Gateway S-5205, S-5405 Quick Reference Guide

6-Bay mBTX Pro

USERGUIDE

www.gateway.com

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

Thank you for purchasing our computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Using the Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Using Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Getting help for Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Using online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Finding your model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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

Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Working safely and comfortably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Preparing power connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Connecting to a broadband modem or network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Connecting a dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Premium multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Elite multimedia keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Installing a printer, scanner, or other device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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

Using the Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Using the Start menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Adding icons to the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Identifying window items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Working with files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Viewing drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Creating folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Copying and moving files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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Deleting files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Searching for files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Using the Windows Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Browsing for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Working with documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Printing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

Learning about the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Setting up an Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Accessing your Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Using the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Connecting to a Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Downloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Using e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Sending e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Checking your e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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

Using Windows Fax and Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Sending a Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Setting up your cover page template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Faxing a scanned document or from programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Receiving and viewing a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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

Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Connecting a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Connecting a television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Modifying television settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Connecting a video camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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

Playing music and movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Playing audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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Playing optical discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Creating audio files and music libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Creating music files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Building a music library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Editing track information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Creating music CDs and video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Creating a music CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Creating a video DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Creating and copying data discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Creating a data disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Using Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Starting Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Using the Media Center remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

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

Changing screen settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Changing color depth and screen resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Changing the appearance of windows and backgrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Selecting a screen saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Changing gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Setting up multiple monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Changing system sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Changing mouse settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Adding and modifying user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Changing power-saving settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Changing accessibility settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Using the Ease of Access Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Using voice recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

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

Introduction to Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Networking terms you should know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Wired Ethernet networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Using a router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Wireless Ethernet networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Wireless Ethernet standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Using an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Setting up your network connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Wireless security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

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Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Adding a printer to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Sharing resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Creating a shortcut to a network drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

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

Hardware security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Kensington lock slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Data security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Startup and hard drive password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Windows user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Using McAfee SecurityCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Using Windows Security Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Security updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Windows Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

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

Setting up a maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Cleaning the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Cleaning optical discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

System recovery options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Recovering specific files and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Recovering your system using the Windows DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Using BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Deleting unnecessary files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Scheduling maintenance tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

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Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Transferring files and settings with Windows Easy Transfer . . . . . . . . . 116

Transferring files and settings manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

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

Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Replacing a CD, DVD, or Diskette Drive, or a Memory Card Reader . . . . . . . . . 127

Adding or replacing a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Replacing the front fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Replacing the rear fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Replacing the power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Replacing the heat sink and processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Replacing the I/O board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Adding or replacing an expansion card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Replacing the system board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

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

Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Expansion cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Contents

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

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

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

CHAPTER 1

Getting Help

• Thank you for purchasing our computer!

• Using the Gateway Web site

• Using Help and Support

• Using online help

• Finding your model and serial number

• Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

CHAPTER 1: Getting Help

Thank you for purchasing our computer!

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

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

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

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

Thanks again, from all of us at Gateway.

Using the Gateway Web site

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

www.gateway.com

Using Help and Support

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

To start Help and Support:

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

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

Searching for a topic

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

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

Getting help for Windows Media Center

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

To access Media Center help:

1 Click (Start), then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens. 2 In the Help and Support window, type Windows Media Center in the Search Help box,

then press E

-OR-

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

Windows Media Center in the Search Help For box.

NTER. The Media Center Help window opens.

CHAPTER 1: Getting Help

Using online help

If you are connected to the Internet, many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking the Help button on the menu bar and selecting Online Support from the list.

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

Finding your model and serial number

Important

The labels shown in this section are for informational purposes only. Label

information varies by model, features ordered, and location.

