Gateway M500 Gateway M500 Notebook User's Guide - Page 5

iii

Setting up a home office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Traveling with your notebook

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Preparing your notebook

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

What to bring with you

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Special considerations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Traveling internationally with your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Preparing your notebook

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

What to bring with you

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Special considerations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

6

Using Installed Programs and Utilities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

System software

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Launch Manager

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

BIOS Setup utility

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Setting a password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

7

Troubleshooting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Frequently-asked questions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Before calling Gateway Technical Support

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Telephone numbers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Tutoring and training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Self-help

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

A

Specifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Microprocessor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Data storage

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Display and video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Keyboard and pointing device

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

I/O ports

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Weight and dimensions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Environment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Section	Page
Contents	3
Getting Started	7
Connecting and starting your notebook	8
To connect and start your notebook:	8
1 Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up.	8
2 Insert the battery at an angle (1), press gently on the battery (2) until it clicks into place....	8
Important	8
3 Connect one end of the AC adapter to the power connector on the back of your notebook and the o...	9
4 Slide the cover release latch to the left (1) to open the LCD panel (2). Press the power button...	10
Important	10
Care and maintenance	11
Taking care of your notebook	11
Taking care of your AC adapter	11
Taking care of your battery	12
Cleaning and servicing	12
To clean your notebook:	12
1 Turn off your notebook, then remove the battery.	12
2 Disconnect the AC adapter.	12
3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.	12
Getting Familiar with Your Notebook	13
Top	14
Front	16
Left	17
Right	18
Back	19
Bottom	21
Features	22
LCD panel	24
Status indicators	25
Keyboard	27
Special keys	27
Keyboard ergonomics	31
Touchpad	32
Touchpad basics	33
Multi-function buttons	35
Storage	37
Hard drive	37
Optical drive	37
Connectivity options	40
Ethernet and LAN	40
Fax/data modem	41
Wireless communication	42
Fast infrared	43
Audio	44
AV control panel	45
Securing your notebook	49
Security slot	49
Passwords	50
Managing Power	51
Using the battery	52
Using the battery for the first time	52
Installing the battery	53
Removing the battery	54
Recharging the battery	55
Checking the charge level	55
Optimizing battery life	56
Battery-low warning	56
Power management	58
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface	58
Using Peripheral Devices and Options	59
External monitor	60
Using simultaneous display	60
S-Video	61
External keyboard	62
External pointing device	63
Printer	64
Audio devices	65
PC Card	66
PC Card slot	66
USB devices	68
IEEE 1394 devices	69
Miscellaneous options	70
Additional AC adapters and batteries	70
Battery	70
AC adapter	70
Key component upgrades	71
Memory upgrade	71
Hard drive upgrade	71
Moving with Your Notebook	73
Disconnecting from peripheral devices	74
Moving around	75
Preparing your notebook	75
What to bring to short meetings	75
What to bring to long meetings	75
Taking the notebook home	76
Preparing your notebook	76
What to bring with you	76
Special considerations	77
Setting up a home office	77
Traveling with your notebook	78
Preparing your notebook	78
What to bring with you	78
Special considerations	78
Traveling internationally with your notebook	79
Preparing your notebook	79
What to bring with you	79
Special considerations	79
Using Installed Programs and Utilities	81
System software	82
Launch Manager	82
BIOS Setup utility	83
Setting a password	83
Troubleshooting	87
Frequently-asked questions	88
Error messages	91
Telephone support	93
Before calling Gateway Technical Support	93
Telephone numbers	94
Tutoring and training	95
Self-help	95
Tutoring	95
Training	96
Specifications	97
Microprocessor	98
Memory	98
Data storage	98
Display and video	98
Audio	99
Keyboard and pointing device	99
I/O ports	99
Weight and dimensions	99
Environment	100
Operating System	100
Power	100
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information	101
Index	111
A	111
B	111
C	111
D	112
E	113
F	113
H	113
I	113
K	113
L	114
M	114
N	114
O	114
P	115
R	115
S	115
T	116
U	116
V	117

Gateway M500 Gateway M500 Notebook User's Guide - Page 5

Before calling Gateway Technical Support, BIOS Setup utility

Page 5 highlights