Gateway E-2300 User Manual
User Guide
Gateway E-2300
Contents
1Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Using Your Computer guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Gateway contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Checking Out Your Gateway Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Desktop to tower conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Locating your serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Finding your specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Working safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Setting up your computer and computer accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Standard keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Multifunction keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Connecting the modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Connecting to a wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4 Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the Zip drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
www.gateway.com
i
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Playing a DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Creating CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5 Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cleaning the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Restoring your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6 Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
ii
www.gateway.com
Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
7 Networking Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Introduction to networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Using a network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Selecting a network connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Creating an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Setting up a wireless Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Setting up a wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Configuring your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Sharing your resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Sharing an Internet connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Connecting to hotspots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Wireless Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
A Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
www.gateway.com
iii
iv
www.gateway.com
Chapter 1
Getting Help
■ Using the Gateway W eb site
■ Using Help and Support
■ Using Y our Computer guide
■ Using Do More With Ga teway
■ Using online help
■ Contacting Gateway
1
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.
2
www.gateway.com
Searching for a topic
To search for a topic in He lp an d Supp ort, ty pe a word or phra se ( keywor d) in th e 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 locate d 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
■ Microsoft Knowledge Base - These topics are located on the Microsoft Web site and
contain the words you entered in the
Internet to search for and acces s these topics.
To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results you
want to view.
Search box.
Search box. You must be connected to the
To view a topic, click the topic name in the
Search Result s list.
Using Your Computer guide
In addition to this guide, the Using Your Computer guide has been included on your hard
drive. This guide includes information on using Windows, using the Internet, sending a
fax, and changing power-saving settings as well as other topics.
To access the Using Your Computer guide:
■ Click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.
www.gateway.com
3
Online help
Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn ho w to
perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help
information by selecting a topic from a
Y ou can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the index, searching
for a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help.
Help menu or by clicking a Help button.
Gateway c ontact information
For Technical Support, see the Gateway Business Service Plans guide that came with your
system.
4
www.gateway.com
Chapter 2
Checking Out Your
Gateway Computer
■ Identifying features
■ Locating your compu ter serial number
■ Locating the Microsoft Certificate of
Authenticity
■ Locating the specifications for your
computer
■ Purchasing accessories
5
Front
Your computer includes the following components.
CD/DVD/Recordable drive
Power button/
power indicator
CD/DVD eject button
Zip drive eject button
Zip drive or
memory ca rd
reader (optional)
Diskette drive
Diskette eject button
6
www.gateway.com
USB ports
Microphone
jack
Headphone
jack
Component Icon Description
CD/D VD eject button Press this button to open the CD o r D VD driv e tra y. For more information,
see “Using the CD or DVD drive” on page 34.
CD/DVD/Recordable
drive
Zip drive eject button Press this button to eject an inserted Zip disk.
Zip drive (optional) Use this drive to store larger files on Zip disks. For more information,
Memory card reader
(optional)
Diskette drive Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into the optional diskette drive. For
Diskette eject button Press this button to ej ect an inse rted diske tte . F or m ore in f ormation, s ee
Power button/
Power indicator
USB ports Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner,
Use this drive to liste n to audio CDs , insta ll game s and prog ra ms , w atch
DVDs, and store large files onto recordable discs (depending on drive
type).
This drive may be a CD, recordable CD, DVD, or recordable DVD drive.
To identify your drive type an d f or more inf ormation a bout y our driv e, se e
“Identifying drive types” on page 34.
see “Using the Zip drive” on page 31.
Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player, PDA, cellular
telephone, or other devices into the memory card reader. For more
information, see “Using the memory card reader” on page32.
more information, see “Using the dis kette dr ive” on page 30.
“Using the diskette drive” on page 30.
Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the
power button to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode.
The button lights when the computer is turned on.
camera, keyboar d, or mouse) into th is por t. For more in formation, see
“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page27.
Microphone jack
(red or pink)
Headphone jack
(green)
Plug a microphone into this jack.
Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or
headphones into this jack.
www.gateway.com
7
Back
Your computer includes the following components:
PS/2 keyboard port
USB ports
Serial port
Monitor port
USB ports
Microphone jack
Telephone jack
(optional)
PS/2 mouse port
Kensington
lock slot
Case cover shipping
thumbscrew
Parallel port
Ethernet
(Network) jack
Audio input
(Line in) jack
Headphone/Speakers
(Line out) jack
Monitor port
(optional)
Modem jack
(optional)
Power connector
8
www.gateway.com
Voltage switch
Component Icon Description
PS/2 keyboard port Plug a Personal System/2® (PS/2) keyboar d into th is por t.
USB ports Plug USB (UniversalSerial Bus) devices (such as a printer,
scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For
more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
periphe ral device” on p age 27.