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

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity

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

CHAPTER 2

Setting Up and Getting Started

• Front

• Back

• Working safely and comfortably

• Preparing power connections

• Connecting to a broadband modem or network

• Connecting a dial-up modem

• Starting your computer

• Turning off your computer

• Restarting (rebooting) your computer

• Using the keyboard

• Using the mouse

• Adjusting the volume

• Configuring the audio jacks

• Installing a printer, scanner, or other device

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Front

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

DVD/CD drive

Diskette drive

(optional)

Power button/power indica

Hard drive activity indicator

Headphone jack

USB ports

Microphone jack

Component Icon Description

DVD/CD drive Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch DVDs,

Diskette drive (optional)

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

and store large files onto recordable discs (depending on drive type). This drive may be a CD, recordable CD, DVD, or recordable DVD drive. To identify your drive type and for more information about your drive, see

“Identifying drive types” on page 46.

Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into the optional diskette drive. For more information, see “Using the diskette drive” on page 46.

keyboard, or mouse) into this port. For more information, see “Installing a

printer, scanner, or other device” on page 19.

Power button/Power indicator

Hard drive activity indicator

Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power button to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode. The button lights when the computer is turned on.

Lights when the hard drive is active.

www.gateway.com

Component Icon Description

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

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

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

Back

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

Power connector

Voltage switch

Case cover

thumbscrew

Headphone jack

Audio in speaker jack

Center/subwoofer jack

(optional)

Cover release lever

Microphone jack

Optical out jack (optional)

Rear speaker jack (optional)

Serial port

Parallel port

PS/2 keyboard port

IEEE 1394 port

(optional)

Ethernet (network) jack

Case cover

thumbscrew

Component Icon Description

Power connector Plug the power cord into this connector.

Video port

PS/2 mouse port

USB ports

PCI card slots (behind EMI shields)

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Component Icon Description

Voltage switch Before turning on your computer, make sure that this switch is in

Case cover thumbscrew

Audio input (Line in) jack (blue) ORSide speaker jack

Center/subwoofer jack (orange plug) (optional)

Cover release lever Press toward the side of the case to open the computer cover.

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

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

voltage selection” on page 11.

Remove this screw before opening the case.

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is user configurable for one of the following:

Stereo in: plug an external audio input source (such as a stereo) into this jack so you can record sound on your computer (Default). Stereo out: plug your side left and right speakers into this jack.

For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the

audio jacks” on page 49

Plug your center speaker and subwoofer into this optional jack. For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

jacks” on page 49.

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

page 19.

PS/2 keyboard port Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.

IEEE 1394 port (optional)

Ethernet (network) jack

Case cover thumbscrew

Headphone/analog speakers jack (green)

-ORFront speakers jack

Microphone jack (red or pink)

Optical out jack (optional)

Rear speaker jack (black plug) (optional)

Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire as a digital camcorder) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port. For more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on

page 19.

Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a DSL or cable modem for a broadband Internet connection) into this jack. For more information, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 81.

Remove this screw before opening the case.

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, this jack is user configurable for one of the following:

Headphone: plug headphones or amplified speakers into this

jack (Default).

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

For information on configuring this jack, see“Configuring the

audio jacks” on page 49.

Plug a microphone into this jack.

Plug a digital optical cable into this jack.

Plug your rear right and left speakers into this optional jack. For information on configuring this jack, see “Configuring the audio

jacks” on page 49.

or i.Link®) device (such

www.gateway.com

Component Icon Description

Video port Plug a monitor into this port.

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

PS/2 mouse port Plug a Personal System/2

USB ports Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices (such as a printer, scanner,

PCI card slots Remove the EMI shield from the corresponding PCI card slot when

“Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on page 19.

camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other device” on

page 19.

installing a PCI card.

Working safely and comfortably

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

• Keep hands and arms parallel to the floor.

• Adjust the screen so it is perpendicular to your line of sight, and the top of the screen is

no higher than eye leve.

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

• Keep ventilation openings clear of obstructions.

Top of screen is not higher than eye level

(PS/2) keyboard into this port.

Hands and arms are

parallel to the floor

Feet are flat on the floor

Screen is perpendicular to your line of sight

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Reducing eye strain

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

• Position the computer desk and screen so you can avoid glare on your screen and light

shining directly into your eyes. Reduce glare by installing shades or curtains on windows, and by installing a glare screen filter.

