Gateway M250B, M250GS, M250ES, M250E, M250G User Manual

Gateway Noteboo

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Contents

1Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Using eSupport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Using Your Computer guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2 Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Left side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Keyboard area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Identifying your model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Gateway model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Finding your specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Installing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Connecting the AC adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet ne twork . . . . . . 24

Starting your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Waking up your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Turning off your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Restarting (rebooting) your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Key types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

System key combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Using the EZ Pad touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Using the touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Turning your wireless radio on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

4 Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Using the DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Playing a DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Creating CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Removing a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Adding and removing a PC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Viewing the display on a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Connecting a video camera to your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

5 Managing Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Monitoring the battery charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Recalibrating the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Changing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Extending battery life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Conserving battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Using alternate power sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Changing power modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

6 Upgrading Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Adding or replacing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Replacing the hard drive kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

7 Using the Optional Port Replicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Connecting to the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Attaching to the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

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Disconnecting from the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

8 Maintaining Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Caring for your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Cleaning your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Cleaning the notebook screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Protecting your notebook from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Restoring your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

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

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

CD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Device installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

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Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

A Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

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Chapter 1

Getting Help

• Using the Gatewa y We b site

• Using Help and Support

•Using BigFix

• Using Your Co mputer guide

• Using online help

1

Chapter 1: Getting Help

Thank y ou for purchasing our
notebook!

Y ou 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 notebook. Each and every Gateway notebook
uses the latest technology and passes through the m ost strin gent qual ity
control tests to ensure that you are provided with the best product
possible.

Your new Gateway notebook is designed to provide an exceptional
balance of performance and portability. Your notebook uses the latest
chipset and mobile processor technologies to manage the processor speed
and power consumption for a greater battery life experience. This design
provides you with maximum performance when plugged into AC power
balanced with optimized battery life when on battery power.

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 notebook in good operating
condition.

Gateway stands behind our value propo sition 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 notebook for years to come.

Thank you again, from all of us at Gateway.

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Gateway Web site

Gatewa y W eb 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 notebook. Visit the Gateway
eSupport Web site at support.gateway.com

.

Using eSupport

The eSupport site is divided into seven major areas:

■ Support Home

■ Product Support

■ Downloads

■ Customer Ser vice

■ Upgrade Center

■ Resources

■ Contact Us

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Chapter 1: Getting Help

Support Home

Click Su pport Home, then click Computers. T o view support documents for
your notebook, type your serial number in the
click

Submit.

Serial Number box, then

Click the arrow button to open the
click

Notebook Computers to access product documentation,

specifications, and guides for all Gateway notebooks.

Select Y our Compute r Product box, then

Product Support

Click Product Support to view a list of all the products that Gateway
supports.

Downloads

Click Downloads, then click My Downloads to get the latest software
updates for BIOS and driver upgrades. By entering your serial number you
get drivers specific to your notebook. Click
through a step-by-step wizard to locate your drivers.

Browse All Downloads to walk

Customer Service

Click Customer Service to view information about your account and
general information about warranties and special offers.

Upgrade Cent er

Click Upgrade Center to view and purchase upgrades for your notebook.

Resources

Click Resources to access utilities to help you manage your notebook.

Contact Us

Click Contact Us to access links to customer care with a live technician,
including chat and e-mail. Click
numbers for both sales and support. For more information, see

“Telephone support” on page 112.

4

Call Us to get a list of Gateway telephone

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Help and Support

Help and Support

Your notebook includes Help and Support , an easily accessible collection
of help information, troubleshooters, and aut omated supp ort. Use He lp
and Support to answer questions about W indows and to help you quickly
discover and use the many features of your Gateway notebook.

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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Chapter 1: Getting Help

Searching for a topic

To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword)
in the

Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then

click the arrow button.
For each search, you receive the following search result types:

■ Suggested Topics - These topics are located in Help and Support and

are relevant to your search to pic.

■ 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

We b site and contain the words you entered in the
must be connected to the Internet to search for and access these
topics.

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

Search box.

Search box. You

To view a topic, clic k the top ic name in the

Search Result s list.

BigFix

Your notebook may include BigFix. BigFix monitors your notebook for
problems and conflicts. It automatically gathers information about the
latest bugs, security alerts, and updates from BigFix sites on the Internet.
Whenever BigFix detects a problem, it alerts you by flashing the blue
taskbar icon. To fix the problem, click on that icon to open BigFix.

To start BigFix:

■ Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then cli c k BigFix.

To learn more about using BigFix:

■ From the BigFix program, click Help, then click Tutorial.

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Using Your Computer gu ide

Using Your Comput er guide

In addition to this guide, the Using Y our Comp uter guide has been included
on your hard drive. The Using Your Computer guide includes information
on using Windows, using the Internet, sending a fax, and changing
power-saving settings as well as other topics.

To acces s the Using Your Computer guide:

■ Click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

Online help

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

Help button.

Help

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Chapter 1: Getting Help

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

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Chapter 2

Checking Out Your
Gateway Notebook

• Identifying f eatures

• Locating your notebook’ s model an d serial
number

• Locating the Microsoft Certificate of
Authenticity

• Locating the specifications f or yo ur
notebook

• Purchasing accessories

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Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Front

Volume control

Microphone jack

Headphone jack

Memory
card
reader

LCD panel
release latch

Component Icon Description

Vo l u m e c ont ro l

Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack.

Headphone jack Plug amplified speake rs or headphones in to this jack .

Memory card
reader

LCD panel release
latch

■

Press the button to th e ri ght to in cre as e t he volume.

■

Press the button to the left to decrease the volume.

■

Press the button in to mute the volume.

The built-in s peak ers are turned off when speak ers or
headphones are plugged into this jack.

Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3
player, PDA, or cellular telephone into the memory
card reader. For more infor mation, see “Using the

memory card reader” on page 43. The memory card

reader supports Memory Stick
MultiMediaCard™, and Secure Digital™.

Open the LCD panel by sliding the release latch.

®

, Memory Stick Pro®,

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Left side

Left side

Modem jack

Docking port

Ventilation fan PC Card

Monitor

port

slot

Component Icon Description

Modem jack Plug a modem cab le into this jack. For more information, see

“Connecting the dial-up modem” on page 23.

Docking port Connect the port replicator to this port.

Warning: Power is passed through this port. This docking
connection is certified to UL 1950 for use only with port
replicators designed for your Gateway notebook.

Ventilation fan Helps cool internal components.

Warning: Do not work for long periods with the notebook
resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook
may become hot enough to harm your skin.

Caution: Do not block or inse rt ob jects int o these sl ots. If
these slots are b locked, y our notebook ma y ove rheat resulting
in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the
notebook.

Caution: Provide adequate space around your notebook so
air vents are not obstr ucted. Do not use t he noteb ook on a
bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.

Monitor port Plug an analog VGA monitor or projector into this port.

PC Card slot Insert one T ype II PC Card into this slot. For more information,

see “Adding and removing a PC Card” on page 44.

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Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Right side

IEEE 1394

port

USB

ports

DVD d ri v e Pow e r

connector

Component Icon Description

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

device (such as a digital camcorder or external hard drive)
into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port.

USB por ts Plug USB devices ( such as a d iskette dr ive, flash dr ive,

printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these
ports.

DVD/CD-RW or
recordable DVD
drive

Power connector Plug the AC adapter cable into this connector.

Insert CDs or DVDs into this drive. For more information,
see “Using the DVD drive” on page 40. This drive may be
a combinatio n DVD/CD-RW or recordable DVD drive. To
determine the type of drive in the notebook, examine the
drive tray’s plastic cover and compare the logo to those
listed in “Identifying drive types” on page 40.

