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Gateway FX530S 8512279 - Gateway Computer Reference Guide (for Gateway FX-Seri - Page 96

Checking the hard drive for errors

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CHAPTER 6: Maintaining Your Computer Checking the hard drive for errors The Error-checking program examines the hard drive for physical flaws and file and folder problems. This program corrects file and folder problems and marks flawed areas on the hard drive so Windows does not use them. If you use your computer several hours every day, you probably want to run Error-checking once a week. If you use your computer less frequently, once a month may be adequate. Also use Error-checking if you encounter hard drive problems. To check the hard drive for errors: 1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens. 2 Right-click the drive that you want to check for errors (for example, Local Disk (C:)), then click Properties. The Properties dialog box opens. 3 Click the Tools tab. 4 Click Check Now, click the options you want to use, then click Start. For help, press F1. Windows checks the drive 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. 90

Section	Page
Contents	3
About This Reference	7
About this guide	8
For more information	8
Accessing the online User Guide	8
To access your 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	21
To connect to a broadband modem or to an Ethernet network:	21
Connecting a dial-up modem	22
To connect the modem:	22
Starting your computer	22
To start your computer:	22
Waking up your computer	23
Turning off your computer	23
To turn off your computer:	23
Restarting (rebooting) your computer	24
To restart your computer:	24
Using the keyboard	24
Premium multimedia keyboard features	24
Elite multimedia keyboard features	26
Using the mouse	27
Using optical drives	30
Features	30
Loading an optical disc	30
To insert an optical disc:	30
Identifying optical drive types	31
Playing discs	32
Playing a CD	32
Playing a DVD	33
Playing a Blu-ray Disc	33
Playing an HD-DVD	33
Creating discs	34
Recording to optical discs	34
Creating audio and video files	34
Copying optical discs	34
Using the memory card reader	34
Memory card types	35
Using a memory card	35
To insert a memory card:	35
To remove a memory card:	35
Adjusting the volume	36
To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:	36
To adjust the volume from Windows:	36
Configuring the audio jacks	37
To configure the audio jacks:	37
Installing a printer, scanner, or other device	38
Advanced Hardware Setup	39
Setting up your CrossFire video cards	40
To connect your CrossFire video cards:	40
Enabling CrossFire	41
To enable CrossFire:	42
Connecting multiple displays to your CrossFire video cards	42
To use multiple displays on the CrossFire video cards:	42
Setting up RAID	43
About RAID	43
RAID 0 for performance	43
How it increases performance	43
How it makes file storage cheaper	44
Drawbacks	44
RAID 1 for security	45
Drawback	45
RAID 5 and 10 for both: performance and security	45
Understanding RAID 5	45
Understanding RAID 10	46
Drawback	46
Preparing your computer for RAID	47
To prepare your computer for RAID:	47
Configuring RAID	47
Enabling RAID	47
To enable RAID on your computer:	47
Creating a RAID volume	48
To configure RAID:	48
Deleting a RAID volume	49
To delete a RAID volume:	49
Resetting drives to non-RAID status	50
To reset drives to non-RAID status:	50
Getting help	50
Overclocking the processor	50
To change the clock speed of your processor:	50
Setting up multiple monitors	52
Upgrading Your Computer	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 front bezel	58
To replace the front bezel:	58
Replacing the side panel	58
To replace the side panel:	58
Adding or replacing memory	59
To install or replace DIMM memory:	59
Replacing the system battery	61
To replace the battery:	61
Adding or replacing an optical disc drive	63
To add or replace an optical disc drive:	63
Replacing the memory card reader	64
To replace the memory card reader:	64
Adding or replacing a hard drive	66
To add or replace a hard drive:	66
Replacing the front fan	69
To replace the front fan:	69
Replacing the rear fan	71
To replace the rear fan:	71
Replacing the power supply	73
To replace the power supply:	73
Replacing the heat sink and processor	74
To replace the heat sink and processor:	74
Replacing the I/O board	76
To replace the front I/O board:	76
Adding or replacing an expansion card	78
To add or replace an expansion card:	78
Replacing the system board	80
To replace the system board:	80
Maintaining Your Computer	87
Setting up a maintenance schedule	88
Caring for your computer	89
Cleaning your computer	90
Cleaning the exterior	90
Cleaning the keyboard	91
To clean the keyboard:	91
Cleaning the monitor	91
To clean the monitor:	91
Cleaning the mouse	91
To clean the mouse:	91
Cleaning optical discs	92
To clean an optical disc:	92
Updating Windows	92
Using BigFix	93
To start BigFix:	93
Managing hard drive space	94
Checking hard drive space	94
To check hard drive space:	94
Deleting unnecessary files	95
To delete unnecessary files:	95
Checking the hard drive for errors	96
To check the hard drive for errors:	96
Defragmenting the hard drive	97
To defragment the hard drive:	97
Backing up files	99
Scheduling maintenance tasks	99
