Gateway FX400XL 8510864 - Gateway Computer User Guide - Page 2

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4

Using Drives and Ports

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Using the diskette drive

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

Using the memory card reader

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Memory card types

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Inserting a memory card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Using the CD or DVD drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Identifying drive types

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Playing a CD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Playing a DVD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Creating CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

5

Maintaining Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Updating Windows

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Protecting your computer from viruses

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Cleaning the exterior

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Cleaning the computer display

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Cleaning the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Cleaning CDs or DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Restoring your system

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Microsoft System Restore

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Reinstalling programs and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Restoring your computer to the original configuration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Preventing static electricity discharge

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

6

Troubleshooting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Safety guidelines

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Troubleshooting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Audio

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

CD or DVD drives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Section	Page
Getting Help	5
Gateway Web site	7
Using Support	7
Support Home	8
Product Support	8
Downloads	8
Customer Service	8
Upgrade Center	8
Resources	8
Contact Us	8
Help and Support	9
To start Help and Support:	9
Searching for a topic	10
BigFix	10
To start BigFix:	10
To learn more about using BigFix:	10
Using Your Computer guide	11
To access the Using Your Computer guide:	11
Online help	11
Gateway contact information	12
Checking Out Your GatewayComputer	13
Desktop PC Front	14
Desktop PC Back	16
Identifying your model	19
Gateway model and serial number	19
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	19
Finding your specifications	20
Accessories	20
Getting Started	23
Working safely	24
Reducing eye strain	24
Setting up your computer desk and chair	24
Setting up your computer and computer accessories	25
Sitting at your computer	25
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	25
Protecting from power source problems	26
Checking the voltage selection	26
To set the voltage selection switch:	27
Starting your computer	27
To start your computer:	27
Waking up your computer	28
Turning off your computer	28
To turn off your computer:	28
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	29
To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:	29
Using the keyboard	30
Keyboard features	30
Using the mouse	32
Adjusting the volume	34
To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:	34
Configuring the audio jacks	34
To configure the audio jacks:	34
Connecting the dial-up modem	35
To connect the modem:	35
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network	35
To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network:	35
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device	36
Using Drives and Ports	37
Using the diskette drive	38
To use a diskette:	38
Using the memory card reader	39
Memory card types	39
Inserting a memory card	40
To use a memory card:	40
To remove a memory card:	40
Using the CD or DVD drive	41
Identifying drive types	41
Inserting a CD or DVD	42
To insert a CD or DVD:	42
Playing a CD	43
Playing a DVD	43
Creating CDs and DVDs	43
Maintaining Your Computer	45
Caring for your computer	46
Updating Windows	46
To run Windows Update:	46
Protecting your computer from viruses	47
To scan for viruses:	48
To remove a virus:	49
To update Norton Internet Security:	49
Cleaning your computer	50
Cleaning the exterior	50
Cleaning the keyboard	50
Cleaning the computer display	51
Cleaning the mouse	51
To clean your mouse:	51
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	51
Restoring your system	52
Microsoft System Restore	52
To run Microsoft System Restore:	52
Reinstalling programs and drivers	52
To reinstall your program or driver:	52
Restoring your computer to the original configuration	53
To restore your computer to the original configuration:	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
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	88
Using a router	88
Example router-based Ethernet network	89
Determining if an Ethernet is already installed on your computers	90
To determine if Ethernet is already installed on your computer:	90
Creating an Ethernet network	90
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	90
Making sure your broadband connection works	91
Naming the computers and the workgroup	91
To identify this computer on the network:	91
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	92
Terms you should know	92
Using a DHCP server	92
To use a DHCP server	92
Setting up an Ethernet network	94
Setting up a network using a router	95
To set up a network using a router:	96
Configuring your router	96
To configure the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router:	96
Testing your network	98
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network	99
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information	101
Index	109
A	109
B	109
C	109
D	110
E	111
F	111
G	111
H	111
I	111
J	112
K	112
L	112
M	112
N	113
O	113
P	113
R	114
S	114
T	114
U	115
V	115
W	115

Gateway FX400XL 8510864 - Gateway Computer User Guide - Page 2

Using Drives and Ports, Maintaining Your Computer, Troubleshooting, Inserting a CD or DVD .38 - drivers

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