Gateway E1400 User Manual

Download

E1400 Mid Tower

System Manual

Contents

Preface..............................................................v

Conventionsusedinthismanual ....................................... v

Gettingadditionalinformation ..........................................vi

1 System Features ................................................1

Easytoservicechassis...............................................1

Standardfeatures ...................................................1

Frontpanel ........................................................2

Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . .............................................4

Insidethecomputer ..................................................6

Systemboard ......................................................7

Risercard .........................................................8

Front ..........................................................8

Back ..........................................................9

2 System Setup ..................................................11

Settingupyoursystem ..............................................11

Startingyoursystem ................................................12

UnderstandingthePower-OnSelf-Test ..............................13

Settinguptheoperatingsystem ....................................13

Turningoffyoursystem..............................................14

Resettingyoursystem...............................................15

3 Case Access ...................................................17

Staticelectricityprecautions ..........................................17

Openingthecase ..................................................19

Removingthesidepanels ........................................19

Closingthecase ...................................................23

Replacingthesidepanels ........................................23

4 Replacing and Adding Drives ..................................25

Aboutreplacingdrives...............................................25

Releasingthedrivecage.............................................26

Reinsertingthedrivecage ...........................................28

Replacingthediskettedrive ..........................................29

Addingaseconddiskettedrive........................................31

ReplacingtheCDdrive ..............................................33

Addingasecond5.25-inchdevice .....................................35

Replacingtheharddrive .............................................38

Adding an additional hard drive . . . . . . . . . . ..............................41

5 System Components ............................................45

Addingorreplacingmemory ..........................................45

Adding an expansion card . ...........................................48

ReplacingtheAGPcard..............................................51

Replacingthebattery ................................................52

Replacingthepowersupply ...........................................54

Replacingthesystemboard...........................................56

Replacingtheprocessor..............................................61

6 Using the BIOS Setup Utility ....................................65

AbouttheBIOSSetuputility...........................................65

UpdatingtheBIOS ..................................................67

Settingthesystemboardjumpers ......................................69

Recoverymode .................................................69

7 Managing Your System .........................................71

Protectingagainstpowersourceproblems ...............................71

Surgesuppressors ...............................................71

Lineconditioners ................................................72

Uninterruptiblepowersupplies......................................72

Maintainingandmanagingyourharddrive ...............................73

Harddrivemaintenanceutilities.....................................73

Harddrivemanagementpractices ...................................75

Systemintegrity ....................................................78

Protectingagainstviruses .........................................78

CheckingsystemhealthwithLANDesk ...............................79

Systemrecovery ....................................................80

Creatingastartupdiskette .........................................80

Keepingarecordofsystemconfiguration .............................80

UsingyourSystemRestorationCD..................................81

System power management ...........................................82

Aboutsoft-off ...................................................82

UsingSuspendinWindows95 .....................................82

UsingStandbyinWindows98 ......................................84

8 Cleaning Your System ..........................................87

Cleaningthemouse .................................................87

Cleaningthekeyboard ...............................................88

Cleaningthemonitorscreen ..........................................88

Cleaningthecomputerandmonitorcases ...............................88

9 Troubleshooting ................................................89

Introduction .......................................................89

Troubleshootingchecklist ............................................90

Verifyingyourconfiguration .......................................90

Troubleshootingguidelines ........................................90

CD/DVDdriveproblems .............................................91

Harddriveproblems ................................................93

Memory/processorproblems ..........................................94

Modemproblems...................................................95

Peripheral/adapterproblems ..........................................96

Printerproblems ...................................................98

Systemproblems...................................................99

Videoproblems ...................................................101

Errormessages ...................................................104

10 Safety, Regulatory, and Notices ...............................109

A Specifications .................................................121

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

iii

Preface

Conventions used in this manual

Throughout this manual, you will see the following conventions:

Convention Description

ENTER Keyboard key names are printed in small capitals.

TRL+ALT+DEL Aplussignmeanstopressthekeysatthesametime.

Setup Commands to be entered, options to select, and messages that

appear on your monitor are printed in bold.

User’s Guide Names of publications are printed in italic.

Important A note labeled important informs you of special

circumstances.

Caution A caution warns you of possible damage to equipment or

loss of data.

Warning A warning indicates the possibility of personal injury.

Conventions used in this manual v

Getting additional information

Log on to the Gateway Support Center at www.gateway.com/support to find information about your system or other Gateway products. Some types of information you can access are:



Hardware driver and program updates



Technical tips



Service agreement information



Technical documents and component information



Frequently asked questions (FAQ)



Documentation for peripherals or optional components



Online access to technical support

System Features

Easy to service chassis

The E1400 Mid Tower has many features that let you easily access the inside of your system to add and remove components, such as hard drives, memory, and processors.

Standard features

The following features are standard in the E1400 Mid Tower system:



Intel® Celeron™ and Pentium III™ (FC-PGA 370) processors with 128K and 256K of integrated L2 cache, respectively



Two DIMM sockets that support up to 512 megabytes (MB) of Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)



Intel 810 chipset



Integrated Heceta IV Hardware Management Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)



Five PCI slots



One 1.44 MB 3.5-inch diskette drive, one CD drive, and one hard drive



Keyboard port, mouse port, serial port, parallel port, video port, two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, RJ-45 Ethernet port, and audio line-out and audio line-in ports



200-watt power supply

Easy to service chassis 1

Front panel

The front panel contains following features:

Audio-out port

CD volume control

Diskette drive

Hard drive LED

Power button

Audio-out port connects headphones or powered speakers that let you listen to an audio CD (directly from the CD drive).

CD drive CD eject button

Diskette eject button Reset button

Power LED

Right panel release button

CD drive plays data or audio CDs.

CD eject button ejects a CD from the CD drive.

CD volume control controls the volume of an audio CD.

Diskette drive writes to and reads from 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB diskettes.

Diskette eject button ejects diskettes from the diskette drive.

Hard drive LED lights when the hard drive is active.

Power button turns the computer on and off.

2 System Features

Power LED lights when the computer is turned on. The green light indicates

your computer is using full power. The amber light indicates your computer

is in power conservation mode.

Reset button restarts a system that becomes non-responsive.

Right panel release button lets you easily remove the right panel to access

the internal components of your system.

Front panel 3

Rear panel

The Mid Tower rear panel includes the following Input/Output (I/O) ports, connectors, and switches:

Video port Parallel port Serial port

Kensington lock slot

RJ-45LANconnector Mouse port

Keyboard port USB ports

Audio line-out Audio line-in

Voltage selector Power connector

Audio Line-out, and Line-in jacks connect audio devices such as speakers, tape players, and microphones.

Kensington lock slot permits the use of a cable lock to secure the system.

Keyboard port connects a Personal System/2

(PS/2) compatible keyboard.

Mouse port connects a PS/2 compatible mouse.

Parallel port connects a printer or other parallel device.

4 System Features

Power Connector connects the computer power cord. The other end of the

power cord plugs into an AC outlet or power strip.

RJ-45 LAN connector connects a network cable.

Serial port connects serial devices, such as a musical instrument digital

interface (MIDI) device.

USB ports connect external Plug-and-Play devices, such as keyboards and

pointing devices, that are automatically configured when they are plugged

into the computer through one of these ports.

Video port connects the monitor interface cable.

Voltage selector sets the voltage for your area, either 115V (US standard) or

230V.

Rear panel 5

Inside the computer

The following illustration shows locations of various system components:

BB C

A System board B Riser card C Power supply release lever D Power supply E Hard drive (hard drive shown here in top bay: bay location may

vary)

F Diskette drive G CD drive

6 System Features

System board

F E

A I/O (input/output) connectors B Configuration jumper (J6C1) C Battery D DIMM slots E Processor F Processor fan connector

System board 7

Riser card

The riser card is mounted to the chassis by three screws at the top. The riser card includes a chassis intrusion switch to alert you if the computer cover is removed. It also includes five PCI connectors for add-on cards.

Front

B C DE

P O N M

A Secondary IDE connector B CD/diskette drive power connector C Wake-on LAN connector (WOL) D Net Alert connector (AOL) E Ring-in connector F System board connectors G System chassis fan connector

8 System Features

HIJ

Back

PCI slots (5)

H I Chassis intrusion switch J Hard drive power connector K Primary IDE connector L Remote lock/unlock M Chassis fan connector N Front panel connector O SCSI LED connector P CD/DVD audio connector Q Diskette drive connector

A Power supply connector

Riser card 9

10 System Features

System Setup

Setting up your system

Follow the instructions on the poster that came with your system for assembly instructions. You can prepare a safer working environment before assembling your system by following the guidelines listed below.