12

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Back

Back

charge indicator

Ethernet jackKensington lock sl ot Power/batter y

Component Icon Description

Kensington™
lock slot

Power/
battery
charge
indicator

Ethernet jack Plug a 10/100/1000 Ethernet netw ork cable into this ja ck. The

Secure your notebook to an object by c onnecting a K ensington
cable lock to this slot.

■

LED solid blue - notebook is on, and if the no tebook i s
connected to AC power, the battery is fully charged.

■

LED blinking bl ue - notebook is in Standby mode.

■

LED solid purple - battery is charging.

■

LED blinking pu rple - batt ery is charg i ng an d no t eb o ok is in
Standby mode.

■

LED blinking red - battery charge is very low and has
insufficient power to tur n on the notebook.

■

LED off - notebook is off.

other end of the cable can be plugged into a cable modem,
DSL modem, router , access point, or an Ethernet network jac k.
For more information, see “Connecting to a cable or DSL

modem or to an Ethernet network” on page 24.

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13

Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Bottom

Battery
Battery

latch

Battery
lock

emory

bay

Hard
drive

bay

Website:
Online Support:
Tech Support Phone:
Hours:

System

label

Component Description

Battery Provides power when the notebook is not plugged into AC power.
Battery latch Slide to release the battery. For more infor mation, see “Changing

batteries” on page 53.

Memory bay Install a memory module into this bay. For more information, see

“Adding or replacing memory” on page 61.

Hard drive bay The hard drive is l ocated i n this bay. For more in formation, see

“Replacing the hard drive kit” on page 65.

System label Includes the product model number. For more information, see

“Identifyi ng your mode l” on page 16.

Battery lock Slide to unlock the battery. For more information, see “Changing

batteries” on page 53.

14

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Ke yboard area

Keyboard area

Power
button

Keyboard

Status

indicators

Touchpad

Component Icon Description

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

power button for Standby/Resume mode. For more
information on configuring the power button mode, see
“Changing Power-Saving Settings” in
which has been included on your hard drive. To access this
guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Keyboard Provides all the features of a full-sized keyboard. For more

information, see “Using the keyboard” on page 29.

T ouchp ad Provides all th e functionality o f a mouse. F or more inf ormation,

see “Using the EZ Pad touchpad” on page 33.

Status
indicators

Inform you when a drive is in use or when a button has been
pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. For more
information, see “Status indicators” on page 28.

www.gateway.com

Using Your Computer

15

Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Identifying your model

Important The label s shown in t his sectio n are for infor mationa l

purposes only. Label information v aries by model, f eatures
ordered, and location.

Gatewa y model and serial number

The label on the bottom of your notebook contains information that
identifies your notebook model and its features. Gateway Customer Care
will need this information if you call for assistance.

Online Support: support.gateway.com

Tech Support Phone:
Hours:
Model:

S/No:

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the bottom of
your notebook includes the product key code for your operating system.

16

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Finding your specif ications

Finding y our specifications

For more information about your notebook, such as memory size,
memory type, and hard drive size, visit Gateway’s eSupport page at

support.gateway.com

Gateway documentation and detailed specifications. For more
information, see “Gateway Web site” on page 3.

. The eSupport page also has links to additional

Accessories

T o order accessories, visit the Accessory Store at accessories.gateway.com.

Batteries

If you run your notebook on battery power for extended periods, you
may want to buy an additional battery so you can swap batteries when
necessary. See “Changing batteries” on page 53 for m ore information
about using an additional battery.

Carrying cases

Gateway has large-capacity c arrying cases if you need ad ditional space
for accessories or supplies.

Memory

Large programs, such as multimedia games or graphic s programs, use a
lot of memory . If your programs are running more slowly than you think
they should, try adding more memory. See “Adding or replacing

memory” on page 61 for more information.

Port replicators

Although you can attach devices directly to your notebook, a port
replicator lets you make all of those connections at one time. When you
travel with your notebook, you merely disconnect from the port
replicator instead of unplugging all the devices.

A port replicator also provides addition al ports and other expansion
features not included with your notebook. See “Using the Optional Port

Replicator” on page 71 for more information about using a port replicator

with your notebook.

www.gateway.com

17

Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Printers

You can attach almost any type of printer to your notebo ok. The most
common types are inkjet and laser printers, which print in color or black
and white.

Inkjet printers and cartridges are relatively inexpensive, but they are
slower than laser printers. Using an inkjet color printer, you can print
pictures, banners, and greeting cards, as well as documents.

Laser printers and cartridges are more expensive, but they print much
faster than inkjet printers. Laser printers are better than inkjet printers
when you are printing large documents.

USB flash drive

Use a USB flash drive for storing files or transferring files to another
computer.

18

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Chapter 3

Getting Started

• Installing the battery

• Connecting the AC adapter

• Connecting the dial- up modem

• Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to
an Ethernet network

• Turning your notebook on and off

• Using the status indicators

• Using the keyboard and the EZ Pad
touchpad

• Adjusting the v olume

• Connecting to a wireless network

19

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Installing the battery

To install the battery:

1 Close the LCD panel.
2 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
3 Hold the battery label-side down and slide it into the open battery

slot until the battery clicks into place.

4 Slide the battery lock to the locked position.

Connecting the A Cadapter

You can run your notebook using an AC adapter or your notebook’s
battery . The battery was shipped to you partially charged. You should use
the AC adapter right away to fully charge the battery. Allow three hours
for the battery to fully charge.

Important If the battery is not fully charged before you use your

notebook on battery pow er f or the first time , the ba ttery life
may be much shorter than you expect. If the battery life
seems short even after being charged for three hours, the
battery may need to be recalibrated. For information on
recalibrating the ba ttery , see “Recalibrati ng the battery” on

page 51.

20

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Connecting the AC a dapter

To connect the AC adapter:

1 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.

Caution Make sure that you us e the AC adapter tha t came with your

notebook or one of the same type purchased from
Gateway.

Replace the power cord if it becomes damaged. The
replacement cord must be of the same type and voltage
rating as the original cord or your notebook may be
damaged.

2 Connect the AC adapter to your notebook’s power connector.

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21

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

3 Plug the power cord into a wall outlet. The power/battery charge

indicator turns on (see “Back” on page 13 for the location of the
power/battery charge indicator). If the power/battery charge
indicator does not turn on, complete the following steps until it
turns on:

a Unplug the adapter from your notebook, then plug it back in.
b Press FN+F1 to toggle the status lights on and off.

4 When you finish using your notebook for the first time, turn off your

notebook and leave your notebook connected to AC power until the
power/battery charge indicator turns blue.

Warning Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The

AC adapter has no user-replaceable or user-serviceable
parts inside. The ACadapter has dangerous v olta ges th at
can cause serious inju ry or death. Contact Gate wa y abo ut
returning defective AC adapters.

Important If the power/battery charge indicator does not turn blue

after three hours, contact Gateway Customer Care at

support.gateway.com

.

Protecting from pow er source pr oblems

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

Warning High voltages can enter your notebook through both the

power cord and the modem connection. To protect your
notebook and av oid electrical shoc k, use a surge pro tector.
If you hav e a telephon e modem, use a s urge protector th at
has a modem jack . If you hav e a cable m odem, use a surge
protector that has an antenna/cable TV jack. During an
electrical storm, unplug both the surge protector and the
modem.

22

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Connecting the dial -up modem

Connecting the dial-up modem

Your notebook has a built-in 56K modem that you can use to connect
to a standard telephon e line.

