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Gateway NV-79 Gateway Notebook User's Guide - English - Page 97

Defragmenting the hard drive, Computer, fragmentation

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www.gateway.com 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. Your drive is checked for errors. This process may take several minutes. Important 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). If you see this prompt, click Schedule disc check. After Windows has finished checking the drive for errors, it provides a summary of the problems that it found. 4 Correct any problems that are found by following the on-screen instructions. 5 Click OK. 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 mouse 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. 91

Section	Page
Getting Help	7
Thank you for purchasing our notebook!	8
Using the Gateway Web site	8
Using Help and Support	8
Contacting Gateway	9
Getting help for Windows Media Center	9
Using online help	10
Using Windows	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	19
Calibrating your tablet	20
Using gestures	21
Using the digital pen	21
Digital 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 World Wide Web	29
Connecting to a Web site	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 faxing from programs	37
Canceling a fax	37
Receiving and viewing a fax	37
Playing and Creating Media Files	39
Playing music and movies	40
Playing audio and video files	40
Playing optical discs	41
Playing an optical disc using Windows Media Player	41
Creating audio files and music libraries	43
Creating music files	43
Recording audio files	43
Creating WMA and MP3 music files	44
Building a music library	44
Editing track information	45
Creating music CDs and video DVDs	45
Creating a music CD	45
Creating a video DVD	46
Creating and copying data discs	49
Creating a data disc	49
Using Windows Media Center	49
Starting Windows Media Center	50
Networking Your Notebook	51
Introduction to Networking	52
Networking terms you should know	52
Ethernet networking	52
Wired Ethernet networking	52
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	52
Using a router	52
Equipment you need for a router-based Ethernet network	53
Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware	54
Wireless Ethernet networking	55
Wireless Ethernet standards	55
Using an access point	56
Equipment you need for an access point-based network	56
Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware	57
Establishing your Ethernet network connection	57
Naming the computers and the workgroup	57
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	58
Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network	58
Wireless security	60
Testing your network	60
Adding a printer to your network	60
Sharing resources	60
Sharing drives and printers	60
Using the network	62
Viewing shared drives and folders	62
Creating a shortcut to a network drive	62
Opening files across the network	62
Copying files across the network	63
Printing files across the network	63
Bluetooth networking	63
Protecting Your Notebook	65
Hardware security	66
Kensington lock slot	66
Data security	66
Startup and hard drive password	66
Windows user accounts	66
Protecting your notebook from viruses	67
How to scan for and remove Internet threats	67
If you are using Norton 360	67
If you are using Norton Internet Security	69
Using Windows Security Center	70
Modifying security settings	70
Security updates	71
Windows Update	71
Scheduling automatic updates	71
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, digital pen, and input panel settings	82
Adding and modifying user accounts	83
User account tips	83
Changing accessibility settings	84
Using the Ease of Access Center	84
Using voice recognition	85
Using the Windows Mobility Center	86
Setting up parental controls	88
Filtering Internet access	88
Scheduling notebook and Internet use	89
Restricting game access	89
Restricting specific programs	91
Creating activity reports	91
Maintaining Your Notebook	93
Setting up a maintenance schedule	94
Updating Windows	94
Managing hard drive space	95
Checking hard drive space	95
Deleting unnecessary files	96
Checking the hard drive for errors	96
Defragmenting the hard drive	97
Backing up files	98
Scheduling maintenance tasks	99
Moving from your old computer	99
Transferring files and settings with Windows Easy Transfer	99
Transferring files and settings manually	100
Finding your documents	100
Finding other files	100
A	103
B	103
C	103
D	103
E	103
F	103
G	104
H	104
I	104
K	104
L	104
M	104
N	104
O	104
P	105
R	105
S	105
T	105
U	105
V	105

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www.gateway.com

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. Your drive is checked for errors. This process

may take several minutes.

After Windows has finished checking the drive for errors, it provides a summary

of the problems that it found.

Correct any problems that are found by following the on-screen instructions.

Click OK.

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 mouse 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.

Important

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). If you see this prompt, 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 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.