Provide a clean, flat, stable surface for your system. Allow at least 12 inches at the rear of the computer for cabling and air circulation.



Obtain a grounded (three-prong) AC surge-protected power strip. A surge-protected power strip helps protect against AC line spikes.



Protect your system from extreme temperature and humidity. Do not expose your system to direct sunlight, heater ducts, or other heat-generating objects.



Keep your computer away from equipment that generates magnetic fields, such as unshielded stereo speakers. Even a telephone placed too close to the computer may cause interference.



Plug the computer into a wall outlet or power strip that is easily accessible. When you turn off the computer with the power button, some electricity still flows through the computer. To remove all power from the computer, you need to unplug it.

Important Keep the product cartonand packing material, in caseyou

need to send the system out for repair. If you return your system to the factory in different packaging, your warranty may be void.

Setting up your system 11

Starting your system

Before you start your system for the first time:



Refer to the safety information beginning on page 109.



Make sure the voltage selector switch on the back of the computer is set to the correct voltage for your area. This switch is set at the factory to the correct voltage (see “Rear panel” on page 4 for voltage selector switch location).



Make sure all cables are firmly connected to the proper ports on the rear panel of the computer.

Caution Make sure your computer and peripherals are turned off

and unplugged from the power outlet when you connect peripherals to the computer.



Make sure the computer and monitor are plugged into an AC outlet or power strip.

To start the system:

1 If you have connected the system components to a power strip, make

sure all the system components are turned off, then turn on the power strip.

2 Turn on the monitor by pressing the power button. 3 Turn on the computer by pressing the power button. The power

light-emitting diode (LED) on the front panel is lit when the power is on.

4 Turn on any other components connected to the computer, such as

speakers, a printer, or a scanner.

If nothing happens when you turn on the system:



Recheck the power cables to see that they are securely plugged in and that your power strip (if you are using one) is plugged in and turned on.



Make sure the monitor is connected to the computer, plugged into the power strip or AC outlet, and turned on. You may also need to adjust the brightness and contrast controls on the monitor.

12 System Setup

Wait until the startup procedure is finished before loading a diskette in the diskette drive, or the computer may search the diskette for startup information.

Understanding the Power-OnSelf-Test

When you turn on your computer, the Power-On Self-Test (POST) routine checks the system memory and components. To see this information on the screen, press T count.

The system displays an error message if POST finds any problems. Write down the error message that appears.

AB during POST. Press ESC to bypass the remaining memory

Setting up the operating system

The first time you start your computer, the operating system takes a few minutes to set up.

Refer to your software documentation for specific questions.

To complete the operating system setup:

1 After the computer starts, the start-up wizard opens. Continue by clicking

Next.

2 Type the requested information in the appropriate text boxes. When you

have finished entering the information, continue by clicking

Next.

3 Continue following the instructions and selecting options in the start-up

wizard dialog boxes, clicking the wizard tells you to restart your computer.

If you need to return to the previous dialog box to change any of your entries, click

Back.

Next to move through the dialog boxes until

4 Restart your system. The setup is complete.

Starting your system 13

Turning off yoursystem

Every time you turn off your system, shut down the operating system first. You may lose data if you do not follow the proper procedure.

To turn off your system in Windows 95:

1 On the taskbar, click Start. 2 Click Shut Down. 3 Select Shut down the computer? 4 Click Yes. The computer turns off. 5 Turn off the monitor and peripherals.

To turn off your system in Windows NT or Windows 98:

1 Click Start, then select Shut Down (Windows 98) or Shut down the

computer?

2 Select Shut Down. 3 Click OK. The computer turns off. If you see a message saying It is now

safe to turn off your computer

by pressing the power button.

(Windows NT).

(Windows NT only), turn off the computer

4 Turn off the monitor and peripherals.

Warning When you turn the computer off by pressing the power

Important You can use the power button to turn off your system if

14 System Setup

button, some electric current still flows through the computer. Before opening the computer case or connecting or removing any peripherals, turn off the computer and then unplug the power cord and modem cord (if installed).

the system does not respondto commands. However,you must hold the power button in for 4 seconds to turn it off (Windows 95 and Windows 98 only).

Resetting yoursystem

If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have to close any programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your computer to normal operation, you may have to reset the system.

To reset your system in Windows 95 or Windows 98:

1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. A window opens that lets you close a program that

is not responding.

2 Highlight a program that displays a “not responding” message and click

End Task. Close the program by following any additional screen prompts.

3 If the computer does not respond, restart the computer by pressing the

reset button.

4 After displaying some of the startup screens, a message appears asking if

you would like to run ScanDisk.

5 Run ScanDisk by pressing any key. Follow the on-screen instructions.

When the checks are finished, Windows starts.

To reset your system in Windows NT:

1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. A window opens that lets you to close a program

that is not responding.

2 Click Task Manager, then select the program that is not responding. 3 Close the program by clicking End Task. 4 If the computer does not respond, press the reset button to restart the

computer.

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

Resetting your system 15

16 System Setup

Case Access

Static electricity precautions

Static electricity can permanently damage electronic components in your computer. When opening your computer case, always perform the following procedure.

Caution Prevent electrostatic damage to your computer by

followingstatic electricity precautions every time you open your computer case.

To avoid static electricity discharge:

1 Wear a grounding wrist strap (available at most electronics stores). 2 Turn off the computer power. 3 Discharge any static electricity by touching a bare metal surface on the

back of the case.

4 Unplug all power cords from AC outlets and disconnect the modem cable

(if installed).

Static electricity precautions 17

Follow these precautions to avoid electrostatic damage to your system components:



Avoid static-causing surfaces such as plastic and packing foam in your work area.



Remove the parts from their antistatic bags only when you are ready to use them. Do not lay parts on the outside of antistatic bags since only the inside of the bags provides antistatic protection.



Always hold cards by their edges and their metal mounting brackets. Avoid touching components on the cards and the edge connectors that connect to expansion slots.



Never slide cards or other parts over any surface.

Warning Avoid exposure to dangerous electrical voltages and

moving parts by turning off your computer. Unplug the power cord and modem cord before removing the computer cover.

18 Case Access

Opening the case

The case has two removable side panels. Both panels are screwless, meaning you do not have to remove any screws to take off the panels.

The right panel is removed by pressing a button located on the front panel. The L-shaped panel covers both the right side and top of the chassis. The left panel is removed by sliding a tab located on the top of the chassis.

Removing the sidepanels

To remove the right panel:

1 Because the components inside your computer are extremely sensitive to

static electricity, make sure to observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.

2 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

Opening the case 19

3 Push the release button located in the lower right-hand corner of the

front bezel. The bottom portion of the right panel unlatches from the chassis.

Rightpanel

20 Case Access

Right panel release button

Lift up on the right panel, then lift the panel up and away from the

chassis.

Right panel

Opening the case 21

To remove the left panel:

1 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 for

instructions.)

2 Slide the left panel release tab toward the rear of the chassis. This

unlatches the left panel from the chassis.

Left panel release tab

3 Grasp the left panel, then lift the panel up away from the chassis.

22 Case Access

Left panel

Closing the case

Replace the cover as soon as you finish installing or removing components so that dust and dirt (which could damage the computer) do not collect inside the computer.

Replacing the side panels

To replace the left panel:

1 Align the tabs at the bottom of the panel with the tab holes at the base

of the chassis.

2 Insert the tabs into the tab holes. 3 Push the panel towards the chassis until it locks into place.

Closing the case 23

To replace the right panel:

1 Align the tabs at the top of the panel with the tab holes at the top of

the chassis.

Tab holes

2 Insert the tabs into the tab holes. 3 Push the bottom of the right panel towards the chassis until the tabs

engage the tab holes at the bottom of the chassis. The chassis automatically locks into place.

4 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed.

24 Case Access

Replacing and Adding Drives

About replacing drives

The standard configuration for your computer includes a 5.25-inch IDE CD drive, a 3.5-inch IDE hard drive, and a 3.5-inch diskette drive.

Your computer contains the following drive bays:



Two 3.5-inch drive bays that can be accessed from outside the computer.



Two 5.25-inch drive bays that can be accessed from outside the computer.



Three 3.5-inch drive bays that can only be accessed from inside the computer.

As you prepare to install drives, keep the following in mind:



If you remove a drive, place it in an antistatic bag.



Before you install a drive, see the drive’s documentation for information on configuring the drive, setting any jumpers on the drive, and attaching cables to the drive.



