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Gateway MT6452 8511882 - Gateway Notebook User Guide for Windows Vista - Page 90

Checking the hard drive for errors, Defragmenting the hard drive, Start, Computer, Properties, Tools

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CHAPTER 8: Maintaining Your Notebook Checking the hard drive for errors The Error-checking program examines the hard drive for physical flaws and file and folder problems. This program corrects file and folder problems and marks flawed areas on the hard drive so Windows does not use them. If you use your notebook several hours every day, you probably want to run Error-checking once a week. If you use your notebook less frequently, once a month may be adequate. Also use Error-checking if you encounter hard drive problems. To check the hard drive for errors: 1 Click (Start) then click Computer. The Computer window opens. 2 Right-click the drive that you want to check for errors, click Properties, then click the Tools tab. 3 Click Check Now, then click Start. Error checking cannot scan a drive while the drive is being used, so if you try to check your hard drive for errors, you see a prompt asking you if you want to scan the hard drive later (the next time you restart your notebook). 4 Click Schedule disc check. Help For more information about checking the hard drive for errors, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type checking for disk errors in the Search Help box, then press ENTER. Defragmenting the hard drive When working with files, sometimes Windows divides the file information into pieces and stores them in different places on the hard drive. This is called fragmentation, and it is normal. In order for your notebook to use a file, Windows must search for the pieces of the file and put them back together. This process slows the hard drive performance. Disk Defragmenter organizes the data on the drive so each file is stored as one unit rather than as multiple pieces scattered across different areas of the drive. Defragmenting the information stored on the drive can improve hard drive performance. While Disk Defragmenter is running, do not use your keyboard or touchpad because using them may continuously stop and restart the defragmenting process. Also, if you are connected to a network, log off before starting Disk Defragmenter. Network communication may stop the defragmentation process and cause it to start over. Tip Because defragmenting a drive may take hours to complete (depending on the size of the drive being defragmented), consider starting the process when you will not need your notebook for several hours. To defragment the hard drive: 1 Disconnect your notebook from the network. 84

