Gateway E-6610Q, E-6610D Owner's Manual

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BTX Pro

USERGUIDE

®

www.gateway.com

Contents

Chapter 1: Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Thank you for purchasing our computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Using the Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Using Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Getting help for Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Using online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Finding your model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2: Setting Up and Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Working safely and comfortably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Preparing power connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Connecting to a broadband modem or network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Connecting a dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Premium multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Elite multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Installing a printer, scanner, or other device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Chapter 3: Using Windows Vista. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Using the Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Using the Start menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Adding icons to the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Identifying window items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Working with files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Viewing drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Creating folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Copying and moving files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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Deleting files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Searching for files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Using the Windows Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Browsing for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Working with documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Printing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 4: Using the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Learning about the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Setting up an Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Accessing your Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Using the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Connecting to a Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Downloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Using e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Sending e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Checking your e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Chapter 5: Sending and Receiving Faxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Using Windows Fax and Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Sending a Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Setting up your cover page template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Faxing a scanned document or from programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Receiving and viewing a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Chapter 6: Using Your Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Connecting a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Connecting a television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Modifying television settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Connecting a video camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Chapter 7: Using Your Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Playing music and movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Playing audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Playing optical discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Creating audio files and music libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Creating music files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Building a music library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Editing track information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Creating music CDs and video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Creating a music CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Creating a video DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Creating and copying data discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Creating a data disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Using Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Starting Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Using the Media Center remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Chapter 8: Customizing Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Changing screen settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Changing color depth and screen resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Changing the appearance of windows and backgrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Selecting a screen saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Changing gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Setting up multiple monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Changing system sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Changing mouse settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Adding and modifying user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Changing power-saving settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Changing accessibility settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Using the Ease of Access Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Using voice recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Chapter 9: Networking Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Introduction to Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Networking terms you should know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Wired Ethernet networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Using a router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Wireless Ethernet networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Wireless Ethernet standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Using an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Setting up your network connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Wireless security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

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Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Adding a printer to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Sharing resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Creating a shortcut to a network drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Chapter 10: Protecting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Hardware security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Kensington lock slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Data security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Startup and hard drive password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Windows user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Using McAfee SecurityCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Using Windows Security Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Security updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Windows Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Chapter 11: Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Setting up a maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Cleaning the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Cleaning optical discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 System recovery options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Recovering specific files and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Recovering your system using the Windows DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Using BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Deleting unnecessary files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Scheduling maintenance tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

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Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Transferring files and settings with Windows Easy Transfer . . . . . . . . . 116 Transferring files and settings manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Chapter 12: Adding and Replacing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Replacing a CD, DVD, or diskette drive, or a memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . 126 Adding or replacing a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Replacing the front fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Replacing the rear fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Replacing the power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Replacing the heat sink and processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Replacing the I/O panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Adding or replacing an expansion card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Replacing the system board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Chapter 13: Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Expansion cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

v

Contents

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Appendix A: Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

vi

CHAPTER1

Getting Help

Thank you for purchasing our computer!

Using the Gateway Web site

Using Help and Support

Using online help

Finding your model and serial number

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

1

CHAPTER 1: Getting Help

Thank you for purchasing our computer!

You have made an excellent decision choosing Gateway. We are sure that you will be pleased with the outstanding quality, reliability, and performance of your new computer. Each and every Gateway computer uses the latest technology and passes through the most stringent quality control tests to ensure that you are provided with the best product possible.

Please read this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with our range of services and support. We have highlighted some basic care and safety information to help you keep your computer in good operating condition.

Gateway stands behind our value proposition to our customers—to provide best-of-class service and support in addition to high-quality, brand-name components at affordable prices. If you ever have a problem, our knowledgeable, dedicated customer service department will provide you with fast, considerate service.

We sincerely hope that you will receive the utmost satisfaction and enjoyment from your new Gateway computer for years to come.

Thanks again, from all of us at Gateway.

Using the Gateway Web site

Gateway’s online support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and provides the most current drivers, product specifications, tutorials, and personalized information about your computer. Visit the Gateway Support Web site at www.gateway.com.

2

www.gateway.com

Using Help and Support

Your computer includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help information, troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway computer.

To start Help and Support:

Click (Start), then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens.

You can find help information by clicking a general topic under Find an answer, selecting an option under Ask someone, or picking a catagory from Information from Microsoft. You can also search for a topic.

Searching for a topic

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

For each search, you receive a list of suggested topics. To find the answer, click the result that most closely matches your question. Additional results may be available if the first list does not address your question.