If you are installing a drive that uses an add-in controller, install the add-in card before you install the drive.



IDE hard drives can be configured as single, master, or slave. IDE CD drives can be configured as master or slave. Configure the drives by using the drive-select jumpers located on the drives.

About replacing drives 25



If only one drive is attached to a controller cable, configure the drive as single if it is a hard drive or master if it is a CD drive. If two drives of any type are attached to the cable, configure one as master and one as slave.



You may need to configure the drives you install using the BIOS Setup utility program. Press F1 at start up to access the BIOS Setup utility program.

Releasing the drive cage

You do not have to remove any screws to release the drive cage. The drive cage is secured in the chassis by a drive cage release button. Once the release button is pressed, you use the handle at the top of the cage to slide the cage forward from the chassis. Slide the drive cage forward to add or replace memory or to remove the cover filler to add an additional CD or diskette drive.

To release the drive cage:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

26 Replacing and Adding Drives

Using one hand, grasp the drive cage handle located above the drive cage.

Using your other hand, press the drive cage release button while pulling the drive cage toward the front of the chassis.

Release button

forward locking hole

Drive cage release button

Drive cage

handle

4 Slide the drive cage forward until the drive cage release button snaps into

the forward locking hole.

Releasing the drive cage 27

Reinserting the drive cage

You can easily slide the drive cage back into the chassis.

To reinsert the drive cage:

1 With one hand, press the drive cage release button, then push the drive

cage back into the chassis with the other hand until the release button snaps into the rear locking hole.

Release button

rear locking hole

Drive cage

release button

2 Replace the right panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23 for

instructions.)

3 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

28 Replacing and Adding Drives

Replacing the diskette drive

The 3.5-inch diskette drive is attached to the drive cage with a drive locking tab. The drive cage is secured in the chassis with a drive cage release button. You do not have to remove any screws to release the drive cage or remove the diskette drive.

To replace a 3.5-inch diskette drive:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the diskette drive. 4 Release the drive locking tab from the diskette drive bay by turning the

knob on the tab counter-clockwise to the unlock position, then remove the tab from the drive cage.

Drive locking tab

Locking tab holes

Replacing the diskette drive 29

5 From the rear of the drive cage, push the diskette drive toward the front

of the chassis and through the front bezel.

Diskette

drive

6 Place the new drive into the drive cage. Make sure the threaded holes

on the diskette drive align with the locking tab holes on the drive cage.

7 Replace the drive locking tab. 8 Connect the power and data cables to the drive. 9 Replace the right panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23 for

instructions.)

10 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

30 Replacing and Adding Drives

Adding a second diskette drive

You can add a second 3.5-inch diskette drive. You do not have to use any screws to add the diskette drive, but you need to purchase a diskette drive connector cable that supports two devices.

To add a second diskette drive:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Release the drive cage and slide it forward in the chassis until the release

button snaps into the forward locking hole.

4 Release the drive locking tab from the empty diskette drive bay by turning

the knob on the tab counter-clockwise to the unlock position, then remove the tab from the drive cage.

Drive locking tab

Adding a second diskette drive 31

5 Remove the filler panel on the front bezel by squeezing the two tabs on

the left side of the filler panel. The filler panel then ejects.

Drive cage

Filler

panel

6 Place the new diskette drive into the drive cage. Make sure the threaded

holes on the diskette drive align with the locking tab holes on the drive cage.

7 Replace the drive locking tab. 8 Connect the power and data cables to the drive. 9 Push the release button in and slide the drive cage back into the chassis

until the button snaps into the rear locking hole.

10 Replace the right panel. 11 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

32 Replacing and Adding Drives

Replacing the CD drive

The CD drive is attached to the drive cage by a drive locking tab. You do not have to remove any screws to remove or install a CD drive.

To replace the CD drive:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Disconnect the power, data, and audio cables from the back of the drive. 4 Release the drive locking tab from the drive bay by turning the knob on

the tab counter-clockwise to the unlock position, then remove the tab from the drive cage.

Drive locking tab

Replacing the CD drive 33

5 From the rear of the drive cage, push the drive toward the front of the

chassis and through the front bezel.

CD drive

6 Set any jumpers on the new drive. (See the drive documentation for more

information.)

7 Place the new CD drive into the drive cage. Make sure the threaded holes

on the drive align with the locking tab holes on the drive cage.

8 Replace the drive locking tab.

9 Connect the power, data, and audio cables to the drive. 10 Replace the right panel (see “Replacing the side panels” on page 23). 11 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

34 Replacing and Adding Drives

Adding a second 5.25-inch device

You can add a second 5.25-inch device, such as a CD-RW or CD/DVD drive.

You do not have to use any screws to add the device.

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Release the drive cage and slide it forward in the chassis until the release

button snaps into the forward locking hole.

4 Release the drive locking tab from the empty drive bay by turning the

knob on the tab counter-clockwise to the unlock position, then remove the tab from the drive cage.

Drive

locking tab

Adding a second 5.25-inch device 35

5 Remove the filler panel on the front bezel by squeezing the two tabs on

the left side of the filler panel. The filler panel then ejects.

Filler panel

6 Set any jumpers on the new drive. (See the drive documentation for more

information.)

36 Replacing and Adding Drives

Place the new drive into the drive cage. Make sure the threaded holes

on the drive align with the locking tab holes on the drive cage.

5.25-inch device

8 Replace the drive locking tab. 9 Connect the power and data cables to the drive.

10 Push the release button in and slide the drive cage back into the chassis

until the button snaps into the rear locking hole.

11 Replace the right panel. 12 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

Adding a second 5.25-inch device 37

Replacing the hard drive

The 3.5-inch hard drive is located in a metal tray that slides in and out of the hard drive cage. The tray has a spring so you can expand the tray to insert a drive. When you release the sides of the tray it will contract back together and secure the drive.

To replace the 3.5-inch hard drive:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Disconnect the power and data cables from the hard drive. 4 The metal tray that holds the hard drive is secured by a set of hard drive

tray release tabs. Remove the tray by squeezing both release tabs inward, then slide the hard drive tray out of the drive cage.

Hard drive tray

release tabs

38 Replacing and Adding Drives

Harddrive

Pull on the rail to expand the tray, then remove the drive from the tray.

6 Set any jumpers on the new drive. (See the drive documentation for more

information.)

7 Align the threaded holes on the side of the hard drive with the metal

points on the tray, then press the drive against the side rail.

Metal points

Side rail

8 Expand the tray until it fits the size of your drive, then lower the drive

into the tray. Release the tray so it can contract to secure the drive.

Replacing the hard drive 39

9 Align the drive tray rails with the side channels in the hard drive cage,

then slide the drive tray into the hard drive cage.

Drive tray rails

Harddriv e

10 Push the drive tray into the drive cage until the release tabs snap into

place.

11 Connect the power and data cables to the drive. 12 Replace the right panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23 for

instructions.)

13 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

40 Replacing and Adding Drives

Adding an additional hard drive

The E1400 Mid Tower hard drive cage can hold up to three 3.5-inch hard drives.

Important The IDE controller supports two IDE devices. If you want

to install a third hard drive you need to install an add-in controller card.

To add an additional hard drive:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Choose the bay in the drive cage where you want to install the additional

hard drive. The metal tray that will the hold the hard drive is secured by a set of hard drive tray release tabs.

Adding an additional hard drive 41

4 Remove the tray by squeezing both release tabs inward, then slide the

hard drive tray out of the drive cage.

Drive tray release tabs

Hard drive cage

5 Set any jumpers on the new drive. (See the drive documentation for more

information.)

6 Align the threaded holes on the side of the hard drive with the metal

points on the tray.

Metal points

Side rail

42 Replacing and Adding Drives

Expand the tray until it fits the size of your drive, then lower the drive

into the tray. Release the tray so it can contract to secure the drive.

8 Align the drive tray rails with the side channels in the hard drive cage,

then slide the drive tray into the hard drive cage.

Drive tray rails

Harddriv e

Adding an additional hard drive 43

9 Push the drive tray into the drive cage until the release tabs snap into

place.

10 Connect the power and data cables to the drive. 11 Replace the right panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23 for

instructions.)

12 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

44 Replacing and Adding Drives

System Components

Adding or replacing memory

The Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs) supported by your system board conform to the following standards:



16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, and 256 MB



Non-ECC (64-bit) memory



Single- or double-sided configurations



512 MB maximum system memory

The system board contains two DIMM sockets. You can fill the sockets with 16-MB, 32-MB, 64-MB, 128-MB, or 256-MB DIMMs in any combination to expand the SDRAM up to 512 MB.

