Medion ADVENT user Manual
Table of contents
Safety Information 3
Maintenance and Care 4
Welcome 5
Section 1 - Your Advent PC
Your Advent PC 8
The Mouse 9
The Keyboard 10
Monitors 11
Optical Drives 12
Memory Card Readers 13
Floppy Disk Drive 14
Base Unit 16
Speakers 17
Modem and Network (LAN) 18
Section 2 - Introducing Microsoft Windows XP
Introducing Windows XP 20
The Desktop 21
The Task Bar 22
Start Menu 22
Notification Area 23
Recycle Bin 23
Shortcuts 23
Help and Support Center 24
How do I… 25
Section 3 - Windows XP Entertainment
Windows XP Entertainment 33
Media Player 10 34
Windows Movie Maker 2 39
Games 43
Section 4 - The Internet
The Internet 47
Internet Explorer 6 48
Outlook Express 6 53
Windows Messenger 56
Anti-virus / Firewalls 57
Windows Security Center 59
Windows Firewall 60
Pop-up Blocker 65
Page 1
Section 5 - Looking after Windows XP
Looking after Windows XP 68
Windows Update 69
Windows Service Packs 73
Disk Cleanup Wizard 74
Disk Defragmenter 76
Section 6 - Windows XP Utilities
Windows XP Utilities 79
Control Panel 80
Date and Time 82
Accessibility Options 83
Desktop Cleanup Wizard 85
User Accounts and Passwords 86
Section 7 - Troubleshooting and Support
System Restore 91
Help and Support Center 95
Troubleshooting 96
Reinstalling supplied Drivers and Software 99
System Recovery 100
Recovery CD Creator 104
Further Help 105
Page 2
Important safety information
The following information is designed to help you use and
enjoy your Advent computer safely.
1. Always follow the instructions on any safety labels, or in
this manual.
2. You should only use your Advent PC on a sturdy, stable,
flat surface.
3. Do not cover, block, or otherwise obstruct any openings
or vents on your Advent PC. They are needed to prevent
overheating.
4. Do not put your Advent PC in a cupboard, or any other
enclosed space, unless there is adequate ventilation.
5. Never push objects through the openings on the case.
Doing so exposes you to dangerous voltages.
6. You should only connect your Advent PC to an AC power
source indicated on the rear of the case. If you are
unsure please contact your local store for help.
7. Do not place objects on the power cord ,and make sure it
is located away from walkways to avoid tripping hazards.
8. If you connect your Advent PC to an extension socket you
need to make sure that the total amperage rating of all
the products connected does not exceed that of the
extension socket.
9. You should always unplug your Advent computer and any
connected products before cleaning them.
10. Never use your Advent computer near water or liquids.
11. Your Advent is wired with a 3-pin grounding plug. This is
for your safety and you should not attempt to connect
any other type of plug, or connect it to any other type of
plug socket.
Page 3
Maintenance and care
If you are experiencing problems with your Advent PC you
should only attempt to repair it following the instructions set
out in this manual. Improper use of your Advent PC may put
your safety at risk, and result in extensive damage to your
product.
You should unplug your Advent PC and contact PC
ServiceCall on 0870 901 3000 (24 hours) for help and
advice in any of the following cases:
1. If the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
2. If you spill liquid on, or into any part of your PC.
3. If your PC is exposed to rain, water, or any other liquids.
4. If you drop your PC, or the case is damaged in any way.
5. If your PC exhibits changes in performance that would
indicate a need for service.
Warning
If you ever need to remove the casing you should observe
the following:
1. Always unplug your PC and any connected products
before you remove the case.
2. Always make sure the case is replaced securely, and all
screws are tightened before you connect your PC or
connected products to the electricity supply.
Page 4
Thank you for purchasing your new Advent
personal computer. We at Advent pride
ourselves on giving you the very latest
technology to meet your needs both now and
in the future.
