Gateway E-4300 Gateway E-4300 Computer User's Guide - Page 3

i

www.gateway.com

Contents

1

Getting Help

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

Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Using Your Computer guide

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Gateway contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2

Checking Out Your Gateway Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Micro Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Front

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Mid Tower

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Front

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Desktop to tower conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Locating your serial number

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

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Finding your specifications

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

Accessories

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

3

Getting Started

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Working safely

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

Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Setting up your computer and computer accessories

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

Sitting at your computer

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

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain

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

Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Starting your computer

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

Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Restarting (rebooting) your computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Using the keyboard

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

Standard keyboard

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

Multifunction keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Connecting the modem

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

Connecting to a wired Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Section	Page
Contents	3
Getting Help	7
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	11
Micro Tower	12
Front	12
Back	14
Mid Tower	17
Front	17
Back	19
Desktop to tower conversion	22
Locating your serial number	23
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	24
Finding your specifications	24
Accessories	25
Getting Started	27
Working safely	28
Reducing eye strain	28
Setting up your computer desk and chair	29
Setting up your computer and computer accessories	29
Sitting at your computer	29
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	30
Protecting from power source problems	30
Checking the voltage selection	30
Starting your computer	32
Waking up your computer	33
Turning off your computer	33
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	34
Using the keyboard	35
Standard keyboard	35
Multifunction keyboard	36
Special-function buttons	37
Adjusting the volume	38
Connecting the modem	38
Connecting to a wired Ethernet network	39
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device	40
Using Drives and Ports	41
Using the diskette drive	42
Using the Zip drive	44
Using the memory card reader	45
Memory card types	45
Inserting a memory card	45
Using the CD or DVD drive	47
Identifying drive types	47
Inserting a CD or DVD	48
Playing a CD	49
Playing a DVD	49
Creating CDs and DVDs	49
Maintaining Your Computer	51
Caring for your computer	52
Updating Windows	52
Protecting your computer from viruses	53
Cleaning your computer	55
Cleaning the exterior	55
Cleaning the keyboard	56
Cleaning the monitor	56
Cleaning the mouse	56
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	58
Restoring your system	58
Preventing static electricity discharge	59
Maintaining the Micro Tower case	60
Opening the case	60
Closing the case	62
Installing memory	63
Replacing the system battery	65
Maintaining the Mid Tower case	66
Opening the case	66
Closing the case	67
Removing the front bezel	67
Installing memory	70
Replacing the system battery	71
Troubleshooting	73
Safety guidelines	74
First steps	74
Troubleshooting	75
Add-in cards	75
Audio	75
Battery	75
CD or DVD drives	75
Computer	77
Diskette drive	77
DVD drives	78
File management	78
Hard drive	79
Internet	80
Keyboard	81
Memory	81
Memory card reader	82
Modem (dial-up)	82
Monitor	85
Mouse	86
Networks	87
Passwords	87
Power	87
Printer	87
Sound	89
Networking Your Computer	91
Introduction to networking	92
Using a network	92
Sharing a single Internet connection	92
Sharing drives	92
Sharing peripheral devices	92
Streaming audio and video files	92
Playing multi-player games	93
Selecting a network connection	93
Wireless Ethernet network	93
Determining if wireless Ethernet is already installed on your computers	97
Wired Ethernet network	98
Determining if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computers	100
Creating an Ethernet network	100
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	100
Making sure your broadband connection works	101
Naming the computers and the workgroup	101
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	102
Terms you should know	102
Using a DHCP server	102
Where to go from here	104
Setting up a wireless Ethernet network	105
Mounting the access point	105
Configuring the access point	105
Connecting to an access point network	107
Configuring computer settings for an access point	108
Adding an access point	110
Setting up a wired Ethernet network	112
Setting up a network using a router	112
Configuring your router	114
Testing your network	115
Sharing your resources	116
Sharing an Internet connection	116
Accessing the Internet	119
Sharing drives and printers	119
Sharing drives or folders	119
Un-sharing drives, folders, and files	121
Sharing printers	121
Using the network	121
Viewing shared drives and folders	122
Mapping a network drive	122
Opening files across the network	123
Copying files across the network	123
Printing files across the network	123
Connecting to hotspots	124
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network	125
Wired Ethernet network	125
Wireless Ethernet network	126
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information	129
Index	135
A	135
B	135
C	135
D	136
E	137
F	137
G	137
H	137
I	137
J	138
K	138
L	138
M	138
N	139
O	139
P	139
R	140
S	140
T	141
U	141
V	141
W	141

Gateway E-4300 Gateway E-4300 Computer User's Guide - Page 3

Contents - specifications

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