If your processor has a 66-MHz front side bus (FSB), you can use 66-MHz or 100-MHz SDRAM. If your processor has a 100-MHz FSB, you should use only 100-MHz SDRAM.

No jumper settings are required for the memory size or type because the BIOS automatically detects this information.

Adding or replacing memory 45

To install DIMMs:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, and disconnect the

modem cord, if your computer has a modem.

2 Open the case by following the instructions on page 19, observing the

static electricity precautions on page 17.

3 Remove the drive cage so that you can access the DIMM sockets. (See

page 26 for instructions on removing the drive cage.)

4 Pull open the socket clamps on each side of the DIMM socket and lift

the DIMM out of the socket.

Caution Nevertry to remove a DIMM withoutreleasing the clamps.

You may break the socket, causing serious damage.

46 System Components

Insert the DIMM into the socket and align the two bottom notches in

the DIMM with the two notches in the DIMM socket.

6 Gently press the DIMM into the socket until the plastic socket clamps

on each side of the socket snap into the notches on the side of the DIMM.

7 Replace the drive tray. (See “Reinserting the drive cage” on page 28 for

instructions.)

8 Close the case. (See “Closing the case” on page 23 for instructions.) 9 Reconnect the cords you removed, then turn on the computer.

Adding or replacing memory 47

Adding an expansion card

The E1400 Mid Tower chassis has five expansion slots for PCI cards. The riser card has five PCI connectors.

A card alignment guide attached to the riser card helps you align PCI cards in the slots.

To add a PCI expansion card:

1 Set any jumpers and switches on the card (see the card documentation

for instructions).

2 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

3 Open the right panel (see “Removing the side panels” on page 19 for

more information, and observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

4 Locate an available slot.

48 System Components

Slot

cover

From inside the computer, press the slot cover clamp down and toward

the back of the chassis, then lift the slot cover up and out of the chassis.

Slot cover

clamp

Plastic tab

Card alignment guideCard alignment guide

Adding an expansion card 49

6 Insert the edge of the expansion card into the slot on the riser card and

press firmly to seat the card. If the plastic tabs on the card alignment guide interfere with the proper seating of the card, the tabs may be snapped off to accommodate the installation the card.

Expansion card

Plastic tab

7 Close the slot cover clamp to secure the card. 8 Connect any cables to the card (see the card documentation for proper

jumper settings and cable orientation).

9 Replace the right panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23 for

more information.)

50 System Components

Replacing the AGP card

Observe the following instructions for replacing the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) card.

To replace the AGP card:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the screw that secures the AGP card

to the rear panel, then pull out the card.

AGP card

4 Install the new AGP card, making sure the card is firmly seated on the

system board, then secure the AGP card to the rear panel with the screw.

5 Reconnect the monitor cable, then turn on the system and all peripheral

devices.

Replacing the AGP card 51

Replacing the battery

The battery (3.3V) provides power for the system real-time clock and CMOS RAM, which holds the system configuration information.

If your battery is failing you may notice your system clock slowing down and giving you the incorrect time. If so, open the BIOS Setup utility and write down all the values in the BIOS Setup utility screens before replacing the battery. Replacing the battery resets the BIOS Setup utility to its default values.

Caution There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly

replaced. Replace the battery only with the s ame or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

To replace the battery:

1 Restart the computer and start the BIOS Setup utility by pressing F1 when

you are prompted to do so.

2 Write down the CMOS values from the Main Setup utility screens so you

can reenter them after you replace the battery. (For more information, see “About the BIOS Setup utility” on page 65.)

3 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

4 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

5 Locate the battery on the system board (see “System board” on page 7).

The battery is circular and has the positive pole mark (+) on the top.

6 Using your fingers to grasp the sides of the battery, carefully remove the

battery from its socket.

52 System Components

Positive pole symbol

Press the new battery in the socket with the positive pole up. Make sure

you have pressed the battery down far enough for it to contact the base of the socket.

8 Replace the right side panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23

for more information.)

9 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

10 Using the data you recorded in Step 2, enter the BIOS Setup utility, then

make sure that the system configuration is correct. If the CMOS data is not correct, change the information in the setup screens as necessary.

Replacing the battery 53

Replacing the powersupply

Observe the following instructions for removing the power supply and installing a new one. Your power supply can be removed without disconnecting power supply cables or removing screws.

To replace the power supply:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right panel. (See “Removing the side panels” on page 19 and

observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Pull the power supply release lever away from the chassis. This releases

the power supply from its connector and moves it out from the back of the chassis.

Power supply

release lever

4 From the rear side of the chassis, pull the power supply out and away

from the chassis.

54 System Components

Power supply

Make sure that the voltage switch on the back of the new power supply

is set to the correct voltage for your area.

6 Insert the new power supply and slide it into the chassis until it engages

the connector.

7 Push the release level all the way in to secure the power supply. 8 Replace the right side panel. (See “Replacing the side panels” on page 23

for more information.)

9 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

If the system does not start, make sure that you installed the power supply correctly and that the voltage connector on the back of the power supply is correctly set.

Replacing the power supply 55

Replacing the system board

The system board is installed on a system board tray assembly. To remove the system board, you must first remove the system board tray assembly from the chassis. The tray assembly can be removed from the chassis without tools. The I/O shield is attached to the system board tray assembly and does not have to be removed when you remove the system board.

To remove the system board tray assembly:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, modem cord (if

installed), and all external peripheral devices.

2 Remove the right and left side panels. (See “Removing the side panels”

on page 19 for instructions. Also observe the “Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Locate the system board release handle at the top of the system board

tray assembly. Lift the handle up to disconnect the system board from the riser card and unlatch the tray assembly from the chassis.

System board

release handle

System board tray assembly

56 System Components

Grasp the handle, lower the tray assembly slightly, then support the

bottom or back of the tray assembly with your other hand and pull it away from the chassis.

Warning Do not release the tray assembly until you have lifted it

off the hinges and can safely place it on a work surface. The hinges are designedto make it easy for you to lift the tray assembly away from the chassis, but the hinges can be damaged if the tray assembly is allowed to hang open or is lowered too far.

Replacing the system board 57

To replace the system board:

1 Remove or disconnect the following devices from the system board:



Processor. (See “Replacing the processor” on page 61 for instructions.)



DIMMs. (See “Adding or replacing memory” on page 45 for instructions.)



AGP graphics card. (See “Replacing the AGP card” on page 51.)



Devices from the old system board that are not included with the new board, such as processor retention brackets.

2 Remove the four screws that attach the system board to the system board

tray assembly, then lift out the system board.

3 Remove the new system board from its packing material.

System

board

Rear I/O

shield

System board tray assembly

4 Install the new board onto the system board tray assembly, carefully

aligning the ports and connectors with the holes on the rear I/O shield.

5 Reinstall the four screws to secure the board to the tray assembly.

58 System Components

To replace the system board tray assembly:

1 Align the two hinges on the sides of the system board tray over the pins

on the chassis.

Hinges

Hinge pins

2 Move the release handle on the tray assembly to an outward position.

Replacing the system board 59

3 Push the tray assembly toward the chassis until the three tabs at the top

of the tray assembly are seated in the corresponding slots on the chassis.

Tab slots

Tabs

4 Push the handle in and slide the tray assembly downward until it locks

the tray in place.

5 Turn the chassis around and press down on the top edge of the system

board to make sure that it is firmly seated in the riser card slot.

6 Replace or reconnect the following devices:



Processor. (See “Replacing the processor” on page 61.)



AGP graphics card. (See “Replacing the AGP card” on page 51.)



Peripheral devices attached to the rear-panel I/O connectors.



Devices from the old system board that are not included with the new board. (See “System board” on page 7 for device locations.)

7 Replace the left and right panels. (See “Replacing the side panels” on

page 23 for instructions.)

8 Reconnect the power cord and all other cords you removed, then turn

on the system.

60 System Components

Replacing the processor

Your system board currently supports the Intel Celeron and Pentium III (FC-PGA 370) processors. See the Gateway Web site at www.gateway.com for updates on processor speeds supported by your system.

When replacing a processor, order a processor upgrade kit. The kit includes the processor and a heat sink..

Warning It is critical that a heat sink be installed on the processor

to provide sufficient cooling.

To replace the processor:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, and disconnect the

modem cord, if your computer has a modem.

2 Open the case by following the instructions on page 19, observing the

static electricity precautions on page 17.

