch the
Audio playback
buttons
Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOC K keys are activated. Press the
Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows Start menu. These keys can also be used
Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Editing buttons Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.
Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end of a line, up
Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (N
for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the
function key actions.
calculator program.
Press these buttons to play your audio files and to adjust the volume.
corresponding key to activate the function.
in combination with other keys to open utilities like F(Search utility), R (Run utility), and
E (Explorer utility).
the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document.
Press the arrow keys to move the cursor.
UM LOCK) is turned on.
13
Using the mouse
The mouse is a device that controls the pointer movement on the computer display. This
illustration shows the standard mouse.
CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
Scroll wheel
Left button
Right button
As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the display moves in the same direction.
You can use the left and right buttons on the mouse to select objects on the display.
You can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to move through a document. This feature is not
available in all programs.
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To... Do this...
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Move the pointer on the
computer display
Select an object on the
computer display
Start a program or open a
file or folder
Access a shortcut menu or
find more information about
an object on the computer
display.
Move an object on the
computer display.
click
click
(hold)
click
click
click,
click,
click
click
and drag
and drag
click
Move the mouse around on the mouse pad. If you run
out of space on your mouse pad and need to move the
pointer farther, pick up the mouse, set it down in the
middle of the mouse pad, then continue moving the
mouse.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and
release the left mouse button once. This action is called
clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and
release the left mouse button twice. This action is called
double-clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and
release the right mouse button once. This action is called
right-clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Press the left mouse
button and hold it down. Move (drag) the object to the
appropriate part of the computer display. Release the
button to drop the object where you want it.
For more information about how to adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, right-hand or
left-hand configuration, and other mouse settings, see “Changing the mouse settings” on
page 124. For instructions on how to clean the mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on page 131.
Adjusting the volume
Help
For more information about adjusting the volume, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type adjusting volume in the Search box, then press E
You can adjust volume using your speakers’ controls or the Windows volume controls. You can
also adjust the volume of specific sound devices in your computer.
To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:
• If you are using external speakers, turn the knob on the front of the speakers.
-OR-
Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more information, see
“Using the keyboard” on page 12.
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CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
To adjust the overall volume from Windows:
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel
is in Category View, click
Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
2 Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds
and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.
3 Click the Volume tab.
4 Drag the Device Volume slider to change the volume or click to select the Mute check box,
then click OK.
To adjust device volume levels:
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel
is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
2 Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds
and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.
3 Click the Volume tab.
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4 Click Advanced in the Device volume area.
If the device you want to adjust does not appear in the window, click
the check box next to the audio device you want to adjust, then click OK.
5 Drag the volume level and balance sliders for the device you want to adjust. For more
information about the volume controls, click
6 Click X in the top-right corner of the window to close it.
Configuring the audio jacks
If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, they are universal jacks. This means that they
can be used for more than one purpose. For example, the blue jack on the computer can be a
stereo in jack or a stereo out jack. For more information on how each jack can be used, see your
hardware reference. To use the audio jacks for something other than the default audio device,
you need to configure the audio jacks.
To configure the audio jacks:
1 Connect your audio device(s) to the computer audio jack(s).
2 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
3 Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices or Sounds and Audio Devices, then click
Advanced under Speaker Settings. The Advanced Audio Properties dialog box opens.
-OR-
If your computer has the Realtek Sound Effect Manager installed, double-click the Sound
Effect Manager icon on the taskbar. The Realtek dialog box opens.
4 Configure the audio jacks for your speaker setup.
Options, Properties,
Help in the window.
Connecting the dial-up modem
War ning
To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 AWG or larger telecommunications line
cord.
Your computer 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 the modem cable into the modem jack on the back of your computer.
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 computer, then start your communications program.
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CHAPTER 2: Using Your Computer
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network
Important
Your computer is equipped with a built-in Ethernet port. For information about
setting up a wired or wireless Ethernet network, see “Networking Your Computer” on
page 99.
Your computer has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable or DSL modem or to
a 10/100 wired Ethernet network.
To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network:
1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack on the back of your
computer.
2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem, DSL modem, or network jack.
Installing a printer, scanner, or other device
Important
Before you install a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device, see the device
documentation and installation instructions.
Your computer has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or
®
), Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. You use these ports to connect peripheral
i.Link
devices such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras to your computer. For more information
about port locations, see your hardware reference.
IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot-swapping, which means that your
computer 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 computer will prompt you to
install any software the device needs. After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the
device at any time.
Help
For more information about installing peripheral devices, click Start, then click Help
and Support. Type installing devices in the Search box, then press E
Parallel and serial port devices are not plug-and-play. See the device documentation for detailed
information and installation instructions.
NTER.
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CHAPTER 3
Using Windows XP
• Using the Windows desktop
• Working with files and folders
• Searching for files
• Working with documents
• Shortcuts
19
CHAPTER 3: Using Windows XP
Using the Windows desktop
After your computer starts, the first screen you see is the Windows desktop. The desktop is like
the top of a real desk. Think of the desktop as your personalized work space where you open
programs and perform other tasks.
Help
For more information about the Windows desktop, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type Windows de sktop in the Search box, then press E
Your desktop may be different from this example, depending on how your computer is set up.
The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon.
NTER.
Desktop elements Description
The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button
on the left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs
that are running.
Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.
The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and other
programs, and computer tools and utilities.
Click the Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu
that opens.
The Recycle Bin is where files, folders, and programs that you discarded are stored. You
must empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete them from your computer. For
instructions on how to use the Recycle Bin, see “Deleting files and folders” on page 25.
The Windows Security Center icon may appear on the taskbar near the clock. The icon
changes appearance to notify you when the security settings on your computer are set
below the recommended value or when updates are available. Double-click this icon to
open the Windows Security Center. For more information, see “Modifying security
settings” on page 65.
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Using the Start menu
Help
For more information about the Windows Start menu, click Start, then click Help
and Support. Type Windows Start menu in the Search box, then press E
You can start programs, open files, customize your system, get help, search for files and folders,
and more using the Start menu.
To use the Start menu:
1 Click the Start button on the lower left of the Windows desktop. The Start menu opens
showing you the first level of menu items.
2 Click All Programs to see all programs and files in the Start menu. When you move the
mouse pointer over any menu item that has an arrow next to it, another menu, called a
submenu, opens and reveals related files, programs, or commands.
3 Click a file or program to open it.
www.gateway.com
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Adding icons to the desktop
Help
For more information about desktop icons, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type desktop icons in the Search box, then press E
You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you use frequently.
To add icons to the desktop:
1 Click Start, then click All Programs.
2 Right-click (press the right mouse button) the program that you want to add to the desktop.
3 Click Send To, then click Desktop (create shortcut). A shortcut icon for that program
appears on the desktop.
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Identifying window items
Help
For more information about windows, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type window in the Search box, then press E
When you double-click the icon for a drive, folder, file, or program, a window opens on the
desktop. This example shows the Local Disk (C:) window, which opens after you double-click the
Local Disk (C:) icon in the My Computer window.
Title bar
Menu bar
CHAPTER 3: Using Windows XP
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Close
Maximize
Minimize
Every program window looks a little different because each has its own menus, icons, and
controls. Most windows include these items:
Window item Description
The title bar is the horizontal bar at the
top of a window that shows the window
title.
Clicking the minimize button reduces the
active window to a button on the
taskbar. Clicking the program button in
the taskbar opens the window again.
Clicking the maximize button expands
the active window to fit the entire
computer display. Clicking the maximize
button again restores the window to its
former size.
Clicking the close button closes the active
window or program.
Clicking an item on the menu bar starts
an action such as Print or Save.
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