Gateway M360, M360C, M360A, M360B User Manual

Gateway Noteboo

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Contents

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

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

Using Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Using the touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Turning your wireless radio on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Monitoring the battery charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Recalibrating the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Changing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Extending battery life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Conserving battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Using alternate power sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Changing power modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

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

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

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

Replacing the hard drive kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

7 Maintaining Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Caring for your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Cleaning your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Cleaning the notebook screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

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Protecting your notebook from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Restoring your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Reinstalling applications and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Restoring your notebook to the original configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

8 Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

CD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Device installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

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A Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

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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
Support Web site at support.gateway.com

.

Using Support

The Support 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 to get the latest software updates for BIOS and driver
upgrades. By entering your serial number you get drivers specific to your
notebook. Click
wizard to locate your drive rs.

Browse All Downloads to walk through a step-by-step

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 104.

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

Speaker

LCD panel

release

latch

Battery

charge

indicator

Headphone jack

Microphone jack

Powe r i nd i ca to r

Speaker

Component Icon Description

Speakers Provide audio output when headphones or amplified

speakers are not plugged in.

LCD panel release
latch

Battery charge
indicator

Pow er i n d ic a t or

Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack.

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

Open the LCD panel by sliding the release latch.

■

LED blue - battery is fully charged.

■

LED purple - battery is charging.

■

LED blinking red - battery charge is very low.

■

LED solid red - battery is malfunctioning.

■

LED on - notebook is on.

■

LED blinking - notebook is in Standby mode.

■

LED off - notebook is off.

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

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Left

Left

lock slot

Ventilation fanKensington

DV D dri ve

Component Icon Description

Kensington™
lock slot

Ventilation fan Helps cool internal components.

DVD/CD-RW
or multi-format
DVD±RW drive

Secure your notebook to an object by connecting a
Kensington cable lock to this slot.

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.

Insert CDs or DVDs into this drive . F or mo re information, see

“Using the DVD drive” on page 40. This drive may be a

combination DVD/CD-RW or multi-format DVD±RW drive. To
determine the type of driv e in the notebook, e xamine the drive
tray’s plastic cover and compare the logo to those listed in

“Identifying drive types” on page 40.

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Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Right

PC Card slot

Memory
card reader

IEEE 1394 port

USB ports

Ethernet jack

USB ports

Modem jack

Component Icon Description

PC Card slot Insert one Type II PC Card into this slot. For more

information, see “Adding and removing a PC Card” on

page 44.

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

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

Memory card
reader

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

Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player,
PDA, or cellular tel ephone into the memory card reader . For
more information, see “Using the memory card reader” on

page 43. The memory card reader supports Memory

®

, Memory Stick Pro®, MultiMediaCard™, and Secure

Stick
Digital™.

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

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Component Icon Description

Ethernet jack Plug a 10/100/1000 Ethernet network cable into this jack.

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.

Modem jack Plug a modem cable into this jack. For more information,

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

Back

Monitor portPower connector

Back

Component Icon Description

Power connector Plug the AC adapter cable into this connector.
Monitor port Plug an analog V GA monitor o r projector into thi s port. For

more information, see “Viewing the display on a projector

or monitor” on page 46.

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13

Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

Bottom

Battery

Battery latch

System

label

Hard
drive

bay

Component Icon Description

Memory bay

Battery lock

Battery latch Slide to release the battery. For more information, see

“Changing batteries” on page 54.

Battery Provides power when the notebook is not plugged into

AC power.

Memory bay Install a memory module into this bay. For more

information, see “Adding or replacing memory” on

page 61.

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

“Changing batteries” on page 54.

System label Includes the product mode l number . F or more inf ormation,

see “Identifying your model” on page 16.

Hard drive bay The hard drive is located in this ba y. For more inf ormation,

see “Replacing the hard drive kit” on page 66.

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, computer keyboard.

For more infor mation, see “Using the keyboard” on page 29.