3 Remove the heat sink:

a Disconnect the fan cable from the fan connector on the system

board. (See “System board” on page 7 for the location of the fan connector.)

b The heat sink is attached to the processor socket by a metal clip.

Unhook the clip from the tab on the processor socket by pressing down on the clip and then pulling out on the clip.

Metal clip

Tabs

Replacing the processor 61

c Lift the heat sink at an angle and unhook the clip from the other

tab. Lift the heat sink off the processor.

4 Remove the processor:

a Open the locking lever on the processor socket by moving the lever

slightly out to the side and then lifting it up 90 degrees.

Processor Pin 1

Locking

lever

b Lift the old processor straight up and out of the socket.

5 Install the new processor:

a Hold the new processor over the empty processor socket and verify

that pin 1 on both the processor and the socket are aligned. Pin 1 is near the cut out corner.

b Gently place the new processor into the socket. c Secure the processor by lowering the locking lever until the lever

latches into place. The processor will slip into place without pressure when aligned correctly.

62 System Components

Replace the heat sink:

a Hook the metal clip on the heat sink to the tabs on the processor

socket. Make sure the heat sink is level with the processor and the metal clips are securely attached.

Caution It is very important that the heat sink makes direct contact

withthe processor or else it will not cool correctly,resulting in processor failure.

b Connect the heat sink fan cable to the fan connector on the system

board.

7 Close the case. (See “Closing the case” on page 23 for instructions.) 8 Reconnect the cords you removed, then turn on the computer.

You do not have to manually adjust the processor speeds. Your system BIOS automatically detects the processor speed for you.

Replacing the processor 63

64 System Components

Using the BIOS Setup Utility

About the BIOS Setup utility

The computer’s BIOS has a built-in setup utility that lets you configure several basic system characteristics. The settings are stored in battery-backed RAM and are retained even when the power is off.

Enter the BIOS Setup utility by restarting the computer, then pressing F1 when prompted during the startup process. The Main BIOS Setup utility screen (which may not look exactly like the screen shown below) opens.

BIOS Setup Utility

Main Advanced Security Power Boot Exit

Item Specific Help

BIOS Version:

Processor Type:

Processor Speed:

Cache RAM:

Total Memory:

Intel Pentium III

600 MHz

256 KB

96 MB

Select the default language used by the BIOS.

Bank 0: Bank 1:

Language:

System Time: System Date:

RDRAM RDRAM

[English (US)]

[xx:xx:xx] [xx/xx/xxxx]

←→

Select Menu

↑↓

Select Item Enter Select>Sub-Menu F9 Setup Default F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit F1 Help

About the BIOS Setup utility 65

As you select items on the Main menu, or in submenus, you will see specific information related to the current selection in the Item Specific Help box. Refer to the Help box for information about the menu options.

The command bar shows the keystrokes necessary to access help, navigate through the menus, and perform other functions.



F1 opens the Help screen, providing general help for using the BIOS Setup utility.



The ↑

(up arrow) and ↓ (down arrow) keys select items in the menu.



The ← (left arrow) and → (right arrow) keys move you between the menus.



ENTER either moves you to a submenu screen when a selected item is preceded by > or activates a selected field.



ESC closes the screen you are in and returns you to the previous screen or exits you from the BIOS Setup utility.



F9 opens a screen that lets you return all values to their default settings.



F10 opens a screen that lets you save all parameters and then exit the BIOS Setup utility.

The main screen has the following menu selections at the top of the screen:



Main gives you access to basic information and settings related to your

system hardware and configuration.



Advanced gives you access to information and settings for system

resources, hardware, and system configuration.



Security gives you access to settings related to system access passwords.



Power gives you access to information and settings for power

management features.



Boot gives you access to information and settings for boot features and

boot sequences.



Exit gives you access to options for exiting the BIOS Setup utility.

Refer to the Help box on the right side of the BIOS Setup screens for information about menu items.

66 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Updating the BIOS

If you need a new version of the BIOS, you can download the BIOS update from technical support on the Gateway Web site (www.gateway.com) and install the new version from a diskette.

To update the BIOS you need to perform the following tasks in sequence:



Create a bootable diskette



Note the current BIOS settings



Create the BIOS update diskette



Update the BIOS



Restore the BIOS settings

To create a bootable diskette:

1 Enter DOS and type the following at the DOS prompt: format a: /s 1 Put a blank diskette in the diskette drive, then press ENTER. 2 Follow the instructions on the screen.

To note the current BIOS settings:

1 Remove the bootable diskette and restart your computer. 2 Enter BIOS Setup by pressing F1 when prompted during startup. 3 Write down the settings for each of the fields. (At the end of the BIOS

update process, you will reset the fields back to the values you recorded.)

4 Exit the BIOS Setup utility.

To create the BIOS update diskette:

1 Log on to the Internet. 2 Download the correct BIOS file from the technical support area of

www.gateway.com.

3 Decompress the contents of the BIOS file you downloaded and copy the

contents onto the bootable diskette.

Updating the BIOS 67

To update the BIOS:

1 Place the bootable diskette containing the BIOS files into drive A:, then

restart the computer. The BIOS Setup utility starts.

2 Press ENTER. The Main menu opens. 3 Select Update Flash Memory From a File, then press ENTER. 4 Select Update System BIOS. 5 Press TAB to select the file name, then press ENTER. The computer warns

you that the BIOS is about to be changed and asks you to confirm the BIOS version.

6 Press ENTER. The BIOS files are loaded. 7 Once the BIOS files have been loaded, remove the diskette from

drive A:, then press E

NTER when prompted to restart the computer.

8 As the computer starts up, verify that the number of the BIOS version

reported on the screen is the number of the new BIOS you downloaded from the Internet.

To restore the BIOS settings:

1 Enter BIOS Setup by pressing F1 when prompted during startup. 2 Once in BIOS Setup, press F9 to load the BIOS Setup utility default

settings.

3 Select any BIOS fields you want to change by using the ↑

↓ (down arrow) keys. Press ENTER, then reenter the values you wrote down

at the beginning of this process.

68 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

(up arrow) and

Setting the system board jumpers

The J6C1 configuration jumper on the system board lets you clear passwords and recover the BIOS. (See the figure on page 7 for the location of the jumper.) The table below shows the settings required to perform those tasks. Make sure you turn off the computer and unplug the power cord before moving the jumper.

Caution Moving the jumper while the computer power is on can

damage your computer. Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the computerbeforechanging the jumper.

J6C1 Mode Jumper

Normal

Configure

Recovery

Recovery mode

If you are trying to update the BIOS and have a problem such as a power outage, the update may not be successful. You can then attempt to recover the BIOS by setting the J6C1 jumper.

When you are attempting to recover the BIOS, no image appears on your monitor.

Setting

Pins 1-2

Pins 2-3

No jumper

Action When Set

Normal operation

Adds a Maintenance menu to BIOSSetup utilitywithoptionsto clear passwords

Causes computer to attempt BIOS update or recovery from diskette

Setting the system board jumpers 69

To recover the BIOS:

1 Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord, then disconnect the

modem cord, if your computer has a modem.

2 Open the case. (See “Opening the case” on page 19 and observe the

“Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

3 Remove the jumper from the J6C1 jumper (See “System board” on page 7

for location) and set it aside. You will need it in a later step.

4 Close the case (See “Closing the case” on page 23 for instructions.), then

reconnect the power cords.

5 Place the bootable diskette containing the BIOS files into drive A:, then

turn on the computer.

At the start of the BIOS recovery process, the computer beeps once. The recovery process may take a few minutes.

6 When you hear two beeps, the BIOS has successfully recovered. Remove

the diskette from drive A:, turn off the computer, then disconnect the power cord.

If you do not hear two beeps, the BIOS recovery was not successful. See the troubleshooting section below for further information.

7 Open the case again (See “Opening the case” on page 19 and observe the

“Static electricity precautions” on page 17.)

8 Place the jumper back on pins 1-2 on the J6C1 jumper. 9 Close the case, reconnect the cords, then turn on the computer.

10 Enter BIOS Setup utility by pressing F1 when prompted during startup.

Once in BIOS Setup utility, press F9. The default settings for the BIOS Setup utility are loaded.

11 Select a BIOS field that you want to change by using the ↑

↓ (down arrow) keys. Press ENTER, then reenter the values you wrote

and down at the beginning of the BIOS update process.