Getting help for Windows Media Center

If your computer has Windows Vista Media Center Edition, you can access help for information on how to use it.

To access Media Center help:

1 Click (Start), then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens.

2In the Help and Support window, type Windows Media Center in the Search Help box, then press ENTER. The Media Center Help window opens.

-OR-

If you are connected to the Internet, you can click Windows Online Help, then type

Windows Media Center in the Search Help For box.

3

CHAPTER 1: Getting Help

Using online help

If you are connected to the Internet, 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 the Help button on the menu bar and selecting Online Support from the list.

Available information depends on the particular Help site to which you are taken. Many provide FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), a search feature, articles about their software, tutorials, and forums where problems and issues are discussed.

Finding your model and serial number

Important

The labels shown in this section are for informational purposes only. Label information varies by model, features ordered, and location.

The label on the side of your computer case includes your computer serial number. Gateway Customer Care will need this information if you call for assistance.

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes the product key code for your operating system. If you ever reinstall Windows Vista from the installation DVD, you will need to enter these numbers to activate it.

4

CHAPTER2

Setting Up and Getting Started

Front

Back

Working safely and comfortably

Preparing power connections

Connecting to a broadband modem or network

Connecting a dial-up modem

Starting your computer

Turning off your computer

Restarting (rebooting) your computer

Using the keyboard

Using the mouse

Adjusting the volume

Configuring the audio jacks

Installing a printer, scanner, or other device

5

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Front

Your computer includes the following components (your computer may differ from the computer shown below).

DVD/CD drive

Spare 5.25-inch drive bay

Spare 3.5-inch drive bay

Memory card reader (optional). This bay can also hold an optional diskette drive.

Power button/power indicator

 

 

 

 

IEEE 1394 ports (optional on

 

 

 

 

some models)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USB ports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headphone jack

 

 

 

 

Microphone jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Component

Icon

Description

 

 

 

 

 

DVD/CD drive

 

Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch 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 46.

Spare 3.5-inch

 

Use this drive bay for a memory card reader or other 3.5-inch drive.

external drive

 

 

 

 

bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spare 5.25-inch

 

Use this drive bay for an additional CD or DVD drive.

external drive

 

 

 

 

bay

 

 

 

 

Memory card

 

Insert a variety of memory cards into this optional memory card reader. For

reader (optional)

 

more information, see “Using the memory card reader” on page 48.

 

 

 

 

 

Power

 

Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power

button/Power

 

button to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode.

indicator

 

The button lights when the computer is turned on.

 

 

 

 

 

6

Gateway E-6610Q, E-6610D Owner's Manual

 

 

 

 

 

www.gateway.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Component

Icon

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

IEEE 1394 ports

 

 

 

 

Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device (such as a digital

 

 

 

 

 

camcorder) into these 4-pin IEEE 1394 ports. For more information, see

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

USB ports

 

 

 

 

Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner, camera,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For more information, see “Installing a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

printer, scanner, or other device” on page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microphone jack

 

 

 

 

Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is color-coded red or pink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headphone jack

 

 

 

 

Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

into this jack. This jack is color-coded green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back

Your computer includes the following components (your computer may differ from the computer shown below).

Power connector

Cover release lever

Case cover thumbscrew Kensington lock slot

Rear speaker jack (optional)

Ethernet (network) jack

IEEE 1394 port

Parallel port

Voltage switch

Audio in/side speaker jack

Headphone/front speaker jack

Microphone jack Center/subwoofer jack (optional)

S/PDIF optical audio jack (optional)

USB ports

Digital coaxial audio jack (E-6610). Video port (not shown) on E-6300 and

E-6500 models.

Serial port

PS/2 keyboard port

PS/2 mouse port

DVI video port (standard on E-6610, optional on E-6300 and E-6500).

Modem jack (optional)

 

 

 

Telephone jack (optional)

 

 

7

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Component

Icon

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power connector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug the power cord into this connector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover release lever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press toward the side of the case to open the computer cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove this screw before opening the case.

thumbscrew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kensington lock slot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attach a cable lock to this slot, then attach the cable to a solid object

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

like a desk or table to prevent your computer from being stolen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rear speaker jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dual-purpose audio jack. Plug your rear right and left speakers into

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(black plug)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this optional jack.