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

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

• Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for long periods of time. Every 10 or

15 minutes, look around the room, and try to focus on distant objects.

Setting up your computer desk and chair

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

• Select a flat surface for your computer desk.

• Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are positioned parallel to

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

• Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes your weight evenly, and keeps your

body relaxed.

• Position your chair so the keyboard is at or slightly below the level of your elbow. This

position lets your shoulders relax while you type.

• Adjust the chair height, adjust the forward tilt of the seat, or use a footrest to distribute

your weight evenly on the chair and relieve pressure on the back of your thighs.

• Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower curve of your spine. You can use a

pillow or cushion to provide extra back support.

Sitting at your computer

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

when you type.

• Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back straight so your knees, hips,

and elbows form right angles when you work.

• Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.

• Avoid twisting your torso or neck.

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain

• Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.

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

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

www.gateway.com

Preparing power connections

Protecting from power source problems

War ning

High voltages can enter your computer through both the power cord and the modem connection. Protect your computer by using a surge protector. If you have a telephone modem, use a surge protector that has a modem jack. If you have a cable modem, use a surge protector that has an antenna/cable TV jack. During an electrical storm, unplug both the surge protector and the modem.

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

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

Checking the voltage selection

Caution

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

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

To set the voltage selection switch:

1 Disconnect your computer’s power cable. 2 Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection switch to the correct

voltage position. The switch is located on the back of your computer, near the power cable connector.

Connecting to a broadband modem or network

Important

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

page 81.

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

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

1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack on the back of your computer. 2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem, DSL modem, or network jack.

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Connecting a dial-up modem

War ning

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

cord.

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

To connect the modem:

1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack on the back of your computer. 2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack. (The modem will not

work with digital or PBX telephone lines.)

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

Starting your computer

To start your computer:

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

the setup poster.

2 Press the power button on the front of your computer. If your computer does not turn

on, check the power cable connections.

Important

Your computer has a built-in variable speed fan. In addition, your computer uses a powerf ul processor which produces heat. Both the system fan and processor can run at different speeds at times to ensure proper system cooling. You may notice an increase in the fan noise when the fan is running at high speed and a decrease in the fan noise when it switches to normal speed.

3 If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions to

select the language and time zone, and to create your first user account.

4 Attach and turn on any USB or audio peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, and

speakers. See the documentation that came with each device for its setup instructions. If you need to attach a peripheral device to the parallel or serial ports, turn off your computer first.

5 To open your computer’s main menu, click (Start). From that menu, you can run

programs and search for files. For more information on using your computer’s menus, see

“Using Windows Vista” on page 21 and “Customizing Windows” on page 67.

Waking up your computer

Tip

For more information about changing the power button mode, see “Changing

power-saving settings” on page 77.

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

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

www.gateway.com

Turning off your computer

War ning

When you turn off your computer, certain components in the power supply and system board remain energized. In order to remove all electrical power from your computer, unplug the power cord and modem cable from the wall outlets. We recommend disconnecting the power cord and modem cable when your computer will not be used for long periods.

Important

If for some reason you cannot use the Shut Down Computer option in Windows to turn off your computer, press and hold the power button for about five seconds, then release it.

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

To put your computer to sleep:

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

down to save power.

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

power button.

To turn off your computer:

1 Click (Start), click the arrow next to the lock icon, then click Shut Down. The computer

turns off.

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

disconnect the power cord.

Restarting (rebooting) your computer

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

To restart your computer:

1 Click (Start), click the arrow next to the lock icon, then click Restart. Your computer

turns off, then turns on again.

2 If your computer does not turn off, press and hold the power button until the computer

turns off (about five seconds), then press it again to turn the computer back on.

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Using the keyboard

Premium multimedia keyboard features

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

Indicators

Internet buttons

diting buttons

Function keys

Internet buttons

Windows keys

Audio playback buttons

Application key

Navigation keys

Directional keys Numeric keypad

Feature Icon Description

Editing buttons Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.

Function keys Press these keys to start program actions. Each

program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions.

Internet buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet

Audio playback buttons

Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the

Indicators Show if your N

Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows

Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and help

home page, search, or e-mail programs.