Troubleshooting: If the BIOS recovery was unsuccessful the computer will beep continuously or will not beep at all. If the computer beeps continuously, make sure all the BIOS files you downloaded are on your diskette. If the computer does not beep at all and the diskette drive light stays on, make sure your BIOS update diskette is a bootable diskette. If you continue to have problems, contact Client Care or your system administrator.

70 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

(up arrow)

Managing Your System

Protecting against power source problems

Surge suppressors, line conditioners, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) can help protect your system against power source problems.

Surge suppressors

During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your system can increase far above normal for a few milliseconds. Data may be lost or the system may be damaged. To protect against power surges, use a surge suppressor. The surge suppressor absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your system.

A surge suppressor plugs directly into an electrical outlet. Your computer, monitor, and other devices are connected to the surge suppressor.

If you have a modem, make sure your surge suppressor has jacks for the telephone and modem cables. Power surges can pass through telephone wires as well as electrical wires.

Protecting against power source problems 71

When purchasing a surge suppressor:



Make sure the surge suppressor meets the appropriate product safety certification for your location, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).



Check the maximum amount of voltage the suppressor allows to pass through the line. The lower the voltage that the suppressor allows to pass through, the better the protection for your system.



Check the energy absorption, or dissipation, rating. The higher the energy absorption rating, the better the protection for your system.



Check for line-conditioner capabilities. A line conditioner smooths out some of the normal line noise (small voltage fluctuations) of an electrical supply.

Line conditioners

A line conditioner protects your system from the small daily fluctuations in voltage from an electrical supply. Most systems can handle this variation, or line noise, without problems. However, some electrical sources include more line noise than normal. Line noise can also be a problem if your system is located near, or shares a circuit with, a device that causes electromagnetic interference, such as a television or a motor.

Some surge suppressors and uninterruptible power supplies include simple line-conditioning capabilities.

Uninterruptible powersupplies

You may lose data during a total power failure. A standby Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) uses a battery to keep your system running during a power failure. The UPS enables you to shut down your system normally, but not run the system for an extended time.

If you purchase a standby UPS, make sure the UPS includes surge suppression and line-conditioning features.

72 Managing Your System

Maintaining and managing your hard drive

Regular maintenance can keep your hard drive operating efficiently, and good file management can keep your system free of unwanted files while making important files secure and easier to find.

Hard drive maintenance utilities

By regularly using the following utilities, you can help maintain the performance of your hard drive:



ScanDisk (Windows 95 and Windows 98)



Check Disk (Windows NT)



Disk Defragmenter (Windows 95 and Windows 98)

Using ScanDisk in Windows 95and Windows 98

Bad sectors are parts of a hard drive or diskette that will not hold data. A lost allocation unit is a group of sectors that has lost its place in the table that the operating system uses to locate files. ScanDisk checks the hard drive for bad sectors or lost allocation units and lets you fix them.

Use ScanDisk from once a week to once a month, depending on how often you use your system. Also use ScanDisk if you have any hard drive problems.

To use ScanDisk:

1 Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. The My Computer

window opens.

2 Click the drive you want to check. 3 Select File, then Properties. The drive’s properties window opens. 4 Click the Tools tab. 5 At Error-checking status, click Check Now. The ScanDisk window opens. 6 Select the options you want for checking the drive. 7 If you want ScanDisk to check more than one drive, press and hold SHIFT,

then click on the additional drives in the list of drives to check.

Maintaining and managing your hard drive 73

8 Click Start. ScanDisk checks the drive for errors. 9 Follow any instructions on screen for completing the scan.

Using Check Disk inWindows NT

Bad sectors are parts of a hard drive or diskette that will not hold data. A lost allocation unit is a group of sectors that has lost its place in the table that the operating system uses to locate files. Check Disk checks the hard drive for bad sectors or lost allocation units and lets you fix them.

Use Check Disk from once a week to once a month, depending on how often you use your system. Also use Check Disk if you have any hard drive problems.

To use Check Disk:

1 Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. The My Computer

window opens.

2 Click the drive you want to check. 3 Select File, then Properties. The drive properties window opens. 4 Click the Tools tab. 5 At Error-checking, click Check Now. The Check Disk window opens. 6 Select the options you want for checking the drive. Check Scan for and

attempt recovery of bad sectors

to scan the entire hard drive.

7 Click Start. Check Disk checks the drive for errors. 8 Follow any instructions on screen for completing the scan.

Using DiskDefragmenter in Windows 95and Windows 98

When working with files, Windows may divide the files into pieces and store the pieces at different places on the hard drive. This division of files, called fragmentation, is normal. However, to access a file, the hard drive must search for the pieces of the file and put the file back together, which can slow down your system.

Disk Defragmenter brings all the separate pieces back together. Defragment your computer frequently to improve system performance.

74 Managing Your System

Log off network connections before starting Disk Defragmenter, or network communication may stop the defragmentation process and restart it at the beginning. Also, do not use your keyboard or mouse during the defragmentation process or the process may stop and restart at the beginning.

Important A disk defragmentation utility does not s hip with

Windows NT, but you can purchase one. If you purchase a defragmentation program, make sure it can defragment theNTFileSystem(NTFS).

To use Disk Defragmenter:

1 Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. The My Computer

window opens.

2 Click the drive you want to check. 3 Select File, then Properties. The drive’s properties window opens. 4 Click the Tools tab. 5 At Defragmentation status, click Defragment Now. The defragmentation

process begins. If your drive has a high percentage of fragmentation, it may take a half-hour or longer to defragment it, depending upon the size of the hard drive.

Hard drive management practices

By deleting unneeded files from your hard drive and managing the space that is automatically allocated for saving certain files, you can help maintain the performance of the hard drive.

Checkinghard drive space

In Windows, you can see a chart of the available hard drive space.

To check hard drive space:

1 Double-click on the My Computer icon on the desktop. The My Computer

window opens.

2 Click the drive you want to check. 3 Select File, then Properties. The drive’s properties window opens. The

General tab shows you the available and used space on the drive.

Maintaining and managing your hard drive 75

Backingupfiles

Regularly backing up your files protects you from losing data and lets you keep fewer files on your hard drive. Back up old files to a large capacity disk drive or tape drive and delete the files from your hard drive. You can use the software that came with your tape backup drive or your large capacity disk drive to back up the files.

You can also back up files by running the Backup utility that came with your operating system. In Windows 95 and Windows 98, Backup copies files to diskettes or a tape drive. In Windows NT, Backup copies files to a tape drive.

To run Backup in Windows 95 and Windows 98:

1 Click Start, then select Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then Backup. 2 Follow the instructions on the screen.

To run Backup in Windows NT:

1 Click Start, then select Programs, Administrative Tools, then Backup. 2 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Deleting unneeded files

By deleting unneeded files from the hard drive, you free up space on the hard drive and help improve hard-drive performance. The following sections give you some simple ways to delete unneeded files.

Deleting Windows temporary files

During normal operation, Windows constantly creates new temporary (temp) files. You can safely delete all but the most recent temp files.

To delete temp files:

1 Open Explorer, select Tools, then Find, then Files and Folders. 2 At Named, type *.tmp 3 In the Look in drop-down list, select your drive letter. 4 Click Find Now. The list of temp files is generated.

76 Managing Your System

Click Modified above the list. To see the Modified button, you may need

to maximize the Find window.

The list is sorted by date.

6 Highlight all the files in the list except those with today’s date. 7 Press DELETE.

Deleting temporary Internet files

As you visit Web sites, your browser stores temporary Internet files on your hard drive in a memory cache and a disk cache. Files in the memory cache are removed when you turn off your computer. Files are saved in the disk cache until the space designated for the cache is full. See your browser’s Help files for instructions on emptying the disk cache.

You can save space on the hard drive by decreasing the size of the Internet file disk cache. See your browser’s Help files for instructions.

Emptying the Recycle Bin

When you delete a file from your hard drive in Windows, it is not immediately removed from the hard drive. Instead, the file is moved into the Recycle Bin. Because files are stored in the Recycle Bin and not deleted from the hard drive immediately, you can retrieve a file that you accidentally delete from the hard drive.

To delete all the files from the Recycle Bin, right-click the on the desktop, then select

You can save space on the hard drive by decreasing the size of the Recycle Bin.

Empty Recycle Bin.

Recycle Bin icon

To decrease the size of the Recycle Bin:

1 Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. 2 Select Properties. The Recycle Bin Properties window opens. 3 At the Global tab, select either Configure drives independently or Use one

setting for all drives.

4 If you are configuring drives independently, click the tab for the drive

you want to configure.

5 Move the slider to set the size of the Recycle Bin. 5% is a good initial

setting.