T ouchp ad Provides all the f unctionality of a mouse. F or more inf ormation,

see “Using the EZ Pad touchpad” on page 34.

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.

Using Your Computer

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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

www.gateway.com

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 Support page at

support.gateway.com

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

. The Support 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 54 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.

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.

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17

Chapter 2: Checking Ou t Your Gateway Notebook

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 53.

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 battery charge indicator

turns on (see “Front” on page 10 for the location of the battery
charge indicator). If the 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
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 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

right 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.

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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 right side 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

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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.

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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.

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27

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

A

1

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.

Wireless network

Caps lock

Num lock

Disc drive

Indicator Icon Description

Wireless network (optional)

Caps lock

Num lock

Disc drive

Hard drive

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

■

LED on - Wir eless radi o is tur ned on.

■

LED off - Wi reless radi o is tur ned off.

■

LED on - Caps lo ck is tur ned on.

■

LED off - Ca ps lock is tur ned off.

■

LED on - Numeric keypad is turned on.

■

LED off - Numeric keypad is turned off.

■

LED blinking - The disc drive is in use.

■

LED off - The disc drive is not in use.

■

LED blinking - The hard drive is in use.

■

LED off - The hard drive is not in use.

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

Hard drive

28

www.gateway.com

Using the keyboard

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.

Numeric

keypad

FN key

Function keys/ System keys

Windows key

Tips & Tricks You can attach an external keyboard to the

notebook using a USB port. You do not need to
shut down the notebook to connect a USB
keyboard.

Application key

Navigation keys

Arrow keys

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29

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

1

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 thes e keys to move the curs or to the b eginning

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

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 airplane. 802.11g (also 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.

Using Your Computer

which

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.

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31

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

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

5

To...

Display the power status box in the upper-left corner of
your displa y. The box sho ws the battery charge l ev el, the
BIOS version, and whether the optiona l wireless netwo rk
is being used. Press the k ey combination again to close
this box.

Increase the LCD panel brightness above the normal
brightest setting. Use this feature in bright lighting
situatio ns, such as ou tside in bright sunlight.

Press a se cond time to decr ease the brig htness b elow
the normal lowest brightness setting. Use this feature in
dim lighting situations.

Press a third time to return the display to the normal
brightness setting.

Important: Using this feature will affect battery
performance.

Play or pause the CD or DVD.

Stop playing the CD or DVD.

32

Skip back one CD song or DVD track.

Skip ahead one CD song or DVD track.

Increase the brightness of the display.

Decrease the brightness of the display.

www.gateway.com

Using the keyboard

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

To...

Mute the sound. Press the key combination again to
restore the sound. For more information, see “Adjusting

the volume” on page 37.

Increase volume. For more infor mation, see “Adjusting

the volume” on page 37.

Decrease volume. For more information, see “Adjusting

the volume” on page 37.

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33

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

Using the EZPa d touchpad

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

Touchpad

Scroll
zone

Left 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.

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

34

Right button

www.gateway.com

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 the touchpad

To... Do this...

Using the EZ Pad to uchpad

Using Your Computer

which has

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

.

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35

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

To... Do this...

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

36

www.gateway.com

Adjusting the volume

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.

-OR­Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more

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

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

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37

Chapter 3: Getting St arted

T urning yo ur 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 devices may 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.

38

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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:

■ 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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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.

44

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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.

Important If the remove hardware icon does not appear on the

Stop.

taskbar, click the show hidden icons button.

2 Release the eject button by pressing the PC Card eject button once.

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45

Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

3 Eject the PC Card by pressing the eject button again.

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 “Back” on page 13.

3 Turn on your notebook.

46

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Viewing the display on a projector or monitor

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.

Properties. The Display Properties dialog box

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.

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Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

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.

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. For

the location of the IEEE 1394 port, see “Right” on page 12.

48

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

your video camera, see your camera’s documentation.

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Connecting a video cam era to your notebook

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

the side of your notebook.

