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Gateway FX400S 8510754 - Gateway Computer User Guide - Page 121

Wireless Ethernet network, To check the signal strength of your wireless Ethernet network

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Wireless Ethernet network Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network You turned the wireless on, but it takes a while to connect. ■ When the wireless emitter is turned on, it automatically scans for available connections, which can take approximately 30 seconds to complete. Your connection on the network seems intermittent. ■ In addition to other factors, the strength of a wireless connection is determined by the distance from the access point and structural material that the signal must travel through (such as walls, cabinets, ceilings, and floors.) If you cannot relocate, see if you can improve the connection by changing the channel of the access point. Your wireless Ethernet network is running slower than you expect ■ If your wireless Ethernet network is running slower than you expect, you should check your network signal strength. If you find the signal strength is low, try moving to a new location to increase the signal strength. Important Signal strength is affected by the distance between your wireless network devices, by radio interference, and by interference from natural obstructions such as walls, floors, and doors. To check the signal strength of your wireless Ethernet network: 1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Network and Internet Connections. The Network and Internet Connections window opens. 2 Click/Double-click Network Connections. The Network Connections window opens. www.gateway.com 115

Section	Page
Getting Help	7
Gateway Web site	9
Using eSupport	10
Support Home	10
Product Support	10
Downloads	10
Contact Us	10
Account Info	10
PC Tools	10
Help and Support	11
To start Help and Support:	11
Searching for a topic	12
BigFix	12
To start BigFix:	12
To learn more about using BigFix:	12
Using Your Computer guide	13
To access the Using Your Computer guide:	13
Online help	13
Gateway contact information	14
Checking Out Your GatewayComputer	15
Desktop PC Front	16
Desktop PC Back	18
Identifying your model	21
Gateway model and serial number	21
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	21
Finding your specifications	22
Accessories	22
Getting Started	25
Working safely	26
Reducing eye strain	26
Setting up your computer desk and chair	26
Setting up your computer and computer accessories	27
Sitting at your computer	27
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	27
Protecting from power source problems	28
Checking the voltage selection	28
To set the voltage selection switch:	29
Starting your computer	29
To start your computer:	29
Waking up your computer	30
Turning off your computer	30
To turn off your computer:	30
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	31
To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:	31
Using the keyboard	32
Keyboard features	32
Using the mouse	34
Adjusting the volume	35
To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:	36
Configuring the audio jacks	36
To configure the audio jacks:	36
Connecting the dial-up modem	37
To connect the modem:	37
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network	37
To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network:	37
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device	38
Using Drives and Ports	39
Using the diskette drive	40
To use a diskette:	40
Using the memory card reader	41
Memory card types	41
Inserting a memory card	42
To use a memory card:	42
To remove a memory card:	42
Using the CD or DVD drive	43
Identifying drive types	43
Inserting a CD or DVD	44
To insert a CD or DVD:	44
Playing a CD	45
Playing a DVD	45
Creating CDs and DVDs	45
Maintaining Your Computer	47
Caring for your computer	48
Updating Windows	48
To run Windows Update:	48
Protecting your computer from viruses	49
To scan for viruses:	49
To remove a virus:	50
To update Norton AntiVirus:	50
Cleaning your computer	51
Cleaning the exterior	51
Cleaning the keyboard	51
Cleaning the computer display	52
Cleaning the mouse	52
To clean your mouse:	52
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	52
Restoring your system	53
Preventing static electricity discharge	54
Opening the case	55
Removing the side panel	55
To remove the side panel:	55
Removing the front bezel	57
To remove the front bezel:	57
Closing the case	58
Replacing the side panel	58
To replace the side panel:	58
Replacing the front bezel	59
To replace the front bezel:	59
Installing memory	60
To install or replace DIMM memory:	60
Replacing the system battery	62
To replace the battery:	62
Troubleshooting	65
Safety guidelines	66
First steps	66
Troubleshooting	67
Add-in cards	67
Audio	67
Battery	67
CD or DVD drives	67
Computer	69
Diskette drive	69
DVD drives	70
File management	70
Hard drive	71
Internet	72
Keyboard	73
Memory	74
Memory card reader	74
Modem (dial-up)	74
Monitor	78
Mouse	80
Networks	80
Passwords	80
Power	81
Printer	81
Sound	83
Telephone support	84
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	84
Telephone numbers	85
Automated troubleshooting system	85
Telephone numbers	85
Self-help	86
Tutoring	86
Training	86
Networking Your Computer	87
Introduction to networking	88
Using a network	88
Sharing a single Internet connection	88
Sharing drives	88
Sharing peripheral devices	88
Streaming audio and video files	88
Playing multi-player games	89
Selecting a network connection	89
Wireless Ethernet network	89
Determining if wireless Ethernet is already installed on your computers	92
To determine if wireless Ethernet is already installed on your computer:	92
Wired Ethernet network	93
Determining if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computers	95
To determine if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computer:	95
Creating an Ethernet network	95
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	95
Making sure your broadband connection works	96
Naming the computers and the workgroup	96
To identify this computer on the network:	96
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	97
Terms you should know	97
Using a DHCP server	97
To use a DHCP server	97
Where to go from here	99
Setting up a wireless Ethernet network	99
Mounting the access point	100
Configuring the access point	100
To configure the Linksys wireless access point router with 4-port switch:	100
Connecting to an access point network	101
To connect to an access point wireless Ethernet network:	102
Configuring computer settings for an access point	103
To configure computer settings with WEP security for an access point wireless Ethernet network:	103
Adding an access point	105
To manually add an access point wireless Ethernet network:	105
Setting up a wired Ethernet network	107
Setting up a network using a router	107
To set up a network using a router:	108
Configuring your router	109
To configure the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router:	109
Testing your network	110
Sharing your resources	110
Sharing an Internet connection	110
To set up Internet Explorer on each computer on your Ethernet network:	111
Accessing the Internet	113
To access the Internet from your computer:	113
Sharing drives and printers	114
Sharing drives or folders	114
To share drives or folders:	114
Un-sharing drives, folders, and files	116
To un-share drives or folders:	116
Sharing printers	116
To share printers:	116
Using the network	116
Viewing shared drives and folders	117
To view shared drives and folders:	117
Mapping a network drive	117
To map a network drive:	117
Opening files across the network	118
To open files across the network:	118
Copying files across the network	118
To copy files across the network:	118
Printing files across the network	119
To print files across the network:	119
Connecting to hotspots	119
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network	120
Wired Ethernet network	120
Wireless Ethernet network	121
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information	123
Index	133
A	133
B	133
C	133
D	134
E	135
F	135
G	135
H	135
I	136
J	136
K	136
L	136
M	136
N	137
O	138
P	138
R	138
S	138
T	139
U	140
V	140
W	140