6 Click OK.

Maintaining and managing your hard drive 77

System integrity

Your system must be protected against electrical problems and physical hazards such as heat, moisture, and dust. Also protect it against less obvious hazards such as viruses and hardware overloads.

Protectingagainst viruses

A virus is a program written with malicious intent for the purpose of creating havoc in a computer system.

Viruses spread through executable files, document macros, or boot sectors. Diskettes used in a contaminated computer can get a virus and transfer the virus when used in another computer. A virus can also spread through files downloaded from bulletin boards or the Internet.

Some viruses may only cause your system to beep or display messages or images on the screen. Other viruses are highly destructive, and corrupt or erase the contents of your files or diskettes. To be safe, never assume any virus is harmless. Always protect your system against viruses.

To protect your system against viruses:



Use Norton’s® AntiVirus to scan your computer regularly. Make sure to update Norton’s

AntiVirus periodically to keep up with new viruses.



Make backup copies of all files and write-protect the diskettes. A virus cannot infect a write-protected diskette.



Obtain all software from reputable sources and always scan new software for any viruses before installing it.



Be cautious about files you receive in e-mail or download from a network or the Internet. If you download a file, use your virus checking software to scan the directory on your computer that contains the downloaded file before you open the file.



If you have doubts about the source of a Microsoft® Word or Excel file, disable the file macros before opening the file. Word and Excel are set by default to warn you if a document you are about to open contains a macro that might have a virus.

78 Managing Your System

To remove a virus:

1 If you suspect your system has been infected with a virus, find and

remove the virus immediately using an antivirus program.

2 Turn off your computer and leave it off for at least 30 seconds. 3 Turn on the computer and rescan for the virus. If the virus is still on your

computer, contact your system administrator or Client Care.

Checking system health with LANDesk

LANDesk® Client Manager is a desktop management interface (DMI) that lets you monitor the health of your system components. Through LANDesk, you can view software and hardware properties. You can also set LANDesk to notify you when system resources reach certain levels.

To install LANDesk Client Manager:

1 In the C:\DMI folder on your hard drive, double-click the Setup icon to

launch the InstallShield

2 Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. If you are prompted

for a password during the installation process, type lowtco.

LANDesk Client Manager comes with complete electronic documentation and online help. Refer to these documents and the program’s Help for more information.

wizard.

If you need to restore LANDesk from the System Restoration CD and are prompted for a password, type lowtco and press

ENTER.

System integrity 79

System recovery

Take advanced precautions that will allow you to restart your system and recover damaged files in the event that your hard drive is damaged, or your BIOS or system files get corrupted.

Creating a startup diskette

If your computer hard drive is damaged, you may not be able to start the computer from the hard drive. A startup diskette is a bootable diskette that enables you to start the computer and attempt to fix the problem.

When you set up Windows 95 or Windows 98, you are prompted to create a startup diskette. You can also create a startup diskette in Windows 95 or Windows 98 at any time.

To create a startup diskette:

1 Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel

Window opens.

2 Double-click Add/RemovePrograms. The Add/Remove Program Properties

window opens.

3 Click the Startup Disk tab. 4 Insert a diskette into the diskette drive, then click Create Disk. 5 Follow the directions on the screen.

Keeping a recordof system configuration

In Windows 95 and Windows 98 you can print a summary of the configuration of your system and the memory allocation. This printed summary can provide information to reset your system configuration properly if the information is lost, or help you troubleshoot your system.

To print a system summary:

1 Right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. 2 Select Properties. The System Properties window opens. 3 Click the Device Manager tab.

80 Managing Your System

Click Print.

4 5 In Report type, select All devices and system summary. 6 Click OK.

Using yourSystemRestorationCD

The System Restoration CD included with your system can be used to:



Install hardware drivers for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT



Reinstall selected software applications, such as LANDesk Client Manager

Instructions for each operating system are provided with the System Restoration CD.

System recovery 81

System powermanagement

The power-management features supported by your system are described in the following sections.

About soft-off

When you turn off your computer by following the Windows shutdown procedure or pressing the power button, a small amount of power (less than 5 watts) still runs to the wakeup circuitry on the system board. In this soft-off state, your computer can still respond to an incoming signal from the modem or to certain LAN commands.

To remove all power from your computer, turn off the computer and unplug the power cord. When you plug the power cord back in, the network connection LEDs may flash and the fan may start before you press the power button. This is normal.

Using Suspend in Windows 95

Suspend is a power-management feature that can reduce power by shutting down the hard drive and reducing or turning off power to the monitor. When the system is in Suspend, it appears to be off. The computer’s power LED turns amber and the monitor goes dark, indicating that the system has entered Suspend. However, some wakeup events can bring the system out of Suspend.

When you resume from Suspend, the system returns to the state it was in without going through the normal startup routine.

82 Managing Your System

Adding a Suspendoption to the Start menu

If it’s not already shown in the Start menu, you can add an option that puts your system into Suspend:

Important If your system is part of a Novell network, putting your

system in Suspend disconnects you from your network connection. Reestablish your network connection when you take your system out of Suspend.

To add a Suspend option to the Start menu:

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

window opens.

2 Double-click Power. The Power Properties window opens. 3 On the Power tab, click Advanced. The Advanced Properties window

opens.

4 On the Advanced tab, check the option Show Suspend command on Start

5 Click OK.

After you have added the Suspend option to the Start menu, you can put your system into suspend from a normal working state by clicking clicking

Suspend.

Start, then

System power management 83

Taking yoursystem out of Suspend

You can take your system out of Suspend by pressing any key on the keyboard or by moving the mouse. (A PS/2 or USB keyboard or mouse can bring the system out of Suspend.) The power LED turns green and your system returns to the state it was in before it entered Suspend.

To reestablish your network connection:

1 Click Start, then click Shut Down. 2 Select Close all programs and log on as a different user. Selecting this option

bypasses the restart process and displays your network logon dialog box.

3 Type your password, then click OK. Your logon script runs and your

network connections are reestablished.

For more information about power management, see your Windows 95 Help or Windows documentation.

Using Standbyin Windows 98

Windows 98 supports two standards of power management, Advanced Power Management (APM) and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI).

The Standby mode, available through both APM and ACPI, saves power by spinning down the hard drive, and by reducing or turning off power to the monitor. ACPI lets your system save additional power in Standby by controlling the power usage of individual devices, add-in boards, and hard drives.

When the system is in Standby, it appears to be off. The computer’s power LED turns amber and the monitor darkens, indicating that the system has entered Standby. However, some wakeup events can bring the system out of Standby.

Important If your system is part of a Novell network, putting your

system in Standby disconnects you from your network connection. Reestablish your network connection when you take your system out of Standby.

84 Managing Your System

Checkingthe type of power management on your system

ACPI is available only if Windows 98 was installed with ACPI enabled. If Windows 98 was not installed with ACPI enabled, APM power management is available.

To check the type of power management on your system:

1 Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel

window opens.

2 Double-click System. The System Properties window opens. 3 Click the Device Manager tab, then double-click System devices. The type

of power management supported appears at the top of the list under

System devices.

If you want to enable ACPI in Windows 98, see the Microsoft Web site for instructions.

Putting your systeminto Standby (S1)

You can put your system into Standby by clicking Start, then selecting

Shutdown, Standby , then clicking OK. This procedure puts your system into

Standby with both APM and ACPI.

If ACPI is enabled on your system, you can also set a timer or press the power button to put your system into Standby.

To set the standby timer:

1 Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel

window opens.

2 Double-click the Power Management icon. The Power Management

Properties window opens.

3 On the P ower Schemes tab, set the timer. Your system enters Standby

when it has been inactive for the amount of time you set.

To set the computer’s power button to put the system into Standby:

1 Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel

window opens.

2 Double-click the Power Management icon. The Power Management

Properties window opens.

System power management 85

3 Click the Advanced tab. 4 Under When I press power button on my computer, select Standby. 5 Click OK.

After you have set the power button to be a standby button, the button functions in this way:

State of system Length of time you

press button

Normal working state Less than 4 seconds System enters

Normal working state More than 4 seconds Computer turns off Standby Less than 4 seconds System returns to

Standby More than 4 seconds Computer tur ns off

Taking yoursystem out of Standby

Do one of the following to take your system out of Standby:



Press any key on the keyboard. (A PS/2 or USB keyboard can bring the system out of Standby.)



If your system uses APM, move the mouse. (A PS/2 or USB mouse can bring the system out of Standby.)



If you have set the power button to be a Standby button, press the power button for less than 4 seconds.