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

telecommunications line cord.

To connect the modem:

1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack on the

left side of your notebook.

2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack.

The modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines.

3 Start your notebook, then start your communications program.

www.gateway.com

23

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network

Your notebook has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable
or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network.

To connect to a c able or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network:

1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network ja ck on

the back of your notebook.

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

modem, or Ethernet network jack.

3 Start your notebook.

24

www.gateway.com

Starting your notebook

Starting your notebook

To start your notebook:

1 Slide the latch on the front of your notebook, then lift the LCD

panel.

2 Press the power button located above the keyboard.

The power button is preset to On/Off mode. However, you can also
set it to function in Standby/Resume mode.

Tips & Tricks For more information about changing the power button

mode, see “Changing Power-Saving Settings” in

Your Computer

drive. To access t his guide , click Start, All Programs, then
click Gateway Documentation .

which has been included on your hard

Using

3 If you are starting your notebook for the first time, follow the

on-screen instructions to set up your notebook.

www.gateway.com

25

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Warning Do not work for long periods with the notebook resting on

your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may
become hot enough to harm your skin.

Caution Provide adequate sp ace around your notebook so air vents

are not obstructed. Do not use the notebook on a bed,
sofa, rug, or other similar surface.

W aking up your noteboo k

When you have not used your notebook for several minutes or if you
close the LCD panel without turning off your notebook, it may enter a
power-saving mode called Standby. While in Standby , the power indicator
flashes.

If your notebook is in Standby mode, press the power button to “wake”
it up.

Tips & Tricks For more information about changing the power button

mode, see “Changing Power-Saving Settings” in

Your Computer

drive. To access t his guide , click Start, All Programs, then
click Gateway Documentation .

which has been included on your hard

Using

T urning off your notebook

To turn off your notebook:

1 Click Start, then click T urn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog

box opens.

2 Click Tur n O f f. Windows shuts down and turns off your notebook.

Important If for some reason you cannot use the Turn Off Computer

option in Windows to t urn off your noteboo k, press and
hold the power button for about five seconds, then
release it.

26

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Restarting (rebooting ) your notebook

Restarting (rebooting) your
notebook

If your notebook does not respond to keyboard, touchpad, or mouse
input, you may have to close programs that are no t responding. If closing
unresponsive programs does not restore your notebook to normal
operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your notebook.

To close unresponsive programs and restart y our notebook:

1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Windows Security dialog box opens.
2 Click Task Manager. The Windows Task Manager dialog box opens.
3 Click the program that is not responding.
4 Click End Task.
5 Click X in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog

box.

6 If your notebook does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then

turn it on again.

Important If your notebook does not turn off immediately, complete

the following steps until the notebook turns off:
1 Press and hold t he power button f or abou t fiveseconds,

then release it.

2 Unplug the po wer cord and remo v e the ba ttery for more

than 10 seconds.

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

www.gateway.com

27

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

A

Status indicato rs

Status indicators inform you when a drive is being used or when a button
has been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used.

AC power

Caps lock

Wireless ne twork

Indicator Icon Description

AC power

Wireless network
(optional)

Caps lock

Num lock

Drive

Important If none of the indicators are on, you may need to press

■

LED on - AC power is co nnected.

■

LED off - AC power is not connected.

■

LED on - Wir eless netwo rk is tur ned o n.

■

LED off - Wireless network is turned off.

■

LED on - Caps lo ck is turn ed on.

■

LED off - Ca ps lock is turn ed off.

■

LED on - Numeric keypad is turned on.

■

1

LED off - Numeric keypad is turned off.

■

LED blinking - The hard drive or DVD drive is in use.

■

LED off - The hard dr ive or DVD drive is not in use.

FN+F1 to toggle the status lights on and off.

Drive

Num lock

28

www.gateway.com

Using the ke yboard

Your notebook features a full-size keyboard that functions the same as a
desktop computer keyboard. Many of the keys have been assigned
alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows, function keys
for specific system operations, and the Num Lock keys for the numeric
keypad.

Function keys/System keys

Numeric

keypad

Using the keyboard

Navigation
keys

FN key

Windows key

Tips & Tricks You can attach an external keyboard to the

notebook or port replicator using a USB port. You
do not need to shut down the notebo ok to conne ct
a USB keyboard.

Application key

Arrow
keys

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29

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Key types

The keyboard has several different types of keys. Some keys perform
specific actions when pressed alone and other actions when pressed in
combination with another key.

Key type Icon Description

Function keys Press these keys labeled F1 to F12 to perform actions

in programs. For example, pressing
Each program uses different function keys for different

purposes. See the program documentation to find out
more about the function key actions.

F1 may open help.

System keys Press these colored keys in c ombination with the

to perform specific actions. For more information, see

“System key combinations” on page31.

Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beg inning

of a line, to t he end of a line , up the page , down the page ,
to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a
document.

Arrow keys Press these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or

left.

Application key Press this key for quick access to shortcut menus and

help assist ants in Wi ndows.

Windows key Press this key to open the Windows Start menu. This

key can also be used in combination with other keys to
open utilities like

F (Search utilit y), R (Run utility), and

FN key

E (Explorer utility).

FN key Press the FN key in combination with a colored system

key to perform a specific action.

Numeric keypad Use these keys to type numbers when the numeric

keypad is turned on. Press
numeric keypad.

FN+ to turn on the

1

30

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Using the keyboard

System k ey combinations

When you press the FN key and a system key at the same time, your
notebook performs the action identified by the text or icon on the key.

Press and hold F

N, then

press this system key...

To...

Togg le the stat us indica tors on or off. For more
information, see “Status indicators” on page 28.

Tur n the op tional wir eless net work on o r off. For more
information, see the printed network guide that came
with your notebook.

Warning: R adio fr equenc y wireles s comm uni catio n can
interfere with equip ment on com mercial aircra ft. Current
aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned
off while traveling in an air pla ne. 802.1 1G (als o known
as wireless Ethernet or Wifi) co mmuni cation devices are
examples of devices that provide wireless
communication.

Enter Stand by mode. Press t he power button t o leave
Standby mode. For more infor mation, see “Changing
Power-Saving Settings” in
has been included on your hard drive. To access this
guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Togg le the not ebook disp lay in the following order :

■

The LCD

■

An external monitor or projector (a monitor or proje ctor
must be plugged into the monitor port on your
notebook)

■

Both displays at the same time
For more infor mation, see “Viewing the display on a

projector or monitor” on page 46.

Using Your Computer

which

Decrease the LCD panel brightness.

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31

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Press and hold FN, then
press this system key...

To...

Increase the LCD pane l brig htness.

Play or Pause the CD or DVD.

Stop playing the CD or DVD.

Skip back one CD song or DVD track.

Skip ahead one CD song or DVD track.

Turn on Num Lock so you can use the numeric keypad.
Press this key combination again to turn off Num Lock.
The Num Lock status indicator appears when this
function is turned on.

32

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Using the EZ Pad to uchpad

Using the EZPa d touchpad

The EZ Pad™ consists of a touchpad, two buttons, and a scroll zone.

Touchpad

Scroll
zone

Left button Right button

When you move your finger on the touchpad, the pointer (arrow) on the
screen moves in the same direction. You can use the scroll zone to scroll
through documents. Use of the scroll zone may vary from program to
program.

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33

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Y ou can use the EZ -Pad left and right buttons below the touchpad to select
objects.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on how to adjust the double-click speed,

pointer speed, right-hand or left-hand configuration, and
other touchpad settings, see “Changing the mouse or
touchpad settings” in
been included on your hard drive. To access this guide,
click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Using Your Computer

which has

Using the touchpad

To... Do this...

