Gateway E-6300 User Manual
User Guide
Gateway E-6300
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
Identifying your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 Checking Out Your Gateway Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Locating your serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Finding your specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Working safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting up your computer and computer accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Standard keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Multifunction keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Connecting the modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Connecting to a wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4 Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Using the Zip drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Playing a DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Creating CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5 Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cleaning the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Restoring your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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
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Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
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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.
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Searching for a topic
To search for a topic in He lp an d Su pport, ty pe a word or phr ase ( 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.
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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.
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Identifying your c omputer
You can find your computer’s serial number on a label on the side of the computer case.
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Chapter 2
Checking Out Your
Gateway Computer
■ Identifying features
■ Locating your compu ter model and serial
number
■ Locating the Microsoft Certificate of
Authenticity
■ Locating the specifications for your
computer
■ Purchasing accessories
7
Front
Your computer includes the following components.
DVD/CD drive
DVD/CD drive
Pow er b u tt o n/
Pow er i n d ic a t or
(optional)
Zip drive or
memory card
reader (optional)
Diskette driv e
(optional)
USB or IEEE 1394
ports ( optional)
Headphone jack
Microphone jack
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Component Icon Description
DV D/CD drive 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 and for more information about your drive,
see “Identifying drive types” on page36.
Power button /
Power indicator
USB ports Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner,
IEEE 1394 ports
(optional)
Zip drive Use this drive to store larger files on Zip disks. For more information,
Memory card reader
(optional)
Diskette drive
(optional)
Headphone jack Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or
Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is color-coded red or pink.
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 formatio n, see
“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page30.
®
Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire
as a digital camcorder) into these 4-pin IEEE 1394 ports. For more
information, see “Installin g a printer , sc anner, or other peripheral device”
on page 30.
see “Using the Zip drive” on page 33.
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 page34.
Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into the optional diskette drive. For
more information, see “Using the diskette drive” on page 32.
headphones into this jack. This jack is color-coded orange.
or i.Link®) device (such
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Back
Your computer includes the following components:
Cover release lever
Voltage switch
Case cover
thumbscrew
Rear spea ker j ack
(optional)
Ethern et (networ k) jack
Power connector
Audio in/side speaker jack
Headphone/front speaker jack
Microphone jack
Center/subwoofer jack
(optional)
USB ports
Parallel port
PS/2 keyboard port
S-Video out jack
(optional)
Telephone jack
(optional)
Monitor port
Serial port
PS/2 mouse por t
Monitor port
(optional)
Modem jack
(optional)
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Component Icon Description
Cover release lever Lift this lever to open the computer cover.
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 pres et at the fact ory with th e cor 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.
Case cover
thumbscrew
Rear speaker j ack
(black) (optional)
Etherne t (net work )
jack
Paralle l port Plug a parallel devic e (such as a printer) in to this port. For more
PS/2 keyboard port Plug a Personal System/2
S-Video out jack
(optional)
Telephone jack
(optional)
Power connector Plug the power cord into this connector.
Remove this screw before opening the case.
Plug your rear right and left speaker into this optional jack. For
information on c onfiguring t his j ack, s ee “Con figuring the audio
jacks” on page28.
Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a
DSL or cable m odem f or a broadba nd Internet con nection) into
this jack.
For more information, see “Learning about the Internet” in
Using Your Computer
drive. To access this guide , click Start, All Programs, then click
Gateway Documentation.
information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other
periphe ral device” on pag e 30.
Plug a standard S-Video cable into this optional jack. Plug the
other end of the cable into an S-Video jack on a television.
Plug a tele phone cable i nto this jack.
which has been included on your hard
®
(PS/2) keyboar d into th is por t.
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Component Icon Description
Audio input (Line
in) jack (blue)
-ORSide speaker jack
Headphone/analog
speake rs j ack
(green)
-ORFront speakers jack
Microphone jack
(red or pink)
If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is
user configurable for one of the following:
■
Stereo in: plug an external audio input source (such as a
stereo) into this jack so you can record sound on your
computer (Default).
■
Stereo out: plug your side left and right speakers into this
jack.
If the back of your com pu ter ha s th re e au d io ja cks, thi s ja ck is
the audio input (lin e in) jack. Pl ug an exter nal audi o input
source (such as a stereo) int o this jack so y ou can record sound
on your computer. For information on configuring this jack, see
“Configuring the audio jacks” on page28.
If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is
user configurable for one of the following:
■
Headphone: plug headph ones or amplified spea kers into this
jack (Default).
■
Stereo out: plug your front left and right speakers into this
jack.
If the back of your com pu ter ha s th re e au d io ja cks, thi s ja ck is
the headphone/analog speaker (line out) jack. Plug powered
speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones into this jack.
For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the
audio jacks” on page 28.
Plug a microphone into this jack.
Center/subwoofer
jack
(orange) (optional)
Plug your center s peak er and su bwoof er i nto this opti onal jac k.
For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the
audio jacks” on page 28.
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 pag e 30.
Monitor port Plug a monitor into this port.
Serial port Plug a serial device (such as a digital camera) into this port.
For more inf ormation, see “Ins talling a printer , scann er, o r other
periphe ral device” on pag e 30.
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Component Icon Description
PS/2 mouse port Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.
Modem jack
(optional)
Plug a modem cable into this jack.
Locating y our serial number
Important The labels sh own in th is sec t io n are for infor m at i on al pu rposes on ly.
Label information var ies by model, features ordered, and location.
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.
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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 y our specifications
For more information about yo ur 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
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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 30 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 ho ld 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 38.
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.
USB flash drive
Use a USB flash drive for storing files or transferring files to another computer.
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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
■ T urning your computer on and off
■ Adjusting the volume
■ Configuring audio jacks
■ Connecting the modem and network
■ Installing peripheral devices
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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 t o
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 da rk 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 fo r 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 mon itor 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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A voiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain
■ Vary your acti vities to a void exce ssive 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 te lep 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 suppl y (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 incorrec t ly, 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.
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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
selection
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 crease in the f an
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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W aking up your co mputer
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 yo ur 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 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.
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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 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.
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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 ar e
key
Directional
keys
Numeric
keypad
NUM LOCK)
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