Gateway E-2300 User Manual

User Guide

Gateway E-2300

Contents

1 Getting 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

3 Getting 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

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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

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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

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Chapter 1

Getting Help

■Using the Gateway Web site

■Using Help and Support

■Using Your Computer guide

■Using Do More With Gateway

■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.

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Searching for a topic

To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in the Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click the arrow button.

For each search, you receive the following search result types:

■Suggested Topics - These topics are located in Help and Support and are relevant to your search topic.

■Full-text Search Matches - These topics are located in Help and Support and contain the words you entered in the Search box.

■Microsoft Knowledge Base - These topics are located on the Microsoft Web site and contain the words you entered in the Search box. You must be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics.

To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results you want to view.

To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list.

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.

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Online help

Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a Help button.

You can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the index, searching for a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help.

Gateway contact information

For Technical Support, see the Gateway Business Service Plans guide that came with your system.

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Chapter 2

Checking Out Your

Gateway Computer

■Identifying features

■Locating your computer 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 eject button

CD/DVD/Recordable drive

Zip drive eject button

Zip drive or memory card

reader (optional)

Diskette drive

Diskette eject button

Power button/ power indicator

USB ports

Microphone jack

Headphone jack

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Component	Icon	Description
CD/DVD eject button		Press this button to open the CD or DVD drive tray. For more information,
		see “Using the CD or DVD drive” on page 34.
CD/DVD/Recordable		Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch
drive		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 and for more information about your drive, see
		“Identifying drive types” on page 34.
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,
		see “Using the Zip drive” on page 31.
Memory card reader		Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player, PDA, cellular
(optional)		telephone, or other devices into the memory card reader. For more
		information, see “Using the memory card reader” on page 32.
Diskette drive		Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into the optional diskette drive. For
		more information, see “Using the diskette drive” on page 30.
Diskette eject button		Press this button to eject an inserted diskette. For more information, see
		“Using the diskette drive” on page 30.
Power button/		Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the
Power indicator		power button to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode.
		The button lights when the computer is turned on.
USB ports		Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner,
		camera, keyboard, or mouse) into this port. For more information, see
		“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 27.
Microphone jack		Plug a microphone into this jack.
(red or pink)
Headphone jack		Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or
(green)		headphones into this jack.

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Back

Your computer includes the following components:

PS/2 keyboard port

USB ports

Serial port

Monitor port

USB ports

Microphone jack

Telephone jack (optional)

Power connector

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)

Voltage switch

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Component	Icon		Description
PS/2 keyboard port			Plug a Personal System/2® (PS/2) keyboard into this port.
USB ports			Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices (such as a printer,
			scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For
			more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
			peripheral device” on page 27.
Serial port			Plug a serial device (such as a digital camera) into this port.
			For more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
			peripheral device” on page 27.
Monitor port			Plug a monitor into this port.
Microphone jack			Plug a microphone into this jack.
(red or pink)
Telephone jack			If your modem has a telephone jack, plug the cable for a
(optional)			telephone into this jack.
Power connector			Plug the power cord into this connector.
PS/2 mouse port			Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.
Kensington™			Secure your computer to an object by connecting a Kensington
lock slot			cable lock to this slot.
Case cover			Remove this screw before opening the case.
shipping
thumbscrew
Parallel port			Plug a parallel device (such as a printer) into this port. For more
			information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
			peripheral device” on page 27.
Ethernet (network)			Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a
jack			DSL or cable modem for a broadband Internet connection) into
			this jack.
			For more information, see “Networking Your Computer” on
			page 75, or see “Learning about the Internet” in Using Your
			Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To
			access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click
			Gateway Documentation.
Audio input (Line			Plug an external audio input source (such as a stereo) into this
in) jack (blue)			jack so you can record sound on your computer.

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Component	Icon	Description
Headphone/		Plug powered speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones
speakers (line out)		into this jack.
jack (green)
Modem jack		Plug a modem cable into this jack.
(optional)
Voltage switch		Before turning on your computer, make sure that this switch is
		in the correct position for the correct power available. The
		switch is preset at the factory with the correct voltage 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.

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Desktop to tower conversion

You can convert your case from desktop to tower configuration using the rotating foot included with your system.

Locating your serial number

The label on the side of your computer case contains information that identifies your computer serial number. Gateway Technical Support will need this information if you call for assistance.

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Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes the product key code for your operating system.

Finding your specifications

For more information about your computer, such as memory size, memory type, and hard drive size, visit Gateway’s eSupport page at support.gateway.com. The eSupport page also has links to additional Gateway documentation and detailed specifications.

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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 printer, you can print pictures, banners, and greeting cards, as well as documents.

Laser printers and cartridges are more expensive, 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 DVDs can hold as much as 4700 MB of data. Dual layer writable DVDs hold as much as 8500 MB 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.

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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.

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Chapter 3

Getting Started

■Using your computer safely

■Protecting your computer from power source problems

■Turning your computer on and off

■Adjusting the volume

■Connecting the modem and network

■Installing peripheral devices

15

Working safely

Before using your computer, read the following recommendations for setting up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding discomfort and strain.