Move the pointer on
the screen.

Select an object on
the screen.

Start a program or
open a file or folder.

Move your finger
around on the
touchpad. If you run
out of space and
need to move the
pointer farther, lift
your finger , move i t to
the middle of the
touchpad, then
continue moving your
finger.

Position the pointer
over the object.
Quickly press and
release th e left
button once. This
action is called

clicking

.

Position the pointer
over the object.
Press the left button
twice in ra pid
succession. T his
action is called

double-clicking

.

34

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To... Do this...

Using the EZ Pad to uchpad

Access a shortcut
menu or find more
information about
an object on the
screen.

Move an object on
the screen.

Tips & Tricks You received you r notebo ok w ith the EZ Pad touchpad set

Position the pointer
over the object.
Quickly press and
release th e right
button once. This
action is called

right-clicking

Position the pointer
over the object.
Press the left button
and hold it down,
then use the
touchpad to move
(drag) the object to
the appropriate part
of the scre en.
Release the button to
drop the object
where you want it.

to only accept clicking by using the touchpad buttons. You
can change this feature to allow tapping on the touchpad
to simulate clicking the left button. For more information,
see “Changing the mouse or touchpad settings” in

Your Computer

drive. To access t his guide , click Start, All Programs, then
click Gateway Documentation .

which has been included on your hard

.

Using

www.gateway.com

35

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Adjusting the v olume

You can use the volume control to adjust the overall volume your
notebook.

To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:

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

speakers.

-OR­Press the volume control on the notebook. For more information,

see “Front” o n page 10 .

Tips & Tricks For instructions on how to adjust the volume in Windows,

see “Adjusting the Volume” in
has been included on your hard d rive. To access this guide,
click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Using Your Computer

which

36

www.gateway.com

Turning your wireles s radio on or off

T urning y our wireless radio on or
off

Warning Radio frequency wireless communication can interfere

with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation
regulations require wire les s devices to be turned off while
travel ing in an airplane. IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b , and
IEEE 802.11g communication devices are examples of
devices that provide wireless communication.

Warning In environments where the risk of interference to other

devices or services is harmful or perceived as harmful, the
option to use a wireless device may be restricted or
eliminated. Airports, hospitals, and oxygen or flammable
gas laden atmospheres are limited examples where use
of wireless de v ic es m ay be restricted or eliminated. When
in environments where you are uncertain of the sanction
to use wireless devices, ask the applicable authority for
authorization prior to use or turning on the wireless dev ice.

Your Gateway notebook may have wireless networking built-in.

To turn the wireless radio on or off:

■ Press FN + F2. The wireless status indicator turns on or off. For the

location of the wireless status indicator, see “Status indicators” on

page 28.

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37

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

38

www.gateway.com

Chapter 4

Using Drives and Ports

• Using DVD drives

• Using the media card reader

•Using a PC Card

• Viewing the dis play on a moni tor or
projector

• Connecting a video camer a to your
notebook

39

Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

Using the D VD drive

Y ou can use your notebook to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia features.

Important Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may

not be able to play these CDs on your notebook.

Identifying drive types

Your Ga teway notebook may contain one of the follo wing drive types.
Look on the front of the drive for one or more of t he following logos:

If your drive has this logo... This is your drive type... Use your drive for...

ROM/R/RW

Combination
DVD/CD-RW drive

Multi-format
DVD

±RW/CD-RW drive

Installing programs,
playing audio CDs,
playing DVDs, accessing
data, and recording music
and data to recordable
CDs. You cannot use this
drive to create DVDs.

Installing programs,
playing audio CDs,
playing DVDs, accessing
data, recording music and
data to CD-R or CD-RW
discs, and recording video
and data to DVD-R,
DVD + R , DV D - R W, o r
DVD + R W d i s c s.

40

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Using the DVD drive

Inserting a CD or DVD

Eject button

Manual eject hole

To insert a CD or DVD:

1 Press the eject button on the DVD drive. After the tray opens slightly ,

pull the disc tray completely open.

2 Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up, then press down

carefully on the disc until it snaps into place.

Important When you place a single-sided disc in the tray, make sure

that the label s id e is facing up. If the disc has two p layable
sides, place the disc so the name of the side you want to
play is facing up.

3 Push the tray in until it is closed.

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41

Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

Playing a CD

Use a music program or Windows Media Player on your n otebook to:

■ Play music CDs

■ Create MP3 and WMA music files from your music CDs

■ Edit music track information

■ Use your music files to build a music library

Tips & Tricks For more information about playing CDs, see “Using

Windows Media Player” in
been included on your hard drive. To access this guide,
click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Using Your Computer

Playing a DVD

A Digital V ersa tile Disc (DVD) is similar to a standard CD but has greater
data capacity. Because of this increased capa city, full-length movies,
several albums of music, or several gigabytes of data can fit on a single
disc. You can play DVDs with a DVD program or Windows Media Player.

which has

Tips & Tricks For more information about playing DVDs, see “Using

Windows Media Player” and “Using CyberLink PowerD VD”
in

Using Your Computer

hard drive. T o access this guide, click Start, All Programs,
then click Gateway Documentation.

which has been included on your

Creating CDs and DVDs

You ca n use a CD and DVD burning pr ogram, Windows XP,
Windows Media Player, or Windows Movie Maker to copy or create data
CDs and DVDs, create music CDs, create v ideo DVDs, and more.

Tips & Tricks For more infor mation about creating CDs and DVDs, see

“Using Windows Med ia Player”, “Usi ng Nero Express”, and

42

“Editing videos” in
included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click
Start, All Programs, then click Gatewa y Documentation.

www.gateway.com

Using Yo ur Comp uter

which has been

Using the memory card r eader

Using the memory card reader

You can use memor y cards to transfer pictures from a digital camera to
your notebook. You can also use the memory card reader to transfer data
between your notebook and a device that uses memory cards, such as a
PDA, MP3 player, or cellular telephone.

Memory card types

The memory card reader supports Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®,
MultiMediaCard™, and Secure Digital™.

Inserting a memory card

To insert a memor y card:

1 Remove the protector from the memory card slot. For the location

of the memor y card slot, see “Fr ont” on pag e 10. To remove the
protector, follow the steps in “Removing a memory card ” on page 44.

2 Insert the memory card into the memory card slot with the label

facing up and the arrow on the label pointing towards th e notebook.

Using a memory card

To access a file on a memory card:

1 Click Start, then click My Computer.
2 Double-click the drive letter (for example, the E: drive), then

double-click the file name.

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43

Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

Removing a memory card

Important Do not use the remove hardware icon in the taskbar

to remove the memory card. If you use the remove
hardware icon, your notebook may not recognize your
memory card reader until you restart your notebook.

To remove a memor y card:

1 Push the memory card into the notebook. The memory card pops

out slightly.

2 Pull the memory card out of the notebook.
3 Insert the protector into the memory card slot.

Adding and remo ving a PCCard

Your notebook has a PC Card slot (also known as a PCMCIA card slot).
This slot accepts one Type II card. You do not need to restart your
notebook when changing most cards because yo ur notebook supports
hot-swapping. Hot-swapping means that you can insert a PC Card while
your notebook is running. If your PC Card does not work after
hot-swapping, see the PC Card manufacturer’ s documentation for further
information.

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Adding and removi ng a PC Card

To insert a PC Card:

■ Push the card firmly into the PC Card slot label-side up until the

outer edge of the card is flush with the side of your notebook.

