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Gateway E-4610D 6-bay mBTX Pro Hardware Reference Guide (for computers with Wi - Page 102

Recovering your system

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CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting Recovering your system Understanding system recovery options Most computer problems can be solved by following the information in "Troubleshooting" on page 79 or at gateway.com. Problem-solving may also involve re-installing some or all of the computer's software (also called recovering or restoring your system). Gateway provides everything you need to recover your system under most conditions. A backup copy of your operating system may be provided on a CD or DVD, as well as a backup copy (CD) of your factory-installed drivers and applications. We recommend that you make a backup of your factory-installed software as soon as you get your new Gateway system. If you are still having problems even after you follow troubleshooting steps, you can use Microsoft System Restore to roll back your system to a previous condition when drivers and programs worked correctly. • "Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore" on page 101 describes how to return your system to a previous working condition. If you are still experiencing problems, you may need to reinstall specific software, such as a device driver. • "Recovering specific files and software" on page 99 describes how to install specific, factory-installed software and device drivers. Finally, in order to recover your system you may need to reinstall everything, including the operating system, so your computer has its original factory settings. • "Recovering your system from the hard drive" on page 104 tells how to completely reinstall the original factory software. 98

Section	Page
Contents	3
About This Reference	7
About this guide	8
For more information	8
Accessing your online User Guide	8
To access your User Guide:	8
Gateway contact information	9
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	9
Checking Out Your Computer	11
Front	12
Back	14
Setting Up and Getting Started	17
Working safely and comfortably	18
Reducing eye strain	19
Setting up your computer desk and chair	19
Sitting at your computer	20
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	20
Positioning the computer case	20
Preparing power connections	20
Protecting from power source problems	20
Checking the voltage selection	21
To set the voltage selection switch:	21
Connecting to a broadband modem or network	22
To connect to a broadband modem or to an Ethernet network:	22
Connecting a dial-up modem	22
To connect the modem:	22
Starting your computer	23
To start your computer:	23
Waking up your computer	23
Turning off your computer	24
To put your computer in Sleep (power-saving) mode:	24
To turn off your computer:	24
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	25
To restart your computer:	25
Using the keyboard	25
Premium multimedia keyboard features	25
Elite multimedia keyboard features	27
Standard keyboard features	28
Using the mouse	29
Using optical drives	32
Features	32
Loading an optical disc	32
To insert an optical disc:	32
Identifying optical drive types	33
Playing discs	34
Playing a CD	34
Playing a DVD	35
Playing a Blu-ray Disc	35
Playing an HD-DVD	35
Creating discs	36
Recording to optical discs	36
Creating audio and video files	36
Copying optical discs	36
Using the memory card reader	36
Memory card types	37
Using a memory card	37
To insert a memory card:	37
To remove a memory card:	37
Using the diskette drive	38
To load a diskette:	38
Adjusting the volume	38
To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:	38
To adjust the volume from Windows:	39
Installing a printer, scanner, or other device	39
Upgrading Your Computer	41
Preventing static electricity discharge	42
Opening and closing the case	43
To remove the side panel:	43
To replace the side panel:	43
Removing and installing the front bezel	44
To remove the front bezel:	44
To replace the front bezel:	45
Installing memory	47
To install or replace DIMM memory:	47
Replacing an optical or diskette drive or a card reader	49
To replace a drive or card reader:	49
Replacing the hard drive	50
To replace the hard drive:	50
Adding or replacing an expansion card	53
To add or replace an expansion card:	53
Replacing the front fan	55
To replace the front fan:	55
Replacing the rear fan	56
To replace the rear fan:	56
Replacing the front I/O board	57
To replace the front I/O panel:	57
Replacing the processor	58
To replace the heat sink and processor:	58
Replacing the system battery	61
To replace the battery:	61
Replacing the power supply	62
To replace the power supply:	62
Replacing the system board	63
To replace the system board:	63
Maintaining Your Computer	67
Setting up a maintenance schedule	68
Caring for your computer	69
Cleaning your computer	70
Cleaning the exterior	70