Section	Page
Contents	3
Getting Help	7
Thank you for purchasing our notebook!	8
Using the Gateway Web site	8
Using Help and Support	9
Searching for a topic	9
Getting help for Windows Media Center	9
Using online help	10
Using Windows Vista	11
Using the Windows desktop	12
Using the Start menu	13
Adding icons to the desktop	14
Identifying window items	14
Working with files and folders	15
Viewing drives	15
Creating folders	16
Copying and moving files and folders	16
Deleting files and folders	17
Searching for files	18
Using the Windows Search	18
Using advanced search options	19
Browsing for files and folders	19
Using Tablet PC	20
Calibrating your tablet	20
Using gestures	21
Using the pen	21
Pen button	21
Tips	21
Using the Tablet Input Panel (TIP)	22
Working with documents	23
Creating a new document	23
Saving a document	23
Opening a document	24
Printing a document	24
Shortcuts	25
Using the Internet and Faxing	27
Learning about the Internet	28
Setting up an Internet account	28
Accessing your Internet account	29
Using the WorldWideWeb	29
Connecting to a Website	30
Downloading files	30
Using e-mail	31
Sending e-mail	31
Checking your e-mail	31
Using Windows Fax and Scan	32
Sending a Fax	32
Setting up your cover page template	35
Faxing a scanned document or from programs	36
Canceling a fax	36
Receiving and viewing a fax	36
Using Multimedia	37
Playing music and movies	38
Playing audio and video files	38
Playing optical discs	39
Playing an optical disc using Windows Media Player	39
Creating audio files and music libraries	41
Creating music files	41
Recording audio files	41
Creating WMA and MP3 music files	42
Building a music library	43
Editing track information	43
Creating music CDs and video DVDs	44
Creating a music CD	44
Creating a music CD using Windows Media Player	44
Creating a video DVD	45
Creating a video DVD using Windows DVD Maker	45
Creating and copying data discs	47
Creating a data disc	47
Using Windows Media Center	48
Starting Windows Media Center	48
Networking Your Notebook	49
Introduction to Networking	50
Making sure your broadband connection works	50
Networking terms you should know	50
Wired Ethernet networking	50
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	50
Using a router	50
Equipment you need for a router-based Ethernet network	51
Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware	52
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	52
Connecting network cables	52
Setting up a network using a router	52
Wireless Ethernet networking	54
Wireless Ethernet standards	54
Using an access point	54
Equipment you need for an access point-based network	54
Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware	55
Installing wireless cards and drivers	55
Setting up your access point	55
Setting up your network connection	56
Naming the computers and the workgroup	56
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	56
Using a DHCP server	56
Configuring your router or access point	56
Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network	57
Connecting to your network	57
Wireless security	58
Testing your network	58
Adding a printer to your network	59
Sharing resources	59
Sharing drives and printers	59
Sharing drives or folders	59
Un-sharing drives and folders	60
Sharing printers	60
Using the network	61
Viewing shared drives and folders	61
Creating a shortcut to a network drive	61
Opening files across the network	61
Copying files across the network	62
Printing files across the network	62
Protecting Your Notebook	63
Hardware security	64
Kensington lock slot	64
CompuTrace	64
Data security	65
Computrace	65
Startup and hard drive password	65
Windows user accounts	65
Protecting your notebook from viruses	65
Using McAfee SecurityCenter	66
Scanning for and removing viruses	66
Updating your virus definitions	67
Configuring McAfee VirusScan	67
Using McAfee Parental Controls	68
Using Windows Security Center	70
Modifying security settings	70
Security updates	71
Windows Update	71
Scheduling automatic updates	71
BigFix	72
Traveling securely	72
Customizing Windows	73
Changing screen settings	74
Changing color depth and screen resolution	74
Changing the appearance of windows and backgrounds	75
Selecting a screen saver	76
Changing gadgets	77
Using a gadget’s control panel	78
Configuring the gadget Sidebar	78
Changing system sounds	79
Changing mouse, touchpad, or pointing device settings	80
Changing mouse settings	80
Changing touchpad or pointing device settings	81
Adjusting tablet, pen, and input panel settings	81
Adding and modifying user accounts	82
User account tips	82
Changing accessibility settings	83
Using the Ease of Access Center	83
Using voice recognition	84
Using the Windows Mobility Center	85
Maintaining Your Notebook	87
Updating Windows	88
Using BigFix	88
Managing hard drive space	88
Checking hard drive space	88
Deleting unnecessary files	89
Checking the hard drive for errors	90
Defragmenting the hard drive	90
Backing up files	91
Scheduling maintenance tasks	92
Moving from your old computer	92
Transferring files and settings with Windows Easy Transfer	92
Transferring files and settings manually	93
Finding your documents	93
Finding other files	93
Index	95
A	95
B	95
C	95
D	95
E	95
F	95
G	96
H	96
I	96
K	96
L	96
M	96
N	96
O	96
P	96
R	97
S	97
T	97
U	97
V	97
W	97

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CHAPTER 8: Maintaining Your Notebook

Checking the hard drive for errors

The Error-checking program examines the hard drive for physical flaws and file and folder

problems. This program corrects file and folder problems and marks flawed areas on the hard

drive so Windows does not use them.

If you use your notebook several hours every day, you probably want to run Error-checking once

a week. If you use your notebook less frequently, once a month may be adequate. Also use

Error-checking if you encounter hard drive problems.

To check the hard drive for errors:

Click

(

Start

) then click

Computer

. The

Computer

window opens.

Right-click the drive that you want to check for errors, click

Properties

, then click the

Tools

tab.

Click

Check Now

, then click

Start

. Error checking cannot scan a drive while the drive is

being used, so if you try to check your hard drive for errors, you see a prompt asking you

if you want to scan the hard drive later (the next time you restart your notebook).

Click

Schedule disc check

Defragmenting the hard drive

When working with files, sometimes Windows divides the file information into pieces and stores

them in different places on the hard drive. This is called

fragmentation

, and it is normal. In order

for your notebook to use a file, Windows must search for the pieces of the file and put them

back together. This process slows the hard drive performance.

Disk Defragmenter organizes the data on the drive so each file is stored as one unit rather than

as multiple pieces scattered across different areas of the drive. Defragmenting the information

stored on the drive can improve hard drive performance.

While Disk Defragmenter is running, do not use your keyboard or touchpad because using them

may continuously stop and restart the defragmenting process. Also, if you are connected to a

network, log off before starting Disk Defragmenter. Network communication may stop the

defragmentation process and cause it to start over.

To defragment the hard drive:

Disconnect your notebook from the network.

Help

For more information about checking the hard drive for errors, click

Start

then click

Help and Support

. Type

checking for disk errors

in the

Help

box, then press E

NTER

Tip

Because defragmenting a drive may take hours to complete (depending on the size

of the drive being defragmented), consider starting the process when you will not need

your notebook for several hours.