To remove a PC Card:

1 Click the remove hardware icon in the taskbar, the PC Card

name, then click

-OR­Turn off your notebook.

Stop.

Important If the remove hardware icon does not appear on the

taskbar, click the show hidden icons button.

2 Release the eject button by pressing the PC Card eject button once.
3 Eject the PC Card by pressing the eject button again.

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45

Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

Viewing the display on a projector or monitor

You can use your notebook for giving presentations by connecting an
external monitor or projector to your monitor (VGA) port. Y our notebook
supports simultaneous LCD and external display. Simultaneous display
lets you control the presentation from your notebook and at the same
time face your audience.

To use a pr ojector or external monitor:

1 Turn off your notebook.
2 Plug the projector or monitor cable into the VGA port on your

notebook. For the location of the VGA port, see “Left side” on

page 11.

3 Turn on your notebook.
4 Plug the projector’s or monitor’ s power cord into an AC power source

and turn it on. Windows recogni z es the new hardware and searches
for its driver. You may need to install the driver from the disc
supplied by the manufacturer or download the driver from the
manufacturer’s Web site.

5 After the driver is installed, right-click any empty space on the

desktop, then click
opens.

46

Properties. The Display Properties dialog box

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Viewing the display on a projector or monitor

6 Click the Settings tab.

7 Right-click the second monitor icon (labeled 2), then click Attached.
8 Click Apply.
9 Adjust properties such as Screen Re solution or Color Quality if

necessary.

10 Click OK.

Important Press FN+F4 to s witch betw een view ing the dis play o n the

LCD panel and viewing the display on the projector or
monitor.

Important If an external monitor or projector is connected and you

close the LCD panel, your notebook may turn off the LCD
panel, but will not enter Standby mode.

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Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

Connecting a video camera to your notebook

Your notebook has a 4-pin IEEE 1394 port (also known as a Firewire® or

®

i.Link

To connect y our video camera to your notebook:

port) for connecting dev ices such as a video camera.

1 Connect one end of the IEEE 1394 cable to your video camera.

Important For more infor mation about using the IEEE 1394 port on

your video camera, see your camera’s documentation.

2 Connect the other end of the cable to the IEEE 1394 port on

the side of your notebook.

48

Tips & Tricks For more infor mation about editing video, see “Editing

videos” in
on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,
All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

Using Your Computer

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which has been included

Chapter 5

Managing Power

• Checking an d recharging the batt ery

• Recalibrating th e battery

• Changing batteries

• Extending the lif e of the battery

49

Chapter 5: Managing Power

Monitoring the battery charge

Your new Gateway notebook is designed to provide an exceptional
balance of performance and portability. Your notebook uses the latest
chipset and mobile processor technologies to manage the processor speed
and power consumption for a greater battery life experience. This design
provides you with maximum performance when plugged into AC power
balanced with optimized battery life when on battery power.

Closely monitor the battery charge. When the batter y charge gets low,
change the battery or connect to AC power immediately to prevent losing
any unsaved work. To monitor the battery charge:

■ Double-click the power cord icon or battery icon in the

taskbar. The Powe r Meter dialog box opens.

Important If the power cord or battery icon does not appear on the

taskbar , click the sho w hidden icon s button. If the icon
still does not appear, make sure that Always show icon
on the taskbar is checked on the Advance tab in the

Power Options Properties

For more infor mation, see “Changing advanced settings”
in

Using Your Computer

hard drive. T o access this guide, click Start, All Programs,
then click Gateway Documentation.

dialog box.

which has been included on your

■ Look at the power/battery charge indicator (see “Back” on page 13):

■ LED solid blue - notebook is on, and if the notebook is connected

to AC power, the battery is fully charged.

■ LED blinking blue - notebook is in Standby mode.

■ LED solid purple - battery is charging.

■ LED blinking purple - battery is charging and notebook is in

Standby mode.

■ LED blinking red - battery charge is very low and has insufficient

power to turn on the notebook.

■ LED off - notebook is off.

■ Wait for a Low Battery warning message to appear.

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Recharging the battery

If your power/battery charge indicator displays what looks like an
inaccurate charge, you may need to recalibrate the battery. For more
information, see “Recalibrating the battery” on page 51.

Recharging the battery

The battery recharges while it is installed and your notebook is connected
to AC power. While the battery recharges, the power/battery charge
indicator turns on and the power cord icon in the taskbar has a lightning
bolt .

Important If the power cord or battery icon does not appear on the

taskbar , click the sho w hidden icon s button. If the icon
still does not appear, make sure that Always show icon
on the taskbar is checked on the Advance tab in the

Power Options Properties

For more infor mation, see “Changing notebook power
settings” in
on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start,
All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

Using Your Computer

dialog box.

which has been included

Recalibrating the ba ttery

If your notebook unexpectedly goes into Standby mode while you are
using it but the battery charge is not low, you may need to recalibrate
your battery. You should also recalibrate the battery periodically to
maintain the accuracy of the battery gauge.

To recalibrate the batter y:

1 Close all open files and programs.
2 Connect your notebook to AC power and let the battery charge

completely.

3 Disconnect the AC power and restart your notebook.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

4 Completely discharge the battery by doing the following:

a From the desktop, right-click on the power icon, then select

Adjust Power Properties.

b Click the Powe r Sc he me s tab.
c Click the arrow button to open the Power Schemes list, then click

Always On.

d Click the Alarms tab.
e Click to c lear the Lo w battery alarm and Critical batte ry alarm check

boxes. Let the battery drain until your notebook automatically
turns off.

Important Do not use your notebook during the recalibration process.

Do not connect the AC adapter to your notebook during
this process, or y o u wil l in terrupt the rec ali bration process
and will have to start again.

5 After the battery is completely drained, reconnect your notebook to

AC power.

6 Charge the battery completely until the battery status indicator tu rns

blue.

7 When you are ready to use your notebook again, do the following:

a From the desktop, right-click the power icon, then select Adjust

Power Properties

.

b Click the Powe r Sc he me s tab.
c Click the arrow button to open the Power Schemes list, then click

Portable/Laptop.

d Click the Alarms tab.
e Click to select the Lo w battery alarm and Critical battery alarm check

boxes.

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Changing batteries

Changing batter ies

If your notebook is connected to AC power, you can change the battery
while the notebook is turned on. If your notebook is not plugged into
an AC outlet, you must turn the notebook off while changing the battery .

Warning Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.

Replace only with a battery specifically manufactured for
your Gate wa y noteb ook. Disca rd used ba tteries acco rding
to local hazardous material regulations.

The battery used in this device may present a fire or
chemical burn hazard if mishandled. Do not disassemble,
heat above 212°F (100°C), or incinerate. Dispose of used
battery promptly. Keep away from children.

Replacing the battery

To replace the batter y:

1 Disconnect your notebook from the optional port replicator

(“Disconnecting from the port replicator” on page 78).

2 If your notebook is on and is connected to AC power, go to Step 3.

-OR­If your notebook is on and is not plugged into an AC outlet, save

your work and turn off your notebook.

3 Close the LCD panel.
4 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

5 Slide the battery lock to the unlock position.

6 Slide the battery release latch, then slide the battery out of the

notebook.

7 Slide a recharged battery into the notebook until it snaps into place.

8 Slide the battery lock to the locked position.
9 Turn your notebook over.

10 Open the LCD panel and press the power button.

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Extending battery lif e

Extending battery life

Conserving battery pow er

To conserve power while using the battery to power your notebook:

■ Dim the display as low as is comfortable.

■ Remove PC Cards when you do not need them. Many PC Cards use

a small amount of power while inserted, even if they a re not being
used.