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

which has been included

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Chapter 4: Using Drives and P orts

50

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Chapter 5

Managing Power

• Checking an d recharging the batt ery

• Recalibrating th e battery

• Changing batteries

• Extending the lif e of the battery

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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 battery charge indicator (see “Front” on p age 10:

■ LED blue - battery is fully charged.

■ LED purple - battery is charging.

■ LED blinking red - battery charge is very low.

■ LED solid red - battery is malfunctioning.

■ Wait for a Low Battery warning message to appear.

If your 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 53.

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Recharging the battery

Recharging the battery

The battery recharges while it is installed and your notebook is connected
to AC power. While the battery recharges, the 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 Connect the AC adapter, then turn on your notebook.
2 As soon as it starts and you see a startup screen, press F2. The BIOS

Setup utility opens.

3 Open the Advanced menu.
4 Highlight Battery Auto Learning, then select Enabled by pressing the

spacebar.

5 Open the Exit menu, then highlight Exit Saving Changes and press

E

NTER.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

6 Select Yes, then press ENTER.

The battery recalibration process begins and a screen opens showing
you the progress. The entire process will take several hours.

Important Do not interrupt the battery recalibration process. If

recalibration is interrupt ed, you must start the process o ver
again.

When the recalibration has finished, the message “Press [Esc] key to
exit” appears.

7 Press ESC. The battery charge indicator now displays an accurate

battery charge. If the battery charge indicator does not show an
accurate charge, contact Gateway Customer Care.

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.

To change t he battery:

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

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

your work and turn off your notebook.

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Changing batteries

2 Close the LCD panel.
3 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
4 Slide the battery lock to the unlocked position.

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

notebook.

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

7 Slide the battery lock to the locked position.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

8 Turn your notebook over.
9 Open the LCD panel and press the power button.

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 .

which has been included on your hard

Using

■ 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.

■ 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

amount of power.

56

which has been included on your hard drive. To

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Using Your

Extending battery lif e

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

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

the battery” on page 53 and “Changing batteries” on page 54.

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 s ave 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 open s the programs and
documents that were open when you activated Hibernate mode.

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Chapter 5: Managing Power

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.

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 6

Upgrading Your Notebook

• Adding and repl acing memory

• Replacing the ha rd drive

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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 ri sk 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 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
6 Remove the battery. For more information, see “Changing batteries”

on page 54.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

7 With a small Phillips screwdriver, remove the keyboard screw and

put it in a safe place.

Tips & Tricks The screw hole is marke d with a K.

Screw

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Adding or replacing m emory

8 Loosen the six memory bay cover screws (these screws cannot be

removed), then remove the memory bay cover.

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Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

9 If you are removing a modu le, gently press outward on the clip at

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

10 Pull the memory module out of the slot.

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Adding or replacing m emory

11 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.

12 Gently push the module down until it clicks in place.
13 Replace the memory bay cover, then tighten the cover screws.
14 Replace the keyboard screw.
15 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook over.
16 Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable, then

turn on your notebook.

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65

Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

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 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
7 Remove the battery. For more information, see “Changing batteries”

on page 54.

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Replacing the hard drive kit

8 Remove the two hard drive bay cover screws, slide the hard drive

bay cover, then remove it. The hard drive is attached to the back of
the cover.

9 If your new hard drive already includes the hard drive cover, go to

Step 14.

-OR­If you need to move the hard drive cover from yo ur old ha rd drive

to your new hard drive, go to Step 10.

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67

Chapter 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

10 Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the hard drive cover .

Screws

Screws

11 Remove the cover from t he old drive.

12 Insert the new drive label side up onto the cover so the screw holes

line up.

13 Replace the screws that secure the cover to the drive.
14 Slide the new hard drive kit into your notebook, then replace the

cover screws.

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Replacing the hard drive kit

15 Insert the battery, then turn your notebook over.
16 Connect the power adapter, modem cable, and network cable, then

turn on your notebook.

