Gateway E-4500S User Guide - Page 2

i

www.gateway.com

Contents

1

Getting Help

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

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

Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Using Your Computer guide

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gateway contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2

Checking Out Your Gateway Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Locating your serial number

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Finding your specifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Accessories

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3

Getting Started

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Working safely

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Setting up your computer and computer accessories

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Sitting at your computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Starting your computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Restarting (rebooting) your computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Using the keyboard

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Connecting the modem

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

4

Using Drives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Using the diskette drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Identifying drive types

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Inserting a CD or DVD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Section	Page
Contents	2
Getting Help	6
Help and Support	8
Searching for a topic	9
Using Your Computer guide	9
Online help	10
Gateway contact information	10
Checking Out Your GatewayComputer	12
Front	13
Back	15
Locating your serial number	19
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	19
Finding your specifications	20
Accessories	21
Getting Started	22
Working safely	23
Reducing eye strain	23
Setting up your computer desk and chair	23
Setting up your computer and computer accessories	24
Sitting at your computer	24
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	24
Protecting from power source problems	25
Checking the voltage selection	25
Starting your computer	27
Waking up your computer	27
Turning off your computer	28
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	28
Using the keyboard	29
Adjusting the volume	30
Configuring the audio jacks	30
Connecting the modem	31
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network	31
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device	32
Using Drives	34
Using the diskette drive	35
Using the CD or DVD drive	36
Identifying drive types	36
Inserting a CD or DVD	37
Playing a CD	38
Playing a DVD	38
Creating CDs and DVDs	38
Maintaining Your Computer	40
Caring for your computer	41
Updating Windows	42
Protecting your computer from viruses	43
Cleaning your computer	47
Cleaning the exterior	47
Cleaning the keyboard	47
Cleaning the monitor	48
Cleaning the mouse	48
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	50
Restoring your system	51
Microsoft System Restore	51
Reinstalling programs and drivers	51
Restoring your computer to the original configuration	51
Preventing static electricity discharge	52
Opening the case	53
Removing the side panel	53
Removing the front bezel	55
Closing the case	57
Replacing the front bezel	57
Replacing the side panel	58
Installing memory	59
Replacing the system battery	61
Troubleshooting	64
Safety guidelines	65
First steps	65
Troubleshooting	66
Add-in cards	66
Audio	66
CD or DVD drives	66
Computer	67
Diskette drive	68
DVD drives	69
File management	69
Hard drive	70
Internet	71
Keyboard	72
Memory	72
Modem (dial-up)	73
Monitor	76
Mouse	77
Networks	78
Passwords	78
Power	78
Printer	79
Sound	80
Networking Your Computer	82
Introduction to Networking	83
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	83
Using a router	83
Example router-based Ethernet network	84
Determining if an Ethernet is already installed on your computers	85
Creating an Ethernet network	86
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	86
Making sure your broadband connection works	86
Naming the computers and the workgroup	86
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	87
Terms you should know	87
Using a DHCP server	87
Setting up an Ethernet network	89
Setting up a network using a router	90
Configuring your router	91
Testing your network	93
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network	94
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information	96
Index	104
A	104
B	104
C	104
D	105
E	105
F	106
G	106
H	106
I	106
J	106
K	106
L	107
M	107
N	107
O	107
P	107
R	108
S	108
T	108
U	109
V	109
W	109

Gateway E-4500S User Guide - Page 2

Contents - specifications

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