(optional)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

jacks” on page 49.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethernet (network)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a DSL

jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or cable modem for a broadband Internet connection) into this jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 81.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IEEE 1394 port

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device (such

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(optional)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as a digital camcorder) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port. For more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parallel port

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a parallel device (such as a printer) into this port. For more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio input (Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is user

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in)/side speaker jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

configurable for one of the following:

(blue)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

jacks” on page 49.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the back of your computer has three audio jacks, this jack is the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

audio input (line in) jack. Plug an external audio input source (such

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as a stereo) into this jack so you can record sound on your computer.

Headphone/analog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is user

speakers jack (green)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

configurable for one of the following:

-OR-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headphone: Plug headphones or amplified speakers into this jack

Front speakers jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Default).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stereo out: Plug your front left and right speakers into this jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

jacks” on page 49.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the back of your computer has three audio jacks, this jack is the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

headphone/analog speaker (line out) jack. Plug powered speakers,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an external amplifier, or headphones into this jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microphonejack(red

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a microphone into this jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or pink)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

www.gateway.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Component

Icon

 

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Center/subwoofer

 

 

 

 

 

Dual-purpose audio jack. Plug your center speaker and subwoofer

jack

 

 

 

 

 

into this optional jack.

(orange plug)

 

 

 

 

 

For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

(optional)

 

 

 

 

 

jacks” on page 49.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S/PDIF optical audio

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a single Toslink™ optical fiber connector into this jack for

jack (optional)

 

 

 

 

 

digital audio. S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface) provides digital

 

 

 

 

 

 

audio output from a CD or DVD.

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 device” on

 

 

 

 

 

 

page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital coaxial audio

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a single digital coaxial audio connector into this jack for digital

port (E-6610), or

 

 

 

 

 

audio. Provides digital audio output from a CD or DVD (E-6610)

Video port (E-6300

 

 

 

 

 

 

and E-6500)

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a monitor into this port (E-6300 and E-6500).

Serial port

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a serial device into this port. For more information, see

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on page 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS/2 keyboard port

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS/2 mouse port

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a Personal System/2® (PS/2) keyboard into this port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVI video port

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a digital monitor into this port (E-6610). Optional on some

 

 

 

 

 

 

models (E-6300 and E-6500).

Telephone jack

 

 

 

 

 

Plug a telephone cable into this jack.

(optional)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Working safely and comfortably

Before using your computer, follow these general guidelines for setting up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding discomfort and strain:

Keep hands and arms parallel to the floor.

Adjust the screen so it is perpendicular to your line of sight, and the top of the screen is no higher than eye leve.

Place your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.

Keep ventilation openings clear of obstructions.

Top of screen is not higher than eye level

Screen is perpendicular to your line of sight

Hands and arms are parallel to the floor

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 screen 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.

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

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

Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for long periods of time. Every 10 or 15 minutes, look around the room, and try to focus on distant objects.

Setting up your computer desk and chair

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

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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 touchpad. If the desk is not adjustable or is too tall, consider using an adjustable chair to control your arm’s height above the keyboard.

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.

Sitting at your computer

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

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

Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.

Avoid twisting your torso or neck.

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain

Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.

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

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

Preparing power connections

Protecting from power source problems

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.

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

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

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CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Checking the voltage selection

Caution

If you set the voltage selection switch incorrectly, your system will be damaged. Make sure this switch is set correctly for your location before turning on your computer. In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60 Hz. The power supply should always be set to this when your computer is operating in the United States. In other areas of the world, such as Europe, the utility power is supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your computer is operating in an environment such as this, the voltage switch should be moved to 230.

The power supply, a component built into your computer, provides power to the system board, add-in cards, and peripheral devices. The power supply’s voltage selection for your location is typically set at the factory, but you can change it to match the electrical service available in your usage area (such as while in another country). Use the power selection switch on the back of your computer to set the voltage to 115V or 230V. To verify that your system has the correct setting for your area, check the voltage selection switch.

To set the voltage selection switch:

1Disconnect your computer’s power cable.

2Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection switch to the correct voltage position. The switch is located on the back of your computer, near the power cable connector.

Connecting to a broadband modem or network

Important

Your computer may be equipped with a built-in Ethernet port. For information about setting up a wired or wireless Ethernet network, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 81.

You can connect your computer to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network.

To connect to a broadband modem or to an Ethernet network:

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

2Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem, DSL modem, or network jack.

Connecting a dial-up modem

Warning

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

Your computer may have a 56K modem add-in card that you can use with a standard telephone line to connect to the internet or fax documents.

To connect the modem:

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

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

3If you want, you can connect a telephone to the PHONE jack on the modem expansion card at the back of your computer.

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Starting your computer

To start your computer:

1Connect the power, network, mouse, and keyboard cables to your computer according to the setup poster.