■ Modify the power management settings for maximum power

savings.

Tips & Tricks For more infor mation about using power management

settings, se e “Changi ng Power-Saving Setti ngs” in

Your Computer

drive. To access t his guide , click Start, All Programs, then
click Gateway Documentation .

■ Close the LCD panel to turn off the display while you are not using

your notebook. The display stays off until you open the panel again.

which has been included on your hard

Using

■ Use Hibernate mode for maximum power savings while your

notebook is not in use.

Tips & Tricks For more infor mation about using Hibernate mode, see

“Changing notebook power settings” in

Computer

access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click
Gateway Documentation.

■ Use the DVD drive only when necessar y. This drive uses a large

which has been included on your hard drive. To

Using Your

amount of power.

■ Recharge the battery often, take an extra battery, and fully recharge

the batteries before traveling. For more information, see “Recharging

the battery” on page 51 and “Changing batteries” on page 53.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

Tips & Tricks For more information about traveling with your notebook,

see “T r av eling with y our notebook” i n
which has been inc luded on your h ard drive . To access this
guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Using Your Computer

Using alternate po wer sources

To extend battery life, use alternate power sources whenever possible.

■ If traveling internationally , ta ke electrical adapters. Save the battery

for times when you cannot use a power adapter . If you plan on taking
your AC power adapter, also take a single-plug surge protector.

■ If you will have access to an EmPower™ in-flight power receptacle,

an automobile power outlet, or an automobile cigarette lighter, use
a power inverter. Save the battery for times when you cannot use a
power adapter.

■ To find AC power outlets in airports, look for them next to support

pillars, in large areas such as boarding gates, and under banks of
telephones.

Changing power modes

You can use the following power modes to lengthen the life of your
notebook’s battery:

■ Standby - while your notebook is in Standby, it switches to a low

power state where devices, such as the display and drives, turn off.

■ Hibernate - (also called save to disk) writes all current memory (RAM)

information to the hard drive, then turns your notebook c ompletely
off. The next time you turn on your notebook, it reads the memory
information from the hard drive and opens the p rograms and
documents that were open when you activated Hibernate mode.

Using power saving modes

Always save your work before using Standby mode. In Standby mode,
your notebook reduces or turns off the power to most devices except
memory. However, the information in memory is not saved to the hard
drive. If power is interrupted, the information is lost.

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Extending battery lif e

When in Hibernate mode, your notebook saves all memory information
to the hard drive, then turns the power completely off.

If your notebook is... ...and you want to... ...then

On Enter Standby mode Press FN+F3.
On Enter Hibernate

mode (must be
activated)

In Standby or
Hibernate mode

Exit Standby or
Hibernate mode

Click Start, then click
Turn Off Computer. Press and hold

SHIFT, then click Hibernate.

Press the powe r button.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

58

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Chapter 6

Upgrading Your Notebook

• Adding and repl acing memory

• Replacing the ha rd drive

59

Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

Pre venting static electricity discharge

Important Before installing memory or replacing the hard drive, you

should read and u nderstand the inf ormatio n in this section.

The components inside your notebook are extremely sensitive to static
electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Warning To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical voltages and

moving parts, turn off y our noteboo k and unpl ug the po wer
cord, modem cab le, an d network c able bef ore open ing the
case.

Warning To prevent risk of electr ic shock, do not i nser t any obj ect

into the vent holes of the notebook.

Before installing memory or replacing the hard drive, follow these
guidelines:

■ Avoid static-causing surfaces such as carpeted floors, plastic, and

packing foam .

■ Remove components from their antistatic bags only when you are

ready to use them. Do not lay components on the outside of
antistatic bags because only the inside of the bags provide
electrostatic protection.

■ Always hold components by their edges. Avoid touching the edge

connectors. Never slide components over any surface.

■ We ar a grounding wrist strap (available at most electronics stores)

and attach it to a bare metal part of your workbench or other
grounded connection.

■ Touch a bare metal surface on yo ur workbench or other grounded

object.

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Adding or replacing m emory

Adding or replacing memory

Your notebook uses memory modules called SO-DIMMs (Small Outline
Dual Inline Memory Modules). The modules are available in various
capacities and any module c an be placed in th e slot. Use only memory
modules designed for your Gateway notebook for upgrading your
memory.

Memory

bay

To add or replac e memory modules:

1 Follow the guidelines under “Preventing static electricity discharge”

on page 60.

2 Turn off your notebook.
3 Disconne ct the AC adapter, mode m cable, a nd netwo rk cable.
4 Disconnect all peripheral devices and remove any PC cards.
5 Disconnect your notebook from the optional port replicator (see

“Disconnecting from the port rep licator” on page 78).

6 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

7 Remove the battery. For more information, see “Replacing the

battery” on page 53.

8 Remove the memory bay cover screw.

Screw

9 Slide the memory bay cover, then remove it.

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Adding or replacing m emory

10 If you are removing a mo dule, gently press outward on the clip at

each end of the memory module until the module tilts upward.

Clip

11 Pull the memory module out of the slot.

Clip

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

12 Hold the new or replacement module at a 30-degree angle and press

it into the empty memory slot. This module is keyed so it can only
be inserted in one direction. If the module does not fit, make sure
that the notch in the module lines up with the tab in the memory
bay.

Important Use only me mory mo dules des igned for your

Gateway notebook.

13 Gently push the module down until it clicks in place.
14 Replace the memory bay cover, then replace the cover screw.
15 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook over.
16 Reconnect the optional port replicator.
17 Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable, then

turn on your notebook.

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Replacing the hard drive kit

Replacing the hard drive kit

If you would like more hard drive capacity, you can replace your original
drive with a higher -capacity drive.

Hard
drive

To replace the hard drive kit:

1 Back up any data you want to transfer to the new hard drive. For

more information, see “Backing up files” in Using Your Comp uter
which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide,
click

Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.

2 Follow the guidelines under “Preventing static electricity discharge”

on page 60.

3 Turn off your notebook.
4 Disconne ct the AC adapte r, modem cable, and netw ork cable .
5 Disconnect all peripheral devices and remove any PC cards.
6 Disconnect your notebook from the optional port replicator (see

“Disconnecting from the port rep licator” on page 78).

7 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

8 Remove the battery. For more information, see “Changing batteries”

on page 53.

9 Remove the hard drive bay cover screw, slide the hard drive bay

cover, then remove it.

Screw

10 Remove the two screws securing the hard drive kit to the no tebook.

66

Screw

Screw

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Replacing the hard drive kit

11 Slide the old hard drive kit away from the hard drive connector, then

lift the hard drive kit out of your notebook.

12 If your new hard drive already includes the hard drive kit bracket,

go to Step 17.

-OR­If you need to move the hard drive kit bracket from your old hard

drive kit to your new hard drive, go to Step 13.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

13 Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the hard drive kit

bracket.

Screws

Screws

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14 Remove the bracket from the old drive.

Replacing the hard drive kit

15 Insert the new drive into the bracket so the screw holes line up.
16 Replace the screws that secure the bracket to the drive.
17 Slide the new hard drive kit into your notebook, then replace the

screws that secure the hard drive kit to the notebook.

18 Replace the hard drive bay cove r and replace the cover screw.
19 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook over.
20 Reconnect the optional port replicator.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

21 Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable, then

turn on your notebook.

22 For instructions on installing Windows, your drivers, and your

applications, see the instructions in the restore booklet that came
with your notebook.