Serial port Plug a serial device (such as a digital camera) into this port.
For more inf ormation, see “Installi ng a printer , scanner , or oth er
periphe ral device” on p age 27.
Monitor port Plug a monitor into this port.
Microphone jack
(red or pink)
Telephone jack
(optional)
Power connector Plug the power cord into this connector.
PS/2 mouse port Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.
Kensington™
lock slot
Case cover
shipping
thumbscrew
Paralle l port Plug a parallel d evice (suc h as a printer) into t his port. For more
Etherne t (n etwor k)
jack
Plug a microphone into this jack.
If your modem has a telephone jack, plug the cable for a
telephone into this jack.
Secure your comp uter to an object b y connec ting a K ensington
cable lock to this slot.
Remove this screw before opening the case.
information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
periphe ral device” on p age 27.
Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a
DSL or cable modem f or a broadba nd Internet con nection) into
this jack.
For more information, see “Networking Your Computer” on
page 75, or see “Learning about the Internet” in
Computer
access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click
Gateway Documentation.
which has been included on your hard drive. To
Using Your
Audio input (Line
in) jack (blue)
Plug an external audio input s ource (such as a stereo) into this
jack so you can record sound on your computer.
www.gateway.com
9
Component Icon Description
Headphone/
speakers (line out)
jack (green)
Modem jack
(optional)
Voltage switch Before turning on your computer, make sure that this switch is
Plug powered speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones
into this jack.
Plug a modem cable into this jack.
in the correct position fo r the correct power available. The
switch is pres et at t he fact ory with t h e co r re ct volt age for your
area.
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.
10
www.gateway.com
Desktop to tower conversion
You can convert your case from desktop to tower configuration using the rotating foot
included with your system.
Locating y our serial number
The label on the side of your computer case contains information that identifies your
computer serial number. Ga teway Technical Support will need this information if you
call for assistance.
www.gateway.com
11
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.
Finding y our specifications
For more information abo ut your computer, such as memory size, memory type, and hard
drive size, visit Gateway’s eSupport page at support.gateway.com
has links to additional Gateway documentation and detailed specifications.
. The eSupport page also
12
www.gateway.com
Accessories
To order accessories, visit the Accessory Store at accessories.gateway.com.
Memory
Large programs, such as multimedia games or graphics programs, use a lot of memory. If
your programs are running more slowly than you think they should, try adding more
memory.
Printers
You can attach almost any type of printer to your computer. The most common types are
inkjet and laser printers, which print in color or black and white. See “Installing a printer,
scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 27 for more information about attaching a
printer.
Inkjet printers and cartridges are relatively inexpensive, but they are slower than laser
printers. Using an inkjet color prin ter, you can print pictures, banners, and greeting cards,
as well as documents.
Laser printers and cartridges are more expens ive, but they print much faster than inkjet
printers. Laser printers are better than inkjet printers when you are printing large
documents.
Storage Devices
If you need additional storage space or you want to back up your files, you can add storage
devices to you computer.
With a recordable CD or DVD drive, you can free up hard drive space by backing up files,
then removing them from your hard drive. Writable CDs can hold as much as 700 MB of
data. Single layer writable DVD s can hold as much as 4700 MB of data. Dua l layer writable
DVDs hold as much as 8500MB of data. For more information about using recordable
drives, see “Creating CDs and DVDs” on page 36.
If you need to back up your entire system, you probably need a tape backup (TBU) drive.
TBU drives, like tape recorders, use magnetic tape cartridges to store data. Tape drive
cartridges can store 2 GB, 20 GB, 40 GB, 130 GB, or more of data.
If you want to increase your internal storage space, try replacing your existing hard drive
with a larger drive.
www.gateway.com
13
USB flash drive
Use a USB flash drive for storing files or transferring files to another computer.
Uninterruptible power supplies
A standby, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protects your computer from data loss
during a total power failure. A UPS uses a battery to keep your computer running
temporarily during a power failure so you can save your work and shut down your
computer correctly. A UPS may also provide protection from power surges.
14
www.gateway.com
Chapter 3
Getting Started
■ Using your computer safely
■ Protecting your computer from power
source problems
■ T urning your computer on and off
■ Adjusting the volume
■ Connecting the modem and network
■ Installing peripheral devices
15
W orking safely
Before using your computer , read the following recommendations for setting up a safe and
comfortable work area and avoiding discomfor t and strain.
Top of screen is not
higher than eye level
Screen is
perpen dicular to
Hands and
arms ar e
parallel to
the floor
Feet are flat on the floor
your line of sight
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 yo ur work area. Do not use your computer in a dark ro om.
■ 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.