This guide will help you make the most of
your new Advent and Microsoft® Windows®
XP Home Edition, the latest home operating
system from Microsoft®.
Each section of the guide will take you
through key areas and include “How do I”
guides that take you through common tasks
step by step.
You’ll also have access to a wealth of technical
support through our web site, email, and 24
hour telephone support help lines.
We hope you enjoy your new Advent
computer and wish you many years of trouble
free computing.
Page 5
Important Details
There are a number of important
details that you should take a
note of should you need to use
our email support service or
support lines. It can be found at
the top of your receipt.
Store: Date of purchase:
Receipt no.: Branch no.:
PC Performance no.:
Serial no.:
(Located on the rear of your Advent PC)
If you need help or assistance with your Advent computer please visit
Our website contains a wealth of support information on your PC. You will
also find helpful advice on a large range of peripherals and software. The
“How do I...” section will help you with looking after your PC, protecting
against viruses, and show you how to get the most from your PC.
If you can’t find what you are looking for you can use our email support
service to contact one of our trained technicians.
PC Repair Line 0870 901 3000 (charged at BT national rate)
PC SoftwareCall
* Maximum call duration is 20 minutes. Please ask permission from the bill payer before calling.
Callers must be over 18 years of age to call premium rate lines.
www.pcservicecall.co.uk
0906 515 1180 (charged at £1.50 per minute)*
Staple
Your
Receipt
Here
Page 6
Your
Advent PC
Page 7
Your Advent PC
A computer is made up of many components both inside and
outside the PC’s case. These components are known as the
PC’s ‘hardware’.
Each piece of hardware serves an important function in
making your Advent computer work. In order to get the best
use from your PC you need to understand some of the most
common components that you will use, what they do, and
how to look after them.
This section of your manual covers the following hardware
components:
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Monitor (the screen)
• Optical drives (CD writer, DVD etc.)
• Floppy disk drives
• Memory card readers
• Speakers
• Modem (for the Internet)
• LAN card (create a network)
• The PC base unit
Take a few moments to familiarise yourself with each of
these components as they are the parts of the computer that
you will use on a daily basis.
Note: the illustrations in this section are examples
only, the hardware, drives, and ports on your Advent
PC may differ slightly.
Page 8
The Mouse
The mouse is one of the main tools for
working with your computer. It allows
you to move the arrow around the
screen. You can also use it to open
programs and interact with menus and
text. A normal mouse has three buttons:
• Left button: this is your main button. Use a single-
click to select an item, or insert the cursor at a certain
point in text. Use a double-click (pressing the button
twice, quickly) to open a program or document.
• Right mouse button: you can click an icon, or area
on the screen, to open a “Context Menu”. These menus
give you quick access to common functions, for
example, copy and paste.
• Scroll wheel: the scroll wheel changes functions
depending on what program you are in. On the
Internet or in a document you can scroll up and down
a page. In a graphics program it might let you zoom in
and out on a picture.
How do I…
Drag and drop? You can drag and drop text, icons, or
shortcuts with your mouse. Click an item with the left button
and keep the button held down. Move the cursor to the new
location and let go.
Clean my mouse? It is important to keep your mouse clean
to get the best performance. Use a soft cloth with polish to
clean the outside. If your mouse has a ball you need to
regularly clean the ball, you also need to clean the rollers
inside with a damp cotton bud.
Page 9
The Keyboard
Along with the mouse, your
keyboard is one of the main
tools for interacting with your
PC. The keyboard allows you to
enter text into the PC, for
example, in a letter, or email.
A lot of modern keyboards also have customisable “hot
keys”. These hot keys can be used to open your favourite
websites and programs. Some even allow you to control
music and DVD playback.
How do I…
Use keyboard shortcuts? Keyboard shortcuts are a
combination of key presses that perform common functions,
for example, pressing the CTRL and C keys allows you to
copy something, and CTRL and V allows you to paste it
somewhere else. The Help and Support Center contains a list
of common keyboard shortcuts.