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Chapter 7

Using the Optional Port Replicator

• Identifying f eatures

• Connecting and disconnecti ng the port
replicator

• Securing the port replicator with a locking
cable

71

Chapter 7: Using the Opti onal Port Replicator

Top

Component Icon Description

Power button Press to turn the power on or off.

Power button

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Right

Right

USB
ports

Component Icon Description

USB ports Plug USB devices (such as a diskette drive, flash

drive, printer , sc anner , camer a, ke yboard, or mou se)
into these ports.

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Chapter 7: Using the Opti onal Port Replicator

Back

USB

Headphone

jack

Component Icon Description

Headphone jack Plug amplified speakers or headphones into this jack.

IEEE 1394 port Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire

port

IEEE 1394
port

Parallel
port

The built-in speakers are turned off when speakers or
headphones are plugged into this jack.

device (such as a digital camcorder or external hard
drive) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port.

Serial
port

Monitor
port

Ethernet
jack

Power
connector

®

or i.Link®)

USB port Plug a USB dev ic e (s uc h as a diskette drive, flash drive,

printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mous e) into th is
port.

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

Serial port Plug a serial device into this port.

Monitor port Plug an analog VGA monitor or projector into this port.

Ethernet jack Plug a 10/100/1000 Ethernet netw ork cable into this jac k.

The other end of the cable can be plugged into a cable
modem, DSL modem, or an Ethernet network jack. For
more information, see “Connecting to a cable or DSL

modem or to an Ethernet network” on page 24.

Powe r connector Plug the ACadapter cable into this connector.

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Connecting to the port rep licator

Connecting to the port replicator

Y ou can attach your notebook to the port replicator while your notebook
is off, on, or in Standby mode.

Attaching to the port replicator

To attach your notebook to the port replicator:

1 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter that was packaged with

your port replicator.

2 Connect the AC adapter to your port replicator’s power connector.

For more information, see “Back” on page 74.

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Chapter 7: Using the Opti onal Port Replicator

3 Plug the power cord into a wall outlet.
4 Connect external devices to the ports on the port replicator.
5 Plug the port replicator into the po rt replicator jack on the notebook.

For more information, see “Left side” on page 11.

6 Press the power button located on the top of the port replicator.

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Connecting to the port rep licator

Important The notebook may detect additional devices and add

drivers after being attached to the port replicator. This
process must be completed for components to work
correctly. Follow any on-screen instr uctions, if ne cessar y.

Important The port replicator’s power button controls both the

notebook and the port replicator only after the port
replicator is connected to AC power.

Important The notebook’s monitor port is disabled when the port

replicator is connect ed to the not ebook. If y ou w an t to use
an external monitor, plug it into the monitor port on the port
replicator.

Important The notebook’s Ethernet jack is disabled when the port

replicator is connected to the notebook. If you want to
connect to a cable or DSL modem, or to an Ethernet
network, plug the Ethernet cab le int o the Ethe rnet jack on
the port replicator.

Important If you are using a USB or parallel port printer connected

to the port replicator, you m ust select Virtual printer port
for USB during the Windows printer installation. Wind ows
will not be able to detect your printer if you make a diff erent
selection.

Important This port replicator does not support Fast IR.

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Chapter 7: Using the Opti onal Port Replicator

Disconnecting from the port replicator

You can separate your notebook from the port replicator while your
notebook is off or on (not in Standby or Hibernate mode).

To separate your notebook from the port replicator:

1 If your notebook is off, go to Step 2.

-OR­If your notebook is on, click

Undock Computer menu i tem ap pea rs in the Start menu only while
the notebook is docked.

Start, then click Undock Computer. The

2 Unplug the port replicator from the notebook.

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Chapter 8

Maintaining Your Notebook

• Caring for your notebook

• Cleaning you r notebook

• Protecting your notebook from viruses

• Updating Windows

• Restoring your system

79

Chapter 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

Caring for y our notebook

To extend the life of your notebook:

■ Be careful not to bump or drop your notebook, and do not put an y

objects on top of it. The case, although strong, is not made to support
extra weight.

■ When transporting your notebook, we recommend that you put it

in a carrying ca se.

■ Keep your notebook away from magnetic fields. Magnetic fields can

erase data on hard drives.

■ Never turn off your notebook when the drive indicator is on because

data on the hard drive could be lost or corru pted.

■ Avoid subjecting your notebook to extreme temperature changes.

The case (and LCD panel) can become brittle and easy to break in
cold temperatures and can melt or warp in high temperatures.
Damage due to either extreme is not covered by your warranty. As
a genera l rule, yo ur noteb ook is saf est at temp erature s that are
comfortable for you.

■ Keep all liquids away from your notebook. When spilled onto

computer components, almost any liquid can result in expensive
repairs that are not covered under your warranty.

■ Avoid dusty or dirty work environments. Dust and dirt can clog the

internal mechanisms and can lead to permanent damage to the
notebook.

■ Do not block the ventilation fan slots. If these slots are blocked, your

notebook may overheat resulting in unexpe cted shutdown or
permanent damage to the notebook.

■ When storing your notebook for an extended period of time, unplug

AC power and remove the battery after discharging it partway.

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Cleaning your notebook

Cleaning your notebook

Keeping your notebook clean and the vents free from dust helps keep
your notebook performing at its best. You may want to gather these items
and put together a notebook cleaning kit:

■ A soft, lint-free cloth

■ An aerosol can of air that has a narrow, straw-like extension

■ Cotton sw abs

■ A DVD drive cleaning kit

Cleaning the exterior

Warning When you shut down your notebook, the power turns off,

but some electrical current still flows through your
notebook. To avoid possible injury from electrical shock,
unplug the power cord, modem cable, and network cable
from the wall outlets.

Always turn off your notebook and other peripherals before cleaning any
components. Also, remove the battery befor e cleaning a ny components.

Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your notebook and other parts of
your system. Do not use household abrasive or solvent cleaners because
they can damage the finish on components.

Your notebook is cooled by air circulated through the vents on the case,
so keep the vents free of dust. With your notebook turned off and
unplugged, brush the dust away from the vents with a damp cloth. Be
careful not to drip any water into the vents. Do not attempt to clean dust
from the inside of your notebook.

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Chapter 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

Cleaning the keyboard

You should clean the keybo ard occasionally by using an aerosol can of
air with a narrow, straw-like extension to remove dust and lint trapped
under the keys.

If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your notebook and turn the
notebook upside down. Let the liquid drain, then let the keyboard dry
before trying to use it again. If the keyboard does not work after it dries,
you may need to replace it.

Cleaning the notebook screen

Use a soft cloth and water to clean the LCD screen. Squirt a little water
on the cloth (never directly on the screen), and wipe the screen with the
cloth.

Caution A notebook LCD screen is made of specially coated glass

and can be scratched or damaged by abrasive or
ammonia-based glass cleaners.

Cleaning CDs or DVDs

Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a cir cle, using a product
made especially for th e purpose.

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Protecting your notebo ok from viruses

Protecting your notebook from
viruses

A virus is a program that attaches itself to a file on a computer, then
spreads from one computer to another . V iruses can damage data or cause
your notebook to malfunction. Some viruses go undetected for a period
of time because they are activated on a certain date.

Protect your notebook from a virus by:

■ Registerin g y ou r cop y of N o rto n

to the virus definition update service. Y ou rec eived a free limited time
subscription to the Norton Internet Security service when you
purchased your notebook.

■ Using the Norton Internet Security program to check files and

programs that are attached to e-mail messages or down loa ded from
the Internet.

■ Checking all programs for viruses before installing them.

■ Disabling macros on suspicious Microsoft Word and Excel files.