16
www.gateway.com
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 s eat, 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.
Setting up your computer and computer accessories
■ Set up the monitor so the top is no higher than eye level, the m onitor 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.
www.gateway.com
17
A voiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain
■ Vary your acti vities to a void exces sive repe tition.
■ 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 pow er source pr oblems
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 yo ur
computer and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector, which absorbs
voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your computer.
Warning 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 ha v e a telep hone mod em, us e a su rge prot ector th at
has a modem jac k. If y ou ha ve a c able modem, u se a surge pro tector
that has an antenn a/cable TV jac k. During an electrical sto rm, unplug
both the surge protector and the modem.
An uninterruptible power su pply (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.
Checking the voltage selection
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.
Caution If you set the voltage selection switch inco rrec tly, your system w il l 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 oper atin g in the U nited Sta tes . In other a reas 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.
18
www.gateway.com
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.
Voltage switch
Starting your computer
To start your computer:
1 Connect the cables to your computer. See the setup poster for setup instructions.
2 Turn on your computer.
3 If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions
to set up your computer.
Important Your computer has a built-in variable speed fan. In addition, your
computer uses a powerful processor which produces heat. Both the
system fan and processor can run at different speeds at times to
ensure proper syst em co oli ng. You may notice an in crea se 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.
4 Turn on any peripheral devices, such as printers or scan ners, and see the
documentation that came with the device for setup instructions.
www.gateway.com
19
W aking up your c omputer
When you have not used your computer for several minutes or have not turned off your
computer, 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.
Tips & Tricks For more information about changing the power button mode, see
“Changing Po wer-Saving Setting s” in
been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,
All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.
Using Y o ur Computer
which has
T urning off your c omputer
Warning 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 w all outlets. We recommend disconnecting the
power cord and modem cable when your computer will not be used
for long periods.
For more information about changing the power button mode, see
“Changing Po wer-Saving Setting s” in
been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,
All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.
Using Y o ur Computer
which has
To turn off your computer:
1 Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. The Tu r n O f f C om p u t er dialog box opens.
2 Click Tur n O ff. Windows shuts down and turns off your computer.
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.
20
www.gateway.com
Restarting (rebooting) your co mputer
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 y our 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.
5 If your computer does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again.
Important If your computer does not turn off, press and hold the power button
for about five seconds, then release it.
As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status runs
automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts.
www.gateway.com
21
Using the ke yboard
Standard keyboard
This keyboard is the basic model of keyboard available with your computer.
Function keys Navigation keys Indicators
Windows keys Applicatio n
Press these keys... To...
Function keys Start program actions. Each program uses different function keys for
different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more
about the function key actions.
Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the
end of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a
document, or to the end of a document.
Indicators Show if your
activated. Press the corresponding key to activate the function.
Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows Start menu. These keys
can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like
F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer utility).
Application key Access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Directional keys Move the cursor up, down, right, or left.
Numeric keypad Use these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (
is turned on.
NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK key s are
key
Directional
keys
Numeric
keypad
NUM LOCK)
22
www.gateway.com
Multifunction keyboard
This keyboard is the full-featured model available with your computer.
Function keys Navigation keys Indicators
Press these
Windows keys Applicatio n
key
To...
Directional
keys
Numeric
keypad
keys...
Function keys Start program actions . Each progr am uses diff erent funct ion ke ys for di fferent
purposes. See the program’s help to learn more about function key actions.
Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end
of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or
to the end of a document.
Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are activ ated.
Press the corresponding key to activate the function.
Windows keys Press this key to open the Windows Start menu. This key can also be used
in combination wi th o ther keys to open u til iti es like
utility), and
Application key Access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Directional keys Move the cursor up, down, right, or left.
Numeric keypad Use these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (
turned on.
E (Explorer utility).
F (Search utility), R(Run
NUM LOCK) is
www.gateway.com
23
Special-function button s
Previous
Play/Pause
Volume down
Volu me up
Special-function buttons
Previous Return to the previous CD track or DVD chapter.
Play/Pause Start or pause the play of the CD or DVD.
Stop Stop the play o f CD or DVD.
Next Move to the next CD track or DVD chapter.
Icons Press to...
Mute
My Documents
Stop
Help
Next
Search
InternetE-mail
Volume down Decrease th e volume.
Volume up Increase th e volume.
Mute Turn off all sound.
My Documents Opens the My Documents folder . You can customize this
button to open another program.
Help Open online he lp . You can custom ize thi s bu tton to open
another program.
E-mail Open your e-mail program. You can customize this
button to open another program.
Search Open online search. You can customize this button to
open another program.
Internet Open your Web browser. You can customize this button
to open another program.
24
www.gateway.com
Loading...