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Gateway E-100M Reference Guide - Page 96

Safety guidelines, First steps

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CHAPTER 9: Troubleshooting Safety guidelines Warning Do not try to troubleshoot your problem if power cords 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. Tip For more information about preventing damage from static electricity, see "Preventing static electricity discharge" on page 82. 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. • After you complete any maintenance tasks where you remove the memory bay or hard drive bay cover, make sure that you replace the cover, reinstall any screws, then replace the battery before you start your notebook. Help For more information about troubleshooting, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type the keyword troubleshooting in the Search Help box, then press ENTER. 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. • Make sure that the power cord is firmly connected to the AC power adapter. • If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on. • If the notebook will not turn on, try turning it on with the notebook plugged in and the battery removed, then try turning the notebook on with the notebook unplugged and the battery installed. 90

Section	Page
Contents	3
About This Reference	7
About this guide	8
Accessing your online User Guide	8
Gateway contact information	9
Gateway model and serial number	9
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	9
For more information	9
Checking Out Your Notebook	11
Front	12
Left	13
Right	15
Bottom	16
Keyboard area	18
Setting Up and Getting Started	19
Working safely and comfortably	20
Reducing eye strain	20
Setting up your computer desk and chair	21
Sitting at your notebook	21
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	21
Connecting the AC adapter	22
Protecting from power source problems	23
Connecting the dial-up modem	24
Connecting to a broadband modem or network	25
Starting your notebook	26
Waking up your notebook	27
Turning off your notebook	27
Restarting (rebooting) your notebook	28
Using the status indicators	29
Using the keyboard	30
Key types	31
System key combinations	32
Using the EZ Pad touchpad	34
Adjusting brightness	36
Adjusting the volume	37
Turning your wireless radio on or off	38
IEEE 802.11 wireless network radio	39
Bluetooth radio	39
Using Drives and Accessories	41
Using the memory card reader	42
Memory card types	42
Inserting a memory card	42
Using a memory card	42
Removing a memory card	42
Adding and removing a PC Card	43
Using an optional port replicator	44
Installing a printer or other peripheral device	45
Connecting a USB device	45
Connecting an IEEE 1394 device	46
Viewing the display on a projector or monitor	47
Adjusting the display properties	48
Using the projector or monitor for a presentation	49
Ordering accessories	50
Automobile/airplane power adapters	50
Batteries	50
Carrying cases	50
Hard drives	50
Memory	50
Port replicators	51
Printers	51
USB flash drive	51
Managing Power	53
Monitoring the battery charge	54
Recharging the battery	54
Changing the battery	55
Replacing the battery	55
Recalibrating the battery	56
Getting the most from your battery	57
Maximizing battery performance	57
Conserving battery power	57
Using alternate power sources	58
Changing power modes	58
Using power saving modes	59
Changing notebook power settings	60
Changing the power plan	60
Changing advanced settings	61
Traveling with Your Notebook	63
Packing your notebook	64
Traveling by air	64
Dial-up modem	64
Radio frequency wireless connections	65
Files	65
Security	66
Power	67
Additional tips	67
Maintaining Your Notebook	69
Caring for your notebook	70
Cleaning your notebook	71
Cleaning the exterior	71
Cleaning the keyboard	72
Cleaning the notebook screen	72
Maintaining the battery	72
Storing batteries	73
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	74
Recovering your system	74
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers	75
Preparing for software and device driver recovery	75
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using Gateway Recovery Center	78
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using recovery discs	79
Using Microsoft System Restore	81
Manually creating a restore point	83
Recovering your system to its factory condition	84
Recovering your system using the Windows DVD	85
Upgrading Your Notebook	87
Preventing static electricity discharge	88
Adding or replacing memory modules	89
Replacing the hard drive kit	92
Troubleshooting	95
Safety guidelines	96
First steps	96
Troubleshooting	97
Audio	97
Battery	97
CD drives (external)	97
Diskette drive (external)	97
The diskette drive is not recognized	97
You see an “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error message	98
You see a “Disk is full” error message	98
You see a “Non-system disk,” “NTLDR is missing,” or “Disk error” error message	98
The diskette drive status indicator is lit continuously	98
Display	98
The screen is too dark	98
The screen resolution is not correct	98
The text on the display is dim or difficult to read	99
The display has pixels that are always dark or too bright	99
The display is blank	99
DVD drives (external)	99
Your notebook does not recognize a disc	99
An audio CD does not produce sound	100
A DVD movie will not play	100
You cannot eject a CD or DVD	101
Ethernet	101
File management	101
A file was accidentally deleted	101
Hard drive	102
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message	102
You see a “Data error” message	102
The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message	102
Internet	103
You cannot connect to the Internet	103
You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet	103
Connecting to a Web site takes too long	103
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail	104
Keyboard	104
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “Keyboard stuck” or “Key failure” error message	104
You are pressing a letter key and a number appears on the screen	104
An external keyboard does not work	104
Media Center	105
The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV	105
You need to configure your Media Center to output to a TV	106
You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality	107
You want to know whether you can burn videos that were recorded with your Media Center computer to a DVD	107
You want to know whether you can play recorded videos on other computers	107
You want to know whether you can play recorded videos on your home DVD player	107
Memory	107
You see a “Memory error” message	107
You see a “Not enough memory” error message	108
Memory card reader	108
Drive letter for the memory card slot does not appear in the My Computer window	108
Modem (cable or DSL)	108
The modem does not connect	108
Modem (dial-up)	108
Your modem does not dial or does not connect	108
You cannot connect to the Internet	110
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K	110
Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem	110
The modem is not recognized by your notebook	111
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects	112
Mouse	112
The external mouse does not work	112
The external mouse works erratically	112
Networks (wired)	113
You cannot see the other computers on your wired Ethernet network	113
Your wired Ethernet network is running slower than you expect	113
You cannot connect to your company network	113
Internet Explorer is unable to access the Internet	114
You cannot connect to your home network	114
Networks (wireless)	114
You turned wireless networking on, but it takes a while to connect	114
Your connection on the network seems intermittent or your wireless network is running slower than you expect	115
You are in a wireless network, you can see the network, but cannot communicate, send files, print, or get to the Web	115
You are in a wireless network, but no available networks are listed in the Connect to a network dialog box	115
Your wireless network is listed as a preferred network, but it has an “x” on it	116
Internet Explorer is unable to access the Internet	116
You cannot see other computers on your network	116
You cannot connect to your network	116
Passwords	116
Your notebook does not accept your password	116
You forgot your startup password	117
PC Cards	117
You installed an PC Card and now your notebook is having problems	117
Pointing device	117
Power	117
Your notebook is not working on AC power	117
Your notebook is not working on battery power	117
Printer	118
The printer will not turn on	118
The printer is on but will not print	118
You see a “Printer queue is full” error message	119
You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message	119
Sound	119
You are not getting sound from the built-in speakers	119
Status indicators	120
The status indicators are not functioning	120
Touchpad or pointing device	120
Touchpad or pointing device is not working	120
The notebook is not responding when you click or tap on the touchpad or pointing device	120
The pointer moves unexpectedly	120
Video	120
The projector or external monitor is not working	120
Telephone support	121
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	121
Legal Information	123
Important safety information	124
Regulatory compliance statements	125
Wireless guidance	125
United States of America	126
Product:	127
Canada	129
Japan	130
Laser safety statement	132
If your notebook has a DVD drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph applies:	132
A	133
B	133
C	133
D	134
E	135
F	135
G	135
H	135
I	135
J	135
K	135
L	136
M	136
N	137
O	137
P	137
R	138
S	138
T	139
U	139
V	140
W	140