17 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 6: Upgrading You r Notebook

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Chapter 7

Maintaining Your Notebook

• Caring for your notebook

• Cleaning you r notebook

• Protecting your notebook from viruses

• Updating Windows

• Restoring your system

71

Chapter 7: 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 7: 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

75

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 7: 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 7: 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

78

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

Microsoft System Restore

If your notebook is not working correctly after you install a program or
change a setting in the Control Panel, you may need to use Microsoft
System Restore to restore the notebook to an earlier configuration.

To run Micros oft System Restore:

1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System T ools , then click System

Restore

2 Follow the on-screen instructions.

.

Help and

Support

For more infor mation about System Restore, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type the keyword System
Restore in the HelpS pot Search box

, then click the arrow.

Reinstalling applications and drivers

If a program or device on your notebook is not workin g correctly, you
may need to reinstall your applications or drivers.

To reinstall your applications or drivers:

1 Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, then click Application &

Driver Recovery

2 Follow the on-screen instructions.

.

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Chapter 7: Maintaining Your Notebook

Restoring your notebook to the original configuration

If Windows does not start or if the two previous procedures do not correct
the problem, you may need to restore your notebook to the original
configuration.

To restore y our notebook to the original configuration:

1 Turn on your notebook, then press F11.
2 Follow the on-screen instructions.

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Chapter 8

Troubleshooting

• Troubleshooti ng typical hardw are and
software prob lems

• Getting telephone sup port

• Using automated troublesho oting systems

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Chapter 8: 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 tr y to tr oublesho 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 8: Troubleshooti ng

Troubleshooting

Audio

Audio troubleshooting is covered under “So und” on page 101.

Battery

Battery troubleshooting is covered unde r “Power” on page 99.

CD drives

CD drive troubleshooting is covered unde r “DVD drives” on page 86.

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.

84

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 8: 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

Using Your

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.

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

more information, see “Changing power modes” on page 57.

■ 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.

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.

■ Make sure that the disc label is facing up, then try again.

■ Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are flawed and cannot be read

by the drive.

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Troubleshooting

■ Some music CDs have copy protection software. Y ou may not be able

to play these CDs on your notebook.

■ Your notebook may be experiencing some temporary memory

problems. Shut down and restart y our notebook.

■ Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning CDs or DVDs”

on page 74.

An audio CD does not pr oduce s ound

■ Make sure that the CD label is facing up, then try again.

■ Some music CDs have copy protection software. Y ou may not be able

to play these CDs on your notebook.

■ Make sure that the volume control on your notebook is turned up.

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

■ Make sure that the Windows volume control is turned up.

Tips & Tricks For instructi ons on how to adjust the volume contr ol in

Windows, see “Adjusting the volume” in

Computer

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

which has been included on your hard drive. To

Using Your

■ Make sure that Mute controls are turned off. For more information

about the mute setting, see “System ke y com bi natio ns ” o n pa ge 3 1.

■ Make sure that headphones are not plugged into the headphone jack

on the notebook.

■ If you are using powered speakers, make sure that they are plugged

in and turned on.

■ Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning CDs or DVDs”

on page 74.

■ Your notebook may be experiencing some temporary memory

problems. Shut down and restart y our notebook.

■ Reinstall the audio device drivers. For more information, see

“Downloads” on pag e 4.

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Chapter 8: Troubleshooti ng

A DVD movie will not play

■ Make sure that the label or side you want to play is facing up, then

try again.

■ Shut down and restart your notebook.

■ Clean the DVD. For more information, see “Cleaning CDs or DVDs”

on page 74.

■ DVD discs and drives contain regiona l cod es that help control DVD

title exports and help reduce illegal disc distribution. To be able to
play a DVD, the disc’s regional code and your DVD drive’s regional
code must match.