Cleaning the keyboard	71
To clean the keyboard:	71
Cleaning the monitor	71
To clean the monitor:	71
Cleaning the mouse	71
To clean the mouse:	71
Cleaning optical discs	72
To clean an optical disc:	72
Updating Windows	72
Using BigFix	73
To start BigFix:	73
Managing hard drive space	74
Checking hard drive space	74
To check hard drive space:	74
Deleting unnecessary files	74
To delete unnecessary files:	74
Checking the hard drive for errors	75
To check the hard drive for errors:	75
Defragmenting the hard drive	76
To defragment the hard drive:	77
Backing up files	78
Scheduling maintenance tasks	78
To start the Scheduled Task Wizard:	78
Moving from your old computer	79
Transferring files and settings automatically	79
To move files and settings from your old computer:	80
Transferring files and settings manually	80
Finding your documents	80
To find files in the documents folder:	80
Finding other files	81
To find files using Find or Search:	81
Troubleshooting	83
Safety guidelines	84
First steps	84
Troubleshooting	85
Add-in cards	85
Audio	85
CD or DVD drives	85
The computer does not recognize a disc or the CD or DVD drive	85
An audio CD does not produce sound	86
A DVD movie will not play	86
Diskette drive	87
The diskette drive is not recognized	87
You cannot save a file to diskette or you see the message “disk is full or write-protected”	87
You see an “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error message	87
You see a “Disk is full” error message	87
You see a “Non-system disk” or “Disk error” error message	87
The diskette drive LED is lit continuously	88
Display	88
The screen resolution is not correct	88
The computer is running, but there is no picture	88
The color is not uniform	88
The text on the screen is dim or difficult to read	88
DVD drives	88
Ethernet	89
You cannot see the other computers on your network	89
The computer does not recognize an Ethernet expansion card	89
Your Ethernet network is running slower than you expect	90
Expansion cards	90
The computer does not recognize an expansion card	90
File management	90
A file was accidentally deleted	90
To restore deleted files:	90
You need to restore your computer to a working condition	90
Floppy drive	90
Hard drive	91
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message	91
You see a “Data error” message	91
The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message	91
You see a “Non-system disk” or “disk error” error message	92
Internet	92
You cannot connect to the Internet	92
You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet	92
Connecting to a Web site takes too long	93
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail	93
Keyboard	93
The keyboard does not work	93
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “keyboard stuck” or “key failure” error message	93
Liquid spilled in the keyboard	94
Memory	94
You see a “Not enough memory” error message	94
Memory card reader	94
Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the Computer window	94
Modem (cable or DSL)	94
My computer cannot connect to the Internet.	94
Modem (dial-up)	95
Your modem does not dial or does not connect	95
To check the dialing properties:	95
You cannot connect to the Internet	96
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K	96
Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem	97
The modem is not recognized by your computer	97
To run modem diagnostics:	97
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects	98
To turn down the modem volume:	98
Monitor	98
Mouse	98
The mouse does not work	98
The mouse works erratically	99
Networks	99
You cannot connect to your company network	99
Passwords	99
Your computer does not accept your password	99
Power	99
Your computer will not turn on	99
Printer	100
The printer will not turn on	100
The printer is on but will not print	100
To set a default printer:	100
You see a “Printer queue is full” error message	100
To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline:	100
You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message	101
Sound	101
You are not getting sound from the speakers	101
Recovering your system	102
Understanding system recovery options	102
Recovering your system	103
Recovering specific files and software	103
To restore your system from the driver and application recovery discs:	104
Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore	105
To restore using Microsoft System Restore:	105
Recovering your system from the hard drive	108
To recover your system from the hard drive:	108
Telephone support	110
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	110
Telephone numbers	111
Self-help	111
Legal Notices	113
Antenna and satellite grounding	119
If your computer has a DVD-compatible drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph applies:	121
Index	123
A	123
B	123
C	123
D	124
E	125
F	125
G	125
H	126
I	126
J	126
K	126
L	126
M	127
N	127
O	128
P	128
R	128
S	129
T	130
U	130
V	130