Click Start > Help and Support.
Clean my keyboard? Over time your keyboard is filled with
house dust, food crumbs and other debris causing the
keyboard to become sluggish in use.
Page 10
Monitors
The monitor is used to display
the picture from your PC. You
may hear people refer to the
monitor as “the screen”, “the
display”, or the “VDU”.
There are 2 main types of PC
monitor:
• CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): these are the most common
type of monitor supplied with a PC . Their downside is
weight, size, and energy consumption.
• TFT (Thin Film Transistor): also referred to as flat
panels. They require less energy and provide a sharper
picture. TFTs are ideal for places where space is at a
premium.
How do I…
Clean my monitor? You should clean your monitor
regularly to avoid eye strain. Special care needs to be taken
when cleaning your monitor as they have a special coating
on the surface of the screen. You should use a special
cleaner, or wipes, (available from PC World, Dixons and
Currys) never use household polish. If you use a spray
cleaner, spray it onto a soft cloth then wipe the screen.
Never spray directly onto the monitor.
Page 11
Optical drives
The term “optical drive” refers to
any laser based disc drive. These
include:
• CD ROM
• DVD ROM
• Recordable CD
• Recordable DVD
Optical drives are fitted to most modern computers, most
having both DVD ROM and recordable CD / DVD drives.
These drives have revolutionised modern computing because
they allow far larger amounts of data to be stored than a
floppy disk. As an example, a CD holds between 640 and 700
MB of data compared to 1.44 MB on a floppy disk.
How do I…
Load a disc? Normally you would press the eject button on
the front of the CD drive. This will open the tray. Insert your
disc with the label face up. Press the eject button again, or
gently push the tray to close it. Most CDs will then run
automatically using a Windows® feature called ‘Auto Play’.
Clean my drives? You can purchase special CD/DVD
cleaners from PC World, Dixons, and Currys. These gently
clean the lens inside the drive which can become covered
with dust and affect reading of the disc.
Page 12
Memory card readers
Memory card readers are a relatively new addition to
personal computers and are a great alternative to floppy
disks. Memory cards come in several different formats and
are used in a variety of electronic devices including digital
cameras, PDAs, mobile phones and more.
Current formats include:
• SD Cards
• IBM Microdrive
• MMC
• Compact Flash I and II
• Sony Memory Stick (Memory Stick, Duo, and
MagicGate)
• Smart Media
• XD Picture Card
You can buy these cards in a variety of sizes from 4 MB to 1
GB and above.
Your Advent is supplied with the following readers:
Compact Flash (top left), SD™ Card (top right),
Smart Media (bottom left), MMC (bottom right).
Page 13
Floppy disk drive
The humble floppy disk has been an integral part of a
personal computer from the very early days of computing.
They have been an ideal way of transferring files from one
computer to another. However, in the digital age most files
are now too big for the 1.44 MB floppy disk and are being
replaced with recordable CD/DVD and memory cards.
How do I…
Insert a disk?
Insert the floppy disk with the label
facing upwards into the drive until
you hear a click.
Press the Eject button to remove
the floppy disk.
Do not eject the disk while the drive
light is on, this can damage the
surface of the disk.
Protect my data?
Slide the protection tab:
Open to protect
Closed to allow data to be written
and deleted.
Page 14
Format a floppy disk?
Most disks come pre-formatted when you buy them,
however, there may be occasions where you will need to do
this manually, for example, when you want to erase the disk.
You can do this in Windows® XP by:
1. Insert the disk into the
floppy drive.
2. Open My Computer and
right-click the 3 1/2
Floppy (A) icon.
3. Select Format from the
menu.
4. Click Start to perform a
full format.
5. Tick Quick Format then
Start to quickly erase
any files on the disk.
Fig. 1 Format dialog box
Page 15
Base unit
The base unit forms the main part of
your Advent computer and contains all
the components that make it work.