2Press the power button on the front of your computer. If your computer does not turn on, check the power cable connections.

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.

3If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions to select the language, time zone, and to create your first user account.

4Attach and turn on any USB or audio peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, and speakers. See the documentation that came with each device for its setup instructions. If you need to attach a peripheral device to the parallel or serial ports, turn off your computer first.

5To open your computer’s main menu, click (Start). From that menu, you can run programs and search for files. For more information on using your computer’s menus, see “Using Windows Vista” on page 21, and “Customizing Windows” on page 67.

Waking up your computer

Tip

For more information about changing the power button mode, see “Changing power-saving settings” on page 77.

When you have not used your computer for several minutes, it may enter a power-saving mode called Sleep. While in Sleep mode, the power indicator on the power button flashes.

If your computer is in Sleep mode, move the mouse, press a key on the keyboard, or press the power button to “wake” it up.

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.

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.

Putting your computer into Sleep mode is the easiest way to power down your computer. Although it does not turn your computer completely off, it does turn off or slow down most system operations to save power, and saves your desktop layout so the next time you restore power, the programs are laid out just as you left them. Waking your computer from a Sleep state is much faster than turning on your computer after it has been turned completely off.

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CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

To put your computer to sleep:

1Click (Start), then click (power). The computer saves your session and partially shuts down to save power.

2To “wake” your computer, move the mouse, press a key on the keyboard, or press the power button.

To turn off your computer:

1Click (Start), click the arrow next to the power icon, then click Turn Off. The computer turns off.

2To completely disconnect all power (such as for servicing internal components), also disconnect the power cord.

Restarting (rebooting) your computer

If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may need to restart (reboot) your computer.

To restart your computer:

1Click (Start), click the arrow next to the power icon, then click Restart. Your computer turns off, then turns on again.

2If your computer does not turn off, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off (about five seconds), then press it again to turn the computer back on.

Using the keyboard

Premium multimedia keyboard features

The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons. Your keyboard also has status indicators that show which keyboard feature is active.

 

 

Function keys Internet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indicators

Editing buttons

buttons

Audio playback buttons Navigation keys

 

 

Internet buttons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows keys

Application

Directional keys

Numeric keypad

 

key

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

www.gateway.com

 

 

 

 

 

Feature

Icon

Description

 

 

 

 

 

Editing buttons

 

 

 

Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.

 

 

 

 

 

Function keys

 

 

 

Press these keys to start program actions. Each

 

 

 

 

program uses different function keys for

 

 

 

 

different purposes. See the program

 

 

 

 

documentation to find out more about the

 

 

 

 

function key actions.

 

 

 

 

 

Internet buttons

 

 

 

Press these buttons to launch your Internet

 

 

 

 

home page, search, or e-mail programs.

Audio playback

 

 

 

Press these buttons to play your audio files and

buttons

 

 

 

to adjust the volume.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Press this key to access shortcut menus and help

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

assistants in Windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directional keys

 

 

 

Press these keys to move the cursor up, down,

 

 

 

 

right, or left.

Numeric keypad

 

 

 

Press these keys to type numbers when the

 

 

 

 

numeric keypad (NUM LOCK) is turned on.

 

 

 

 

 

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CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Elite multimedia keyboard features

The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons. Your keyboard also has status indicators that show which keyboard feature is active.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio

 

 

Sleep button Function keys

 

 

 

playback

 

 

Internet buttons

buttons

Indicators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows

Application key

Navigation

Numeric

keys

 

 

 

keys

keypad

Feature

Icon

Description

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep button

 

 

 

Press this button to activate your computer’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep (power-saving) mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Function keys

 

 

 

Press these keys to 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Application buttons

 

 

 

Press these buttons to launch your Internet

 

 

 

 

home page, search for files, or launch the

 

 

 

 

calculator program.

Audio playback

 

 

 

Press these buttons to play your audio files

buttons

 

 

 

and to adjust the volume.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Press this key to access shortcut menus and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

help assistants in Windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editing buttons

 

 

 

Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.

 

 

 

 

 

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Feature

Icon

Description

 

 

 

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. Press

 

 

the arrow keys to move the cursor.

Numeric keypad

 

Press these keys to type numbers when the

 

 

numeric keypad (NUM LOCK) is turned on.

 

 

 

Using the mouse

Scroll wheel

Right button

Left button

The mouse is a device that controls the pointer movement on the computer display. This illustration shows the standard mouse.

As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the display moves in the same direction.

You can use the left and right buttons on the mouse to select objects on the display.