To start the Scheduled Task Wizard:	99
Moving from your old computer	100
Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard	100
To open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard:	100
Transferring files and settings manually	101
Finding your documents	101
To find files in the documents folder:	101
Finding other files	102
To find files using Find or Search:	102
Transferring Internet settings	103
Setting up your ISP	103
To use the Internet Connection Wizard:	103
Transferring your e-mail and address book	103
Transferring your Internet shortcuts	103
Installing your old printer or scanner	104
Installing a USB printer or scanner	104
Installing a parallel port printer	104
To install your old printer:	104
Installing your old programs	105
Troubleshooting	107
Safety guidelines	108
First steps	108
Troubleshooting	109
Add-in cards	109
The computer does not recognize an add-in card	109
Audio	109
Battery	109
DVD drives	109
Ethernet	110
You cannot see the other computers on your network	110
The computer does not recognize an add-in Ethernet card	110
Your Ethernet network is running slower than you expect	110
File management	111
A file was accidentally deleted	111
To restore deleted files:	111
Hard drive	111
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message	111
You see a “Data error” message	111
The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message	111
You see a “Non-system disk” or “disk error” error message	112
Internet	112
You cannot connect to the Internet	112
You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet	112
Connecting to a Web site takes too long	113
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail	113
Keyboard	113
The keyboard does not work	113
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “keyboard stuck” or “key failure” error message	113
Liquid spilled in the keyboard	114
Media Center	114
The Media Center video display look bad on your TV	114
You need to configure your computer to output to a TV	116
You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality	116
You want to know whether you can burn programs that were recorded with your computer to a DVD	116
You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on other computers	116
You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on your home DVD player	116
You get the following “Download Error” message when the computer tries to update the Program Guide:	117
Memory	117
You see a “Memory error” message	117
You see a “Not enough memory” error message	117
Memory card reader	117
Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the My Computer window	117
Modem (cable or DSL)	117
Modem (dial-up)	117
Your modem does not dial or does not connect	118
To check the dialing properties:	118
You cannot connect to the Internet	119
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K	119
Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem	120
The modem is not recognized by your computer	120
To run modem diagnostics:	120
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects	121
To turn down the modem volume:	121
Monitor	121
The screen resolution is not correct	121
The computer is running but there is no picture	121
The color is not uniform	122
The text on the display is dim or difficult to read	122
Mouse	122
The mouse does not work	122
The mouse works erratically	122
Networks	122
You cannot connect to your company network	122
Optical disc drives	123
The computer does not recognize a disc or the disc drive	123
Audio CD does not produce sound	123
A DVD movie will not play	124
Passwords	124
Your computer does not accept your password	124
Power	125
Your computer will not turn on	125
Printer	125
The printer will not turn on	125
The printer is on but will not print	125
To set a default printer:	125
You see a “Printer queue is full” error message	126
To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline:	126
You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message	126
Sound	126
You are not getting sound from the speakers	126
Recovering your system	127
Understanding system recovery options	127
Recovering your system	128
For more help, you can find the Gateway Customer Care contact information on the label located on the front or side of your computer.	128
Recovering specific files and software	128
To restore your system from the driver and application recovery discs:	129
Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore	130
To restore using Microsoft System Restore:	130
Recovering your system from the hard drive	133
To recover your system from the hard drive:	133
Telephone support	135
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	135
. Power cords or plugs are damaged	135
. Liquid has been spilled into your computer	135
. Your computer was dropped	135
. The case was damaged	135
Instead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer technician.	135
Telephone numbers	136
Automated troubleshooting system	136
Telephone numbers	136
Self-help	137
Tutoring	137
Training	137
Legal Notices	139
If your computer has a DVD-compatible drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph applies:	147
A	149
B	149
C	149
D	150
E	151
F	151
G	152
H	152
I	152
J	152
K	152
L	153
M	153
N	154
O	154
P	154
R	155
S	155
T	156
U	157
V	157
W	157
X	157
Z	157