Base units come in 2 configurations:
• Tower unit
• Desktop unit
On the front of your base unit you will find the CD and DVD
drives, floppy disk drive, power button, memory card
readers, and FireWire and USB ports (on some models).
Fig. 2 PC ports
Page 16
Speakers
A PC’s speakers provide sound for
your music, games, videos, and DVD
films. Depending on the sound card
supplied with your computer you can
use 2 point, 4 point, or 5.1 surround
sound speakers.
Speakers normally plug in to the “Line-out” port on the rear
of your Advent base unit (Fig.3 ). If your Advent supports 4
or 5.1 surround sound speakers you will need to adjust the
speaker configuration in the Windows® Control Panel
(methods vary depending on sound card). Refer to your
speaker’s documentation for more information.
Fig. 3 Line-out socket
Page 17
Modem and network (LAN)
There are two ports on the rear of your Advent PC that look
very similar. However, they perform different functions. It is
important that you know the difference in order to avoid
confusion later on.
The first of these is the Modem (RJ-11 port).
This port connects to your phone line and
allows you to connect to the Internet, and
send and receive faxes. Fig.4 shows a
modem port.
You should connect your phone line to the
port labelled ‘Line’. Always try to connect
your modem to the wall socket, not an
extension cable. This allows for a better
signal. You can then connect your telephone
handset to the port labelled ‘Phone’ if you wish and the port
is available (not supplied on all modems).
Fig. 4 Modem
Fig. 5 Network / LAN
The network or LAN port looks like the
one shown in Fig. 5 . Don’t confuse this
with the modem port which looks very
similar. The LAN port allows you to
connect to other computers in your
home / office to share files and an
Internet connection.
Page 18
Introducing
Microsoft®
Windows® XP
Page 19
Introducing Microsoft® Windows® XP
Microsoft® Windows® XP is the latest in the Microsoft®
Windows® family. For those familiar with previous versions
of Windows® you will notice a fresh new look and easier
way of working.
Windows® XP now comes in a number of versions, each
designed for a different audience. All are built around the
same core operating system.
Title Audience
Home Edition Home users with focus on
games and digital
entertainment.
Professional Edition All the benefits of Home
Edition with extra security
and network functions.
Tablet PC Edition Professional Edition
designed for Tablet PC
devices. Includes
handwriting input.
Media Center Edition The all-in-one home
entertainment centre for
music, DVD, home movies,
games and pictures.
This section of the manual will explain some of the basic
features of Windows® XP, i.e., the Desktop, which is your
main starting point in the Windows® environment.
It will also show you how to get help and support at any time
for questions, or problems you may have.
Page 20
The Desktop
The Desktop is the first thing you will see when you turn on
your Advent computer. It is your main interface with
Windows® XP. From here you can access any file, folder, or
program installed on your system.
Those who are used to older versions of Windows® will
notice that the Desktop has changed. The most noticeable
thing is the lack of icons. This is to allow you more room to
add the things that you want!
Windows® XP is fully customisable and you can change the
Desktop picture, colours, layout, and theme to suit your
tastes.
Now we’ll explore each part of the Desktop and how to use
it.
Fig. 6 The Windows® XP Desktop
Page 21
The Taskbar
Fig. 7 The Taskbar
The Taskbar is normally found at the bottom of the screen
(you can drag it to the top, or either side). From here you
can switch between open programs and documents, check
the time and date, and more importantly, access the Start
menu.
The Start menu
The Start menu has changed
from Windows® 95, 98, and
Me. You now have easy access
to commonly used areas such
as My Documents, My Videos,
My Music, E-mail, the Internet,
and Control Panel.
As you use your Advent
computer Windows® XP will
learn what your favourite
programs are and display them
on the Start menu for quick
access. This will update as
your use changes.
To open the Start menu click
the green Start button in the
bottom left of the screen.
Fig. 8 Start menu
Page 22
The notification area
Fig. 9 Notification area
The notification area replaces the ‘System Tray’ of previous
versions of Windows®. From here you can see the time.