Hands and arms are parallel to the floor

Top of screen is not higher than eye level

Screen is perpendicular to your line of sight

Feet are flat on the floor

Reducing eye strain

Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the monitor screen or shine directly into your eyes.

■Position the computer desk and monitor so you can avoid glare on your screen and light shining directly into your eyes. Reduce glare by installing shades or curtains on windows, and by installing a glare screen filter on your monitor.

■Use soft, indirect lighting in your work area. Do not use your computer in a dark room.

■Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for long periods of time. Look away from your computer occasionally, and try to focus on distant objects.

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Setting up your computer desk and chair

When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make sure that the desk is the appropriate height and the chair helps you maintain good posture.

■Select a flat surface for your computer desk.

■Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are positioned parallel to the floor when you use the keyboard and mouse. If the desk is not adjustable or is too tall, consider using a keyboard drawer.

■Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes your weight evenly, and keeps your body relaxed.

■Position your chair so the keyboard is at or slightly below the level of your elbow. This position lets your shoulders relax while you type.

■Adjust the chair height, adjust the forward tilt of the seat, or use a footrest to distribute your weight evenly on the chair and relieve pressure on the back of your thighs.

■Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower curve of your spine. You can use a pillow or cushion to provide extra back support.

Setting up your computer and computer accessories

■Set up the monitor so the top is no higher than eye level, the monitor controls are within reach, and the screen is tilted to be perpendicular to your line of sight.

■Place your keyboard and mouse at a comfortable distance. You should be able to reach them without stretching.

■Set paper holders at the same height and distance as the monitor.

Sitting at your computer

■Avoid bending, arching, or angling your wrists. Make sure that they are in a relaxed position when you type.

■Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back straight so your knees, hips, and elbows form right angles when you work.

■Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.

■Avoid twisting your torso or neck.

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Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain

■Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.

■Take breaks to change your position, stretch your muscles, and relieve your eyes.

■Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a variety of tasks.

Protecting from power source problems

During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your computer can increase to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage. Protect your computer and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector, which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your computer.

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 have a telephone modem, use a surge protector that has a modem jack. If you have a cable modem, use a surge protector that has an antenna/cable TV jack. During an electrical storm, unplug both the surge protector and the modem.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) supplies battery power to your computer during a power failure. Although you cannot run your computer for an extended period of time with a UPS, a UPS lets you run your computer long enough to save your work and shut down your computer normally.

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 incorrectly, your system will be
			damaged. Make sure this switch is set correctly for your location
			before turning on your computer.

In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60 Hz. The power supply should always be set to this when your computer is operating in the United States. In other areas of the world, such as Europe, the utility power is supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your computer is operating in an environment such as this, the voltage switch should be moved to 230.

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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

2

3

Connect the cables to your computer. See the setup poster for setup instructions.

Turn on your computer.

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 system cooling. You may notice an increase in the fan noise when the fan is running at high speed and a decrease in the fan noise when it switches to normal speed.

4 Turn on any peripheral devices, such as printers or scanners, and see the documentation that came with the device for setup instructions.

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Waking up your computer

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 Power-Saving Settings” in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,

All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

Turning off your computer

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 wall 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 Power-Saving Settings” in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,

All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

To turn off your computer:

1

2

Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box opens.

Click Turn Off. 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.

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Restarting (rebooting) your computer

If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your computer to normal operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your computer.

To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:

1

2

3

4

5

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Task Manager window opens.

Click the Applications tab, then click the program that is not responding.

Click End Task.

Click X in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog box.

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.

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Using the keyboard

Standard keyboard

This keyboard is the basic model of keyboard available with your computer.

Function keys

Navigation keys Indicators

Windows keys	Application	Directional	Numeric
	key	keys	keypad

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 NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are
	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 (NUM LOCK)
	is turned on.

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Multifunction keyboard

This keyboard is the full-featured model available with your computer.

Function keys

Navigation keys Indicators

Windows keys	Application	Directional	Numeric
	key	keys	keypad

Press these	To...
keys...
Function keys	Start program actions. Each program uses different function keys for different
	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 activated.
	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 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 (NUM LOCK) is
	turned on.

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Special-function buttons

Previous Stop

Play/Pause Next

Volume down

Mute

Help

Search

Volume up

My Documents

E-mail

Internet

Special-function buttons Icons

Press to...

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 of CD or DVD.

Next

Move to the next CD track or DVD chapter.

Volume down

Decrease the volume.

Volume up

Increase the 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 help. You can customize this button 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.

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Adjusting the volume

You can use the volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the volume of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:

■If you are using external speakers, turn the knob on the front of the speakers. -OR-

Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on how to adjust the volume in Windows, see “Adjusting the Volume” in Using Your Computer which has been

included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,

All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

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Connecting the modem

Your computer may have an optional 56K modem that you can use to connect to a standard telephone line.

Warning	To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 AWG or larger
	telecommunications line cord.

To connect the modem:

1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack										on the back of your
computer.

2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack. The modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines.

3 Start your computer, then start your communications program.

Connecting to a wired Ethernet network

Your computer has a network jack that you can use to connect to a 10/100 wired Ethernet network.