The power LED turns green, and your system returns to the state it was in before it entered Standby.

Result

Standby

normal working state

To reestablish your network connection:

1 Click Start, then select Shut Down, then Close all programs and log on as a

different user

displays your network logon dialog box.

2 Type your password, then click OK. Your logon script runs and your

network connections are reestablished.

See your Windows 98 Help or documentation for more information on using power management

86 Managing Your System

. Selecting this option bypasses the restart process and

Cleaning Your System

Cleaning the mouse

If the mouse pointer on the screen moves erratically when you move the mouse, the inside of the mouse may be dirty.

To clean the mouse:

1 Turn off the computer, then disconnect the mouse cable from the mouse

port.

2 Turn your mouse upside down, then remove the roller ball cover. 3 Cup your hand under the mouse, then turn your mouse right-side up.

The roller ball should drop into your hand. If it does not, gently shake the mouse until the ball drops out of the socket.

4 Use adhesive tape to pick up any dust or lint on the surface of the ball.

Wipe away dirt or lint inside the ball socket with a lint-free cloth. You can also blow into the socket to remove dirt and lint. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the rollers inside the socket.

5 Let surfaces dry completely. 6 Return the ball to the socket and replace the cover.

Cleaning the mouse 87

Cleaning the keyboard

You should clean the keyboard occasionally to free it of dust and lint particles trapped under the keys. The easiest way to do this is to blow trapped dirt from under the keys using an aerosol can of air with a narrow, straw-like extension.

If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off the computer and disconnect it. Turn the keyboard upside down to let the liquid drain. Let the keyboard dry for a few days before trying to use it again. If the keyboard does not work after it is dry, you may need a new one.

Cleaning the monitor screen

Use a soft cloth and window cleaner to clean the monitor screen. Spray a small amount of cleaner on the cloth (never directly on the screen), and wipe the screen with the cloth.

Cleaning the computer and monitor cases

Warning When you clean the system, turn off the computer,

monitor, and peripherals and unplug the power cord and modem cord (if installed). Be careful not to drip liquid into the computer, monitor,and peripherals when cleaning the system.

Always turn off the computer and other peripherals before cleaning any components.

Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean the computer case, monitor case, keyboard, speakers, and other parts of your system. Avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners because they can damage the finish on your components.

Your computer is cooled by air drawn in through the vents on the chassis and blown out through the power supply exhaust fan. Keep vents on the front and back of the chassis free of dust. With the computer turned off and unplugged, brush the dust away from the vents with a slightly damp cloth. Be careful not to drip any water into the vents. Do not attempt to clean dust from the inside the computer.

88 Cleaning Your System

Troubleshooting

Introduction

If your system does not operate correctly, re-read the instructions for the procedures you have performed. If an error occurs within an application, consult the documentation supplied with the software. This section identifies solutions to some possible problems.

Introduction 89

Troubleshooting checklist

Before turning on the system, make sure that:



The power cord is connected to the AC power-in connector and an AC outlet.



The AC outlet is supplying power.



If a power strip is used, it is turned on, and the circuit breaker is set.



The voltage selection switch on the system power supply reflects the proper voltage.

Verifying your configuration

If your system is not operating correctly, the BIOS may contain an invalid configuration parameter. Enter the BIOS Setup utility program and check your configuration settings.

Troubleshooting guidelines

As you troubleshoot your system, keep the following guidelines in mind:



Never remove the chassis cover while the computer is turned on.



Do not attempt to open the monitor. Even if the monitor’s power is disconnected, stored energy within the monitor’s components can offer a painful or harmful shock.



If a peripheral, such as the keyboard, mouse, drive, or printer does not appear to work, make sure that all connections are secure.



If an error message displays on the screen, write it down, word for word. You may be asked about it when calling technical support.



Only qualified personnel should open the system for maintenance.



If you feel you are qualified to maintain the system yourself, make sure you are properly grounded before opening the system chassis. See “Static electricity precautions” on page 17 for more information on preventing electrostatic damage to the system.

90 Troubleshooting

CD/DVD drive problems

An audio CD producesno sound.

Probable Cause Solution

The CD is loaded incorrectly. Make sure the label is facing upward, then try

again.

The speakers are not connected.

Thespeakervolumeisturned down.

The speakersmay be muted through the Multimedia volume control.

The speakers may be faulty. Connect a set of headphones to the line out

Thesoundcardmaynotbe installed correctly.

The CD/DVD drive audio cable may be installed incorrectly.

Important Some systems do not have sound cards because sound

capabilities are built into the system board.

Checkthe speakercables. Make sure they are connected properly and securely.

Check the volume control.

Double-click the speaker icon on the task bar. Make sure the mute boxisnotselected.

jacktotest the output. If they work, replace the speakers.

Open the system,then reseat the sound card. Make sure the c ables are connected properly.

Open the system and make sure the cables are connected properly.

The CD /DVD driveis notrecognized bythe system.

Probable Cause Solution

The CD is not intendedfor PC use.

The CD is loaded incorrectly. Make sure the label is facing upward, then try

Make sure the CD is PC compatible.

again.

CD/DVD drive problems 91

Probable Cause Solution

The CD is scratched or dirty. Try cleaning the CD with a lint-free cloth.

Check the CD for scratches.

The CD/DVD drive needs to be added as new hardware.

The secondary IDE device may be disabled.

The CD cables are not installed correctly.

The CD/DVD drive may be defective.

From the Control Panel window (Start |

Settings | Control Panel), double-click Add New Hardware. Follow the directions for

adding the drive. Restart your computer, then press F1 to enter

the BIOS Setup utility program. From the

Advanced| IDE Configuration menu,set the IDE Controller to Both and the Secondary IDE Master to Auto.

Open the system and check all cables between the CD controller and the CD/DVD drive.

Replace the CD/DVD drive.

92 Troubleshooting

Hard drive problems

The SCSI drive is not recognized by the system.

Probable Cause Solution

The SCSI bus is not properly terminated.

The driveis configuredwitha conflicting SCSI address.

Thecablesarenot connected correctly.

MakesurethelastdeviceontheSCSIchain is properly terminated.

Changethe device’sSCSI address to one that is not currently being used by the system.

Open the system and check the cable connections.

The IDE drive is not recognized by the system.

Probable Cause Solution

The primary IDE device may be configured incorrectly.

The drive may not be configured properly.

The drive cables are not connected properly.

The drive controller is not seated properly.

Restart your computer, then press F1 to enter the BIOS Setup utility program. From the

Advanced| IDE Configuration menu, set the IDE Controller to Both and the Primary IDE Master to Auto.

Consult the hard drive user’s guide for instructions on how to configure the drive.

Open the system and check all cables connected to the controller card.

Open the system and reseat the drive controller.

Important Some systems do not have IDE controller cards because

the IDE controller is built into the system board.

Hard drive problems 93

Gateway E1400 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Preface

Conventions used in this manual

Getting additional information

System Features

Easy to service chassis

Standard features

Front panel

Rear panel

Inside the computer

System board

Riser card

Front

Back

System Setup

Setting up your system

Starting your system

Understanding the Power-OnSelf-Test

Setting up the operating system

Turning off yoursystem

Resetting yoursystem

Case Access

Static electricity precautions

Opening the case

Removing the sidepanels

Closing the case

Replacing the side panels

Replacing and Adding Drives

About replacing drives

Releasing the drive cage

Reinserting the drive cage

Replacing the diskette drive

Adding a second diskette drive

Replacing the CD drive

Adding a second 5.25-inch device

Replacing the hard drive

Adding an additional hard drive

System Components

Adding or replacing memory

Adding an expansion card

Replacing the AGP card

Replacing the battery

Replacing the powersupply

Replacing the system board

Replacing the processor

Using the BIOS Setup Utility

About the BIOS Setup utility

Updating the BIOS

Setting the system board jumpers

Recovery mode

Managing Your System

Protecting against power source problems

Surge suppressors

Line conditioners

Uninterruptible powersupplies

Maintaining and managing your hard drive

Hard drive maintenance utilities

Hard drive management practices

Checkinghard drive space

Backingupfiles

Deleting unneeded files

System integrity

Protectingagainst viruses

Checking system health with LANDesk

System recovery

Creating a startup diskette

Keeping a recordof system configuration

Using yourSystemRestorationCD

System powermanagement

About soft-off

Adding a Suspendoption to the Start menu

Taking yoursystem out of Suspend

Checkingthe type of power management on your system

Putting your systeminto Standby (S1)

Taking yoursystem out of Standby

Cleaning Your System

Cleaning the mouse