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Gateway GT5426E 8512041 - Gateway Hardware Reference Guide (5-bay uATX Case) - Page 68

Defragmenting the hard drive

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CHAPTER 5: Maintaining Your Computer 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 computer 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 the computer for several hours. To defragment the hard drive: 1 Disconnect your computer from the network. 2 Click (Start), All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click Disk Defragmenter. The Disk Defragmenter dialog box opens. 62 3 Click Defragment now. This process may take hours to complete, depending on the size of the drive being defragmented. Help For more information about defragmenting the hard drive, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type defragmenting in the Search Help box, then press ENTER.

Section	Page
Contents	3
About This Reference	7
About this guide	8
For more information	8
Accessing the online User Guide	8
To access the 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
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 to sleep:	24
To turn off your computer:	24
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	25
To restart your computer:	25
Using the keyboard	26
Premium multimedia keyboard features	26
Elite multimedia keyboard features	27
Using the mouse	29
Adjusting the volume	31
To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:	31
To adjust the volume from Windows:	31
Configuring the audio jacks	33
To configure the audio jacks:	33
Installing a printer, scanner, or other device	34
Upgrading Your Computer	35
Preventing static electricity discharge	36
Opening the case	37
Removing the side panel	37
To remove the side panel:	37
Removing the front bezel	38
To remove the front bezel:	38
Closing the case	39
Replacing the front bezel	39
To replace the front bezel:	39
Replacing the side panel	40
To replace the side panel:	40
Replacing the color panel	40
To replace the color panel on the front bezel:	40
Installing memory	43
To install or replace DIMM memory:	43
Adding or replacing an optical disc drive	45
To add replace an optical drive:	45
Replacing the memory card reader	47
To replace the memory card reader:	47
Adding or replacing a harddrive	49
To add or replace a hard drive:	49
Replacing the heat sink and processor	51
To replace the heat sink and processor:	51
Adding or replacing an expansion card	53
To add or replace an expansion card:	53
Replacing the system battery	55
To replace the battery:	55
Replacing the system board	57
To replace the system board:	57
Maintaining Your Computer	59
Setting up a maintenance schedule	60
Caring for your computer	60
Cleaning your computer	61
Cleaning the exterior	62
Cleaning the keyboard	62
To clean the keyboard:	62
Cleaning the monitor	63
To clean the monitor:	63
Cleaning the mouse	63
To clean the mouse:	63
Cleaning optical discs	63
To clean an optical disc:	63
Updating Windows	64
Using BigFix	64
To start BigFix:	64
Managing hard drive space	64
Checking hard drive space	65
To check hard drive space:	65
Deleting unnecessary files	66
To delete unnecessary files:	66
Checking the hard drive for errors	66
To check the hard drive for errors:	67
Defragmenting the hard drive	68
To defragment the hard drive:	68
Backing up files	69
To back up files:	69
Scheduling maintenance tasks	70
To start the Task Scheduler:	70
Moving from your old computer	71
Moving with Windows Easy Transfer	71
To move files and settings from your old computer:	71
Moving files and settings manually	72
Finding your documents	72
To find files in the documents folder:	72
Finding other files	72
To find files using Find or Search:	73
Troubleshooting	75
Safety guidelines	76
First steps	76
Troubleshooting	77
Add-in cards	77
The computer does not recognize an add-in card	77
Audio	77
CD or DVD drives	77
The computer does not recognize a disc or the CD or DVD drive	77
An audio CD does not produce sound	78
A DVD movie will not play	78
Diskette drive	79
The diskette drive is not recognized	79
You cannot save a file to diskette or you see the message “disk is full or write-protected”	79
You see an “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error message	79
You see a “Disk is full” error message	80
You see a “Non-system disk” or “Disk error” error message	80
The diskette drive LED is lit continuously	80
DVD drives	80
Ethernet	80
You cannot see the other computers on your network	80
The computer does not recognize an add-in Ethernet card	81
Your Ethernet network is running slower than you expect	81
File management	81
A file was accidentally deleted	81
To restore deleted files:	81
Hard drive	82
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message	82
You see a “Data error” message	82
The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message	82
Internet	83
You cannot connect to the Internet	83
You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet	83
Connecting to a Web site takes too long	84
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail	84
Keyboard	84
The keyboard does not work	84
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “keyboard stuck” or “key failure” error message	84
Liquid spilled in the keyboard	85
Media Center	85
The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV	85
You need to configure your Media Center computer to output to aTV	87
You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality	87
You want to know whether you can burn programs that were recorded with your Media Center computer...	87
You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on other computers	88
You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on your home DVD player	88
You get a “Download Error” message when the Media Center tries to update the Program Guide:	88
Memory	88
You see a “Memory error” message	88
You see a “Not enough memory” error message	88
Memory card reader	88
Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the My Computer window	88
Modem (cable or DSL)	89
Modem (dial-up)	89
Your modem does not dial or does not connect	89
To check the dialing properties:	89
You cannot connect to the Internet	90
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K	90
Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400bps when you have a 56K m...	91
The modem is not recognized by your computer	91
To run modem diagnostics:	91
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects	92
To turn down the modem volume:	92
Monitor	92
The screen resolution is not correct	92
The computer is running but there is no picture	92
The color is not uniform	93
Why is there a horizontal line or wire visible across the monitor screen?	93
The text on the display is dim or difficult to read	93
Mouse	94
The mouse does not work	94
The mouse works erratically	94
Networks	94
You cannot connect to your company network	94
Passwords	94
Your computer does not accept your password	94
Power	94
Your computer will not turn on	94
Printer	95
The printer will not turn on	95
The printer is on but will not print	95
To set a default printer:	95
You see a “Printer queue is full” error message	96
To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline:	96
You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message	96
Sound	96
You are not getting sound from the speakers	96
Recovering your system	97
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers	98
Preparing for software and device driver recovery	98
To create discs for recovering pre-installed software anddrivers:	99
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using Gateway Recovery Center	101
To recover specific drivers and software:	101
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using recoverydiscs	102
To recover software and drivers using recovery discs:	102
Using Microsoft System Restore	104
To restore using Microsoft System Restore:	104
Manually creating a restore point	105
To manually create a restore point:	105
Recovering your system to its factory condition	107
To delete everything on your hard drive and re-install all factory software:	107
Recovering your system using the WindowsDVD	108
To completely re-install Windows:	108
Telephone support	108
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	108
Telephone numbers	109
Automated troubleshooting system	109
Telephone numbers	110
Self-help	110
Tutoring	111
Training	111
Legal Notices	113
If your computer has a DVD-compatible drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph ap...	121
A	123
B	123
C	123
D	124
E	125
F	125
G	125
H	125
I	125
J	125
K	125
L	126
M	126
N	127
O	127
P	127
R	127
S	127
T	128
U	129
V	129
W	129
Z	129