Hold the mouse point over the clock to see the date. You will
also see icons for running programs, for example, Windows®
Messenger.
System alerts and messages are also shown here in speech
bubbles. This happens when new hardware is detected, or
disk space is running low for example.
Recycle Bin
Fig. 10 Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage area for deleted files.
This comes in handy for those times when you accidentally
delete a file and decide that you need to keep it. You can
restore the file from the Recycle Bin to retrieve it (See “How
do I” later on).
Shortcuts
Shortcuts are a handy tool on the Windows® XP Desktop.
They are a ‘shortcut’ to a program or document that allows
you to access it quickly without having to hunt through
menus or folders.
Page 23
Help and Support Center
Your Advent computer comes with a customised version of
the Windows® XP Help and Support Center. From here
you can read Microsoft® help files, as well as specific help
and advice, plus PC tutorials for your Advent PC. The Help
and Support Center can also link you straight to the latest
support and information on the Internet.
To access Help and Support press the F1 key on your
keyboard, or click the Start button then Help and Support.
Fig.11 Advent Help and Support
Page 24
How do I...
Change my Desktop picture?
1. Right-click the Desktop and select “Properties” from the
menu.
2. Click the Desktop tab (see Fig. 12 ).
3. You can select a picture from the “Background” list, or
click the Browse button to choose your own picture.
4. You will see a preview of your new picture on the
monitor. If you are happy click Apply then OK.
Fig. 12 Changing your Desktop picture
Page 25
Customise my Start menu?
1. Right-click the Start button and select “Properties” from
the menu.
2. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties screen is
displayed. Click the Start Menu tab.
3. You now have a choice. You can use the Windows® XP
Start menu by selecting “Start menu”, or you can use a
Windows® 95, 98, Me style Start menu by selecting
“Classic Start menu”.
4. Next to each selection you will see a Customize button.
Click this button to select what items appear on your Start
menu, or clear your “Recent Documents” history.
Fig. 13 Customise your Start menu
Page 26
Set up a screen saver?
1. Right-click the Desktop and choose “Properties” from
the menu.
2. Click on the Screen Saver tab at the top of the “Display
Properties” box (Fig. 14 ).
3. Use the drop-down list in the Screen saver section to
choose from the available screen savers. When you select
one you’ll see a preview in the monitor.
4. You can adjust the settings by clicking the Settings
button.
5. Now set the time in minutes you want Windows® to wait
before turning the screen saver on.
6. Click Apply then OK.
Fig. 14 Setting up a screen saver
Page 27
Change my Windows® sounds?
1. Click Start > Control Panel. Select Sounds, Speech,
and Audio Devices.
2. On the next screen select Change the sound scheme
under Pick a task…
3. The Sound and Audio Device Properties box is now
displayed. Select the Sounds tab (Fig. 15).
4. Choose a task you want to set a sound for in the
Program Events list.
5. Under Sounds click Browse to find the sound file you
want to use. Press the Play button to preview it.
6. When you are done click Save As to save your new
sounds as a Sound Scheme. Click Apply then OK to
finish.
Fig. 15 Changing your Windows®
Page 28
Create a shortcut?
1. Right-click the Desktop and select New > Shortcut
from the menu.
2. The Create Shortcut wizard will now open. Click the
Browse button to locate the file, folder, or program you
want to create a shortcut to, then click OK.
3. Click the Next button, then give your new shortcut a
name.
4. Click the Finish button. You will see the new shortcut on
your Desktop.
Fig. 16 Creating a new shortcut
Page 29
Retrieve a file from the Recycle Bin?
1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop to
open it.
2. Locate the file you want to restore and click it once with
the left mouse button to highlight it.
3. On the left hand side under Recycle Bin Tasks click
Restore this item.
4. Your new file will now be returned to its original location
on your computer ready to be used.
Fig. 17 Restoring an item from the Recycle
Page 30
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