The regional code on your DVD drive is determined by your
notebook’s delivery address. The regional code for the United States
and Canada is 1. The regional code for Mexico is 4. Your DVD drive’s
regional code must match the regional code of the disc. The regional
code for the disc is on the disc, disc documentation , or packaging.

If the DVD movie does not play, the disc’s re gional code and your
DVD drive’s regional code may not match.

■ Make sure that a DVD playe r program has been inst alled on your

notebook.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on pla ying a DVD, see “Pla ying a DVD” on

page 42.

You cannot eject a CD or DVD

Your notebook must be turned on to remove CDs and DVDs. If you do
not want to turn on your notebook, manually eject the disc by inserting
an opened paper clip into the manual ejec t hole. See “Inserting a CD or

DVD” on page 41 for the location of the manual eject hole.

File management

A file was accidentally deleted

If a file was deleted while holding down the SHIFT key, the file cannot
be restored.

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Troubleshooting

To restore deleted files:

1 Double-click the Recycle Bin icon.
2 Right-click the file you want to restore, then click Restore. The

file is restored to the place where it was originally deleted from.
If the Recycle Bin was emptied before you tried to restore a file,

the file cannot be restored.

Help and

Support

For more info rmation about restoring deleted files, click
Start, then click Help and Support. Type the keyword
System Restore in the Search box

, then click the arrow.

Hard drive

You see an “Insuffici ent disk space ” err or message

■ Delete unnecessary files from the hard drive using Disk Cleanup.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on deleting unnecessary files, see “Using

Disk Clea nup” in
included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click
Start, All Programs, then click Gatewa y Documentation.

■ Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon, then

clicking

■ Save your files to another drive. If the hard drive is full, copy any

Empty Recy cle Bin.

Caution All deleted files will be lost when you empty the Recycle

Bin.

Using Your Computer

files not regularly used to backup media, then delete them from the
hard drive.

which has been

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Chapter 8: Troubleshooti ng

Help and

Support

For more information about file management, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type the keyword file
management in the Search box ,
then click the arrow.

You see a “Data e rror” mess age

This may be the result of a defective area on the hard drive. To fix hard
drive problems, run the Error checking p rogram.

Tips & Tricks For instructions on fixing hard drive problems, see

“Checking the hard drive for errors” in

Computer

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

which has been included on your hard drive. To

Using Your

The hard driv e canno t be acc essed , or y ou see a “ Gener al fa ilur e
reading driv e C” e rror messag e

■ Make sure that the hard drive is installed correctly. Remove it, firmly

reinsert it, then restart your notebook. For more information, see

“Replacing the hard drive kit” on page 66.

■ If your notebook has been subjected to static electricity or physical

shock, you may need to reinstall the operating system.

Internet

You cannot connect to the Internet

■ If you are using a dial-up modem, make sure that the modem cable

is plugged into the modem jack and not the Ethernet network jack.
See “Right” on page 12 to make sure that the co nnections have b een
made correctly.

-OR­If you are using a cable or DSL modem, make sure that the modem

cable is plugged into the Ethernet network jack and not the modem
jack. See “Right” on page 12 to make sure that the con nections have
been made correctly.

■ Make sure that you do not have a problem with your modem. For

more information, see “Modem (dial-up)” on page 93.

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Troubleshooting

■ Make sure that your account with your Internet service provider (ISP)

is set up correctly. Contact your ISP technical support for help.

Help and

Support

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

You see an “Unable t o loca te host” m essage and ar e unabl e to br owse
the Internet

This problem can occur when you have typ ed a URL (Web address)
incorrectly , you have lost your Internet connection, or your ISP is having
technical difficulties.

Double-check the URL or try a different URL. If the error message still
appears, disconnect from the ISP connection and close your browser , then
reconnect and open the browser. If you still get the error, your ISP may
be having technical difficulties.