Important Your computer is equipped with a built-in Ethernet port.

For information about setting up a wired or wireless Ethernet network, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 75.

To connect to a wired Ethernet network:

1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack				on the back of your
computer.

2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a network jack.

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Tips & Tricks You can use your computer’s Ethernet jack for more than just networking. Many broadband Internet connections, such as cable

modems and DSL modems, connect to your computer’s Ethernet jack. For more information, see “Using the Internet” in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device

Important Before you install a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device, see the device documentation and installation instructions.

Your computer has one or more of the following ports: Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. You use these ports to connect peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras to your computer. For more information about port locations, “Checking Out Your Gateway Computer” on page 5.

USB ports support plug-and-play and hot-swapping, which means that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the appropriate port. When you use a USB device for the first time, your computer will prompt you to install any software the device needs. After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.

Parallel and serial port devices are not plug-and-play. See the device documentation for detailed information and installation instructions.

Help and For more information about installing peripheral devices, click Start,

Support then click Help and Support.

Type the keyword installing devices in the Search box , then click the arrow.

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Chapter 4

Using Drives and Ports

■Using the diskette drive

■Using the Zip drive

■Using the memory card reader

■Using CD or DVD drives

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Using the diskette drive

The optional diskette drive uses 3.5-inch diskettes (sometimes called floppy disks). Diskettes are useful for storing files or transferring files to another computer.

Eject button

Activity indicator

Diskette slot

To use a diskette:

1 Insert the diskette into the diskette drive with the label facing up.

2 To access a file on the diskette, click Start, then click My Computer. Double-click the drive letter (for example, the A: drive), then double-click the file name.

3 To remove the diskette, make sure that the drive activity light is off, then press the diskette eject button.

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Using the Zip drive

Iomega Zip drives, like diskette drives, use disks to store data. Zip disks can store 100 MB, 250 MB, or 750 MB of data. You can use a Zip drive to back up files you do not use so you can remove them from your hard drive. Zip drives also provide an easy way to transfer files between computers (if both computers have internal Zip drives or if you have one external, portable Zip drive).

Eject button

Disk slot

To use a Zip disk:

1 Insert the Zip disk into the Zip drive with the label facing up.

2 To access a file on the Zip disk, click Start, then click My Computer. Double-click the drive letter (for example, the B: drive), then double-click the file name.

3 To remove the Zip disk, press the eject button.

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Using the memory card reader

You can use the optional memory card reader to transfer pictures from a digital camera to your computer. You can also use the memory card reader to transfer data between your computer and a device that uses memory cards, such as a PDA, MP3 player, or cellular phone. Each slot is assigned a different drive letter (for example, the E: and F: drives) so data can be transferred from one media type to another.

See the additional documentation that came with your computer for specific information on supported memory card types.

Memory card types

The optional memory card reader supports some or all of the following card types:

■Secure Digital™

■MultiMediaCard™

■SM (SmartMedia™)

■Memory Stick®

■Memory Stick PRO™

■CompactFlash®

■IBM Microdrive™

Inserting a memory card

Caution To avoid memory card damage or errors while using a memory card, insert only one memory card in a slot at a time.

To use a memory card:

1 Insert the memory card into the appropriate memory card slot.

2 To access a file on the memory card, click Start, then click My Computer. Double-click the drive letter (for example, the E: drive), then double-click the file name.

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To remove a memory card:

■Wait for the media reader access indicator to stop blinking, then pull the card out of the slot.

Caution			Do not remove the card or turn off the computer while the card reader
			access indicator is blinking. You could lose data. Also, remove the
			card from the reader before you turn off the computer.

Important Do not use the remove hardware icon in the taskbar to remove the memory card. If you use the remove hardware icon, your computer will not recognize your memory card reader until you restart the computer.

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Using the CD or DVD drive

You can use your computer to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia features.

Identifying drive types

Your Gateway computer may contain one of the following drive types. Look on the front of the drive for one or more of the following logos:

If your drive has this logo... This is your drive type...	Use your drive for...
CD drive	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs, and
	accessing data.
CD-RW drive	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs,
	accessing data, and
	creating CDs.
DVD/CD-RW drive	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs,
	accessing data, creating
	CDs, and playing DVDs.
DVD drive	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs,
	playing DVDs, and
	accessing data.
DVD+RW	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs,
	playing DVDs, accessing
	data, and recording video
	and data to DVD+R or
	DVD+RW discs.
DVD R/RW drive	Installing programs,
	playing audio CDs,
	playing DVDs, accessing
	data, and recording video
	and data to DVD+R,
	DVD+RW, DVD-R, and
	DVD-RW discs.

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Inserting a CD or DVD

Disc tray	Eject
	button

Important Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may not be able to play these CDs on your computer.

To insert a CD or DVD:

1

2

Press the eject button on the CD or DVD drive.

Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up.

Important When you place a single-sided disc in the tray, make sure that the label side is facing up. If the disc has two playable sides, place the disc so the name of the side you want to play is facing up.

3 Press the eject button to close the tray.

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