Press these buttons to play your audio files and to adjust the volume.

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

UM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or

SCROLL LOCK keys are activated. Press the

corresponding key to activate the function.

Start menu. These keys can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like

F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer

utility).

assistants in Windows.

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Feature Icon Description

Directional keys Press these keys to move the cursor up, down,

Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the

right, or left.

numeric keypad (N

Elite multimedia keyboard features

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

Sleep button

Function keys

Windows keys

Application key

UM LOCK) is turned on.

Audio playback

Internet buttons

Navigation keys

buttons

Numeric keypad

Indicators

Feature Icon Description

Sleep button Press this button to activate your computer’s

Function keys Press these keys to start program actions.

Application buttons Press these buttons to launch your Internet

Audio playback buttons

Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or

Windows keys Press one of these keys to open the Windows

Sleep (power-saving) mode.

Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions.

home page, search for files, or launch the calculator program.

Press these buttons to play your audio files and to adjust the volume.

SCROLL LOCK keys are activated. Press the

corresponding key to activate the function.

Start menu. These keys can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities

like F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Computer window).

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

Feature Icon Description

Application key Press this key to access shortcut menus and

Editing buttons Press these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.

Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the

Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the

Using the mouse

Scroll wheel

help assistants in Windows.

beginning of a line, to the end of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document. Press the arrow keys to move the cursor.

numeric keypad (NUM LOCK) is turned on.

Right button

Left button

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

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

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

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

To... Do this...

Move the pointer on the computer display

Select an object on the computer display

Start a program or open a file or folder

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

Move an object on the computer display.

click

(hold)

click

click,

click, click

click

and drag

click

Move the mouse around on the mouse pad. If you run out of space on your mouse pad and need to move the pointer farther, pick up the mouse, set it down in the middle of the mouse pad, then continue moving the mouse.

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

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

Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the right mouse button once. This action is called right-clicking.

Position the pointer over the object. Press the left mouse button and hold it down. Move (drag) the object to the appropriate part of the computer display. Release the button to drop the object where you want it.

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

Adjusting the volume

Help

For more information about adjusting the volume, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type adjusting volume in the Search Help box, then

press E

NTER.

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

To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:

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

-OR-

Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more information, see

“Using the keyboard” on page 14.

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

To adjust the volume from Windows:

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

2 Click and drag the slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume. 3 To mute the volume, click (Mute). To restore volume, click it again. 4 To adjust device volume levels, click Mixer. The Volume Mixer dialog box opens, where

you can click and drag sliders for individual devices.

Tip

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

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

Configuring the audio jacks

If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, they are universal jacks. This means that they can be used for more than one purpose. For example, the blue jack on the computer can be a stereo in jack or a stereo out jack. For more information on how each jack can be used, see “Back”

on page 7. To use the audio jacks for something other than the default audio device, you need

to configure the audio jacks.

To configure the audio jacks:

Shortcut

Start Ö Control Panel Ö Hardware and Sound Ö Sound Ö Playback.

1 Connect your audio device(s) to the computer audio jack(s). 2 Click (Start), then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

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

-OR-

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

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

Installing a printer, scanner, or other device

Important

Before you install a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device, see the

device documentation and installation instructions.

Your computer has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®), Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. You use these ports to connect peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras to your computer. For more information about port locations, see your hardware reference.

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

Help

For more information about installing peripheral devices, click Start, then

click Help and Support. Type installing devices in the Search Help box, then press E

NTER.

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

CHAPTER 2: Setting Up and Getting Started

CHAPTER 3

Using Windows Vista

• Using the Windows desktop

• Working with files and folders

• Searching for files

• Working with documents

• Shortcuts

CHAPTER 3: Using Windows Vista

Using the Windows desktop

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

programs and perform other tasks.

Help

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

Type the phrase Windows desktop in the Search Help box, then press E

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

NTER.

Desktop elements Description

The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button on the left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs that are running. Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.

The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and other programs, and computer tools and utilities. Click the Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu that opens.

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

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

on page 102.

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