You can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to move through a document. This feature is not available in all programs.

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CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

 

 

 

 

To...

Do this...

 

 

 

 

 

Move the

 

 

Move the mouse around on the

 

 

pointer on the

 

 

mouse pad. If you run out of

computer

 

 

space on your mouse pad and

display

 

 

need to move the pointer

 

 

 

farther, pick up the mouse, set

 

 

 

it down in the middle of the

 

 

 

mouse pad, then continue

 

 

 

moving the mouse.

 

 

 

 

Select an object

 

 

Position the pointer over the

onthecomputer

 

 

object. Quickly press and

display

 

click

release the left mouse button

 

 

 

once. This action is called

clicking.

Start a program or open a file or

folder click, click

Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the left mouse button twice. This action is called double-clicking.

Access a

click

Position the pointer over the

shortcut menu

object. Quickly press and

or find more

 

release the right mouse button

information

 

once. This action is called

about an object

 

right-clicking.

onthecomputer

 

 

display.

 

 

 

 

 

Move an object

onthecomputer

display. click

(hold)

Position the pointer over the object. Press the left mouse button and hold it down. Move (drag) the object to the

and drag appropriate part of the computer display. Release the button to drop the object where you want it.

For more information about how to adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, right-hand or left-hand configuration, and other mouse settings, see “Changing mouse settings” on page 75. For instructions on how to clean the mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on page 108.

Adjusting the volume

Help

For more information about adjusting the volume, click Start, then click

Help and Support. Type adjusting volume in the Search help box, then press ENTER.

You can adjust volume using your speakers’ controls or the Windows volume controls. You can also adjust the volume of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:

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

Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more information, see “Using the keyboard” on page 14.

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To adjust the volume from Windows:

1Click (Volume) on the taskbar. The volume control slider opens.

2Click and drag the slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume.

3To mute the volume, click (Mute). To restore volume, click it again.

4To adjust device volume levels, click Mixer. The Volume Mixer dialog box opens, where you can click and drag sliders for individual devices.

Tip

Adjust the Windows Sounds slider to change system sounds volume independently of general volume (such as the volume used for music and game sounds).

5Click X in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

Configuring the audio jacks

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, they are universal jacks. This means that they can be used for more than one purpose. For example, the blue jack on the computer can be a stereo in jack or a stereo out jack. For more information on how each jack can be used, see your hardware reference. To use the audio jacks for something other than the default audio device, you need to configure the audio jacks.

To configure the audio jacks:

Shortcut

Start Ö Control Panel Ö Sounds and Audio Devices Ö Advanced.

1Connect your audio device(s) to the computer audio jack(s).

2Click (Start), then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

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CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

3Click Hardware and Sound, Sound, the Playback tab, then click Configure. -OR-

If your computer has the Realtek Sound Effect Manager installed, double-click the Sound Effect Manager icon on the taskbar. The Realtek dialog box opens.

4Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the audio jacks for your speaker setup.

Installing a printer, scanner, or other device

Important

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

Your computer has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®), 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, see your hardware reference.

IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot-swapping, which means that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it into the appropriate port. When you use an IEEE 1394 or USB device for the first time, your computer will prompt you to install any software the device needs. After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.

Help

For more information about installing peripheral devices, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type installing devices in the Search box, then press Enter.

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

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CHAPTER3

Using Windows Vista

Using the Windows desktop

Working with files and folders

Searching for files

Working with documents

Shortcuts

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CHAPTER 3: Using Windows Vista

Using the Windows desktop

After your computer starts, the first screen you see is the Windows desktop. The desktop is like the top of a real desk. Think of the desktop as your personalized work space where you open programs and perform other tasks.

.

Help

For more information about the Windows desktop, click Start, then click Help and Support.

Type the phrase Windows desktop in the Search Help box, then click the magnifying glass.

Your desktop may be different from this example, depending on how your computer is set up. The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon.

Desktop elements

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button on the left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs that are running.

Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.

TheStartbutton providesaccess to programs, files, help for Windows and other programs, and computer tools and utilities.

Click the Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu that opens.

The Recycle Bin is where files, folders, and programs that you discarded are stored. You must empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete them from your computer. For instructions on how to use the Recycle Bin, see “Deleting files and folders” on page 27.

The Windows Security Center icon may appear on the taskbar near the clock. The icon changes appearance to notify you when the security settings on your computer are set below the recommended value or when updatesareavailable. Double-click thisicon to open the Windows Security Center. For more information, see “Modifying security settings” on page 101.

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