Connecting to a Web site takes too long

Many factors can affect Int ernet performance:

■ The condition of the telephone lines in your residence or at your

local telephone service

■ The condition of the Internet computers to which you connect and

the number of users accessing those computers

■ The complexity of graphics and multimedia on Web pages

■ Having multiple Web browsers open, performing multiple

downloads, and having mu ltiple programs open on y our notebook

People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received
any mail

■ Click the receive button in your e-mail program.

■ Make sure that your account with your Internet service provider (ISP)

is set up correctly. Contact your ISP for technical support.

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Chapter 8: Troubleshooti ng

Keyboard

The external k eyboard d oes not wo rk

■ Make sure that the keyboard cable is plugged in correctl y.

■ Remove all extension cables and switchboxes.

■ Clean the keyboard by using an aerosol ca n of air with a narrow,

straw-like extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the keys.

■ Try a keyboard that you know works to make sure that the keyboard

port works.

■ If you spilled liquid in the keyboard, turn off your notebook and

unplug the keyboard. Clean the keyboard and turn it upside down
to drain it. Let the keyboard dry before using it again. If the keyboard
does not work after it dries, you may need to replace it.

A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “Keyboard stuck”
or “Key failure” error message

■ Make sure that nothing is resting on the keyboard.

■ Make sure that a key is not stuck. Press each key to loosen a key that

might be stuck, then restart your notebook.

You are pressing a letter key and a number appears on the screen

■ The numeric keypad is turned o n. See “System key combinations”

on page 31 for instructions on turning off your numeric keypad.

Memory

You see a “Memory er ror” mess age

■ Make sure that the memory module is inserted correctly in the

memory bay slot. For more information, see “Adding or replacing

memory” on page 61.

■ Use a third-party diagnostic program to help determine if a memory

module is failing.

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You see a “Not enou gh memory” error message

Close all programs, then restart your notebook.

Troubleshooting

Help and

Support

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

, then click the arrow.

Memory card reader

Drive letter for the memory card slot does not appear in the My
Computer window

■ Reboot your notebook.

Modem (dial-up)

Your modem does not dial or does not connect

■ Make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the modem jack

and not the Ethernet network jack. See “Right” on page 12 to make
sure that the connections have been made correctly.

■ Make sure that your notebook is connected to the telephone line

and the telephone line has a dial tone.

■ Make sure that the modem cable is less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

■ Remove any line splitters or surge protectors from your telephone

line, then check for a dial tone by plugging a working telephone into
the telephone wall jack.

■ If you have additional telephone services such as call waiting, call

messaging, or voice mail, make sure that all messages are cleared and
call waiting is disabled before using the modem. Contact your
telephone service to get the correct code to temporarily disable the
service. Also make sure that the modem dialing properties are set
appropriately.

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Chapter 8: Troubleshooti ng

To check the dialing properties:

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

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

and Other Hardware

2 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem Option s icon, then click

the

Dialing Rules tab.

3 Click the location from which you are dialing, then click Edit.
4 Make sure that all settings are correct.

Printers

.

Help and

Support

■ Disconnect any answering machine, fax machine, o r p rinter that is

on the same line as the modem. Do not connect these devices to
the same telephone line as the modem.

■ Make sure that you are not using a digital, rollover, or PBX line.

These lines do not work with your modem.

■ Check for line noise (scratchy, crackling, or popping sounds). Line

noise is a common problem that can cause the modem to connect
at a slower rate, abort downloads, or even disconnect. The faster the
modem, the less line noise it can tolerate and still work correctly.

Listen to the line using your telephone. Dial a single number (such
as 1). When the dial tone stops, listen for line noise. Wiggle the
modem cable to see if that makes a difference. Make sure that the
connectors are free from corrosion and all screws in the wall or
telephone wall jack are secure.

Y ou can also call your telephone service and have the telephone line
checked for noise or low line levels.

■ Try another telephone line (either a different telephone number in

your house or a telephone line at a different location). If you can
connect on this line, call your telephone service to fix the original
line.

For more information about dialing properties, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type the keyword dialing
in the Search box , then click the
arrow.

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