These programs will warn you if a document that you are opening
contains a macro th at might have a virus.

®

Internet Security and subscribing

■ Periodically updating the Norton Internet Security program to

protect against the late st viruses.

■ Making sure the Windows Security Center is configured to provide

you with the highest level of protection.

Tips & Tricks For more informa tion about modifyin g securit y settings,

Using Your Computer

83

Help and

Support

see “Modifying Security Se ttin gs ” in
which has been inc luded on your h ard drive . To access this
guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

For more information about protecting your notebook
against viruses, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword viruses in the Search box

, then click the arrow.

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Chapter 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

To scan for viruses:

1 Click Start, All Programs, Norton Internet Security, then click Norton

Internet Security

. Norton Internet Security opens.

2 Click Nor ton AntiVirus.

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Protecting your notebo ok from viruses

3 Click Scan for Viruses.

4 Click the type of scan you want to make in the Scan for Viruses area.

To remove a v irus:

1 If Norton Internet Security finds a virus, follow all on-screen

instructions to remove the virus.

2 Turn off your notebook and leave it off for at least 30 seconds.
3 Turn on your notebook and rescan for the virus.

To update Norton Internet Security:

Important You received a free limit ed time subsc ription to th e Norton

Internet Security service when you purchased your
notebook. To update Norton Internet Security after the free
subscription period, you must extend your subscription.

1 Make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
2 Click Start, All Programs, Norton Internet Security, then click Norton

Internet Security

. Norton Internet Security opens.

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Chapter 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

3 Click LiveUpdate. The LiveUpdate wizard opens.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions to update your Norton Internet

Security program with the latest virus protection files.

5 When the program has finished, click Finish.

Updating Windo ws

Windows Update is th e online extension of W indows that helps you k eep
your notebook up-to-date. Use Windows Update to choose updates for
your notebook’s operating system, software, and hardware. New content
is added to the site regularly, so you can always get the most recent
updates and fixes to protect your notebook and keep it running smoothly .
Windows Update scans your notebook and provides you with a tailored
selection of updates that apply only to the software and hardware on your
notebook.

To run Windows Update:

1 Connect to the Internet.
2 Click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Update.
3 Follow the on-screen instructions.

Help and

Support

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For more information about Windows Update in
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword Windows Update in the HelpSpot
Search box , then click the arrow.

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Restoring your system

Restoring your sy stem

All programs that were preinstalled on your no tebook are available on
the backup restore discs that you created with the recovery media
program, on the hard drive, or on restore discs that were included with
your notebook. If you need to restore your notebook to the original
configuration, you can use the backup restore discs or you can use the
backup files located on the hard drive.

The instructions for using the restore discs or hard drive backup files are
included in the instruction booklet that came with your notebook.

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Chapter 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

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Chapter 9

Troubleshooting

• Troubleshooti ng typical hardw are and
software prob lems

• Getting telephone sup port

• Using automated troublesho oting systems

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Chapter 9: Troubleshooti ng

Safety guidelines

While troubleshooting your notebook, follow these safety guidelines:

■ Never remove the memory bay or hard drive bay cover while your

notebook is turned on, while the battery is installed, and while the
modem cable, network cable, and AC power adapter are connected
to your notebook.

■ Make sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing internal

components. For more information about preventing damage from
static electricity, see “Preventing static electricity discharge” on

page 60.

■ After you complete any maintenance tasks where you remove the

memory bay or hard d rive bay cove r, make sure that you replace the
cover, reinstall any screws, then replace the battery before you start
your notebook.

Warning Do not try to troublesho ot your pro blem if power c ords or

plugs are damaged, if your notebook was dropped, or if
the case was damaged. Instead, unplug your notebook
and contact a qualified computer technician.

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First steps

If you have problems with your notebook, try these things first:

■ Make sure that the AC power adapter is connected to your notebook

and an AC outlet and that the AC outlet is supplying power.

■ If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned

on.

■ If a peripheral device (such as a keyboard or mouse) does not work,

make sure that all connections are secure.

■ Make sure that your hard drive is not full.

■ If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact

message. The message may help Gateway Customer Care in
diagnosing and fixing the problem.

■ If you added or removed peripheral de vices, review t he installation

procedures you performed and make sure that you followed each
instruction.

■ If an error occurs in a program, see the program’s printed

documentation or the online help.

First steps

Help and

Support

For more infor mation about troubleshooting, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type the keyword
troubleshooting in the Search box

, then click the arrow.

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Chapter 9: Troubleshooti ng

Troubleshooting

Audio

Audio troubleshooting is covered under “So und” on page 109.

Battery

Battery troubleshooting is covered unde r “Power” on page 107.

CD drives

CD drive troubleshooting is covered unde r “DVD drives” on page 94.

Device installation

You have computer problems after adding a new device

Sometimes a new devi ce, such as a PC Card, can cause a system resource
(IRQ) conflict. Check IRQ usage to determine if th ere is an IRQ conflict.

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To check IRQ usage:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window

opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click

Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click System, click the Hardware tab, then click

Device Manager. The Device M anager window ope ns.

3 Click View, then click Resources by type. Double-click Interrupt

request (IRQ)

displayed.

. All IRQs and their hardware assignments are

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Troubleshooting

Help and

Support

For more information about IRQs, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword IRQs in the Search

box , then click the arrow.

To free IRQ res ources for the new device:

1 In the Device Manager window, check the device list for a

resource conflict. A resource confl ict appears as a black
exclamation point in a yellow circle.

2 Remove the device you are trying to install, then determine

which one of the existing devices or ports you can disable.

3 Right-click the device or port you want to disable, then click

Disable. The device or port is disabled.

Display

The screen is too dark

Adjust the brightness using the system keys. For more information, see

“System key combinations” on page 31.

The screen resolution is not correct

Change the screen resolution from the Display Properties dialog box.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on changing the screen resolution, see

“Adjusting the screen resolution” in
which has been inc luded on your h ard drive . To access this
guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway
Documentation.

Using Your Computer

The text on the display is dim or difficult to read

■ Adjust the brightness and contrast using the system keys. For more

information, see “System key combinations” on page 31.

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Chapter 9: Troubleshooti ng

■ Change the display settings.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on changing the display settings, see

“Adjusting the screen and desktop settings” in

Computer

access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click
Gateway Documentation.

■ Move your notebook away from sources of electrical interference,

which has been included on your hard drive. To

such as televisions, unshielded speakers, microwaves, fluorescent
lights, and metal beams or shelves.

The display has pixels that are always dark or too bright

This condition is normal and inherent in the TFT technology used in
active-matrix LCD screens. Gateway’s inspection standards keep these to
a minimum. If you feel these pixels are unacceptably numerous or dense
on your display, contact Gateway Customer Care to identify whether a
repair or replacement is justified based on the number of pixels affected.

The display is blank

■ Adjust the brightness using the system keys. For more information,

see “System key com binations” on p age 31.

Using Your

■ Make sure the notebook is not in standby or hibernate mode. For

more information, see “Changing power modes” on page 56.

■ The notebook may be sending its display to an external monitor or

projector. Press F

N + F4 several times to toggle through the attached

display, an external monitor or projector, or both.

An external monitor or project is not working

If your notebook is connected to a port replicator, make sure the external
monitor or projector is connected to the monitor port on the port
replicator and not on the notebook. The notebook’s monitor port is
disabled when connected to a port replicator.

DVD drives

Your notebook does not re cogniz e a disc

■ The disc may not be seated correctly in the tray. When you place a

disc on the tray, make sure that you press the disc firmly onto the
spindle so the retainers hold the disc in place.

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