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Gateway P-6317 8513072 - Gateway Notebook Reference Guide R1 - Page 96

Recovering your system

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CHAPTER 7: Maintaining Your Notebook Recovering your system You can solve most notebook problems by following the information in "Troubleshooting" on page 113 or in the technical support pages at www.gateway.com. Problem solving may also involve re-installing some or all of the notebook's software (also called recovering or restoring your system). Gateway provides everything you need to recover your system under most conditions. Caution To prepare your notebook for additional system recovery options, you should create a set of software and driver recovery discs as soon as possible. For instructions, see "Preparing for software and device driver recovery" on page 89. • If only one or two items of software or hardware have stopped working correctly, the problem may be solved by re-installing the software or the hardware drivers. To recover software and drivers that were pre-installed at the factory, see "Recovering pre-installed software and drivers" on page 89. For instructions on reinstalling software and drivers that were not pre-installed, see that product's documentation or support Web site. • If re-installing software or drivers does not help, then the problem may be solved by returning your system to a previous state when everything was working correctly. For instructions, see "Using Microsoft System Restore" on page 94. • If nothing else has solved the problem and you want to return your system to factory condition, see "Recovering your system to its factory condition" on page 97. If you upgrade or exchange your hard drive or if your hard drive is completely erased or corrupted, your only option for system recovery may be to reinstall Windows from the Windows DVD, then recover your pre-installed software and device drivers using recovery discs that you created. • To re-install Windows using the Windows DVD, see "Recovering your system using the Windows DVD" on page 98. • To re-install your pre-installed software and device drivers using recovery discs, see "Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using recovery discs" on page 93. 88

Section	Page
Contents	3
About This Reference	9
About this guide	10
Accessing your online User Guide	10
Gateway contact information	10
Contacting Gateway Customer Care	10
Gateway model and serial number	10
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity	11
For more information	11
Checking Out Your Notebook	13
Front	14
Left	15
Right	16
Back	17
Bottom	18
Keyboard area	19
LCD panel	20
Setting Up and Getting Started	21
Working safely and comfortably	22
Reducing eye strain	22
Setting up your computer desk and chair	23
Sitting at your notebook	23
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain	23
Connecting the AC adapter	24
Protecting from power source problems	26
Connecting to a broadband modem or network	26
Connecting the optional dial-up modem	27
Starting your notebook	27
Waking up your notebook	29
Turning off your notebook	29
Restarting (rebooting) your notebook	30
Using the status indicators	31
Using the keyboard	32
Key types	32
System key combinations	33
Using the optional fingerprint reader	37
Running the TouchStrip Tutorial	37
Enrolling your fingerprints	38
Using the Fingerprint Control Center	40
Using the password bank	41
Using the fingerprint reader features	42
Using the EZ Pad touchpad	43
Using the optional multimedia panel	45
Using the optional webcam	47
Adjusting the brightness	50
Adjusting the volume	50
Turning your wireless radio on or off	52
IEEE 802.11 wireless network radio	53
Disabling the wireless IEEE 802.11 radio	54
Bluetooth radio	54
Disabling the Bluetooth radio	55
Using Drives and Accessories	57
Using the DVD drive	58
Identifying drive types	58
Using a DVD drive	59
Using a tray-load DVD drive	59
Setting up an optional RAID	60
About RAID	60
RAID 0 for performance	60
How it increases performance	60
How it makes file storage cheaper	61
Drawbacks	61
RAID 1 for security	61
Drawback	62
Preparing your notebook for RAID	62
Configuring RAID	62
Enabling RAID	62
Creating a RAID volume	62
Deleting a RAID volume	64
Resetting drives to non-RAID status	64
Getting help	65
Using an eSATA (external SATA) hard drive	65
Using the memory card reader	66
Memory card types	66
Inserting a memory card	66
Using a memory card	67
Removing a memory card	67
Using an Express Card	67
Installing a printer or other peripheral device	68
Connecting a USB device	69
Connecting an IEEE 1394 device	69
Viewing the display on a projector, monitor, or television	70
Adjusting the display properties	72
Using the projector or monitor for a presentation	73
Managing Power	75
Monitoring the battery charge	76
Recharging the battery	76
Changing the battery	77
Recalibrating the battery	78
Extending battery life	79
Maximizing battery performance	79
Conserving battery power	79
Using alternate power sources	80
Changing power modes	80
Using power saving modes	81
Changing notebook power settings	82
Changing the power plan	82
Changing advanced settings	83
Traveling with Your Notebook	85
Packing your notebook	86
Traveling by air	86
Dial-up modem	86
Radio frequency wireless connections	87
Files	87
Security	88
Power	89
Additional tips	89
Maintaining Your Notebook	91
Caring for your notebook	92
Cleaning your notebook	92
Cleaning the exterior	93
Cleaning the keyboard	93
Cleaning the notebook screen	93
Maintaining the battery	94
Storing batteries	94
Cleaning CDs or DVDs	95
Overclocking the processor	95
Recovering your system	96
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers	97
Preparing for software and device driver recovery	97
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using Gateway Recovery Center	99
Recovering pre-installed software and drivers using recovery discs	101
Using Microsoft System Restore	102
Manually creating a restore point	104
Recovering your system to its factory condition	105
Recovering your system using the Windows DVD	106
Upgrading Your Notebook	109
Preventing static electricity discharge	110
Adding or replacing memory modules	111
Replacing a hard drive kit	114
Troubleshooting	119
Safety guidelines	120
First steps	120
Troubleshooting	121
Audio	121
Battery	121
CD drives	121
Diskette drive (external)	121
The diskette drive is not recognized	121
You see an “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error message	122
You see a “Disk is full” error message	122
You see a “Non-system disk,” “NTLDR is missing,” or “Disk error” error message	122
The diskette drive status indicator is lit continuously	122
Display	122
The screen is too dark	122
The screen resolution is not correct	122
The text on the display is dim or difficult to read	123
The display has pixels that are always dark or too bright	123
The display is blank	123
DVD drives	123
Your notebook does not recognize a disc	123
An audio CD does not produce sound	124
A DVD movie will not play	124
You cannot eject a CD or DVD	125
Ethernet	125
Express Cards	125
You installed an Express Card and now your notebook is having problems	125
File management	125
A file was accidentally deleted	125
Fingerprint reader	126
The fingerprint reader does not recognize your fingerprint	126
Hard drive	126
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message	126
You see a “Data error” message	126
The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message	126
The eSATA drive is not recognized	127
Internet	127
You cannot connect to the Internet	127
You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet	128
Connecting to a Web site takes too long	128
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail	128
Keyboard	128
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “Keyboard stuck” or “Key failure” error message	128
An external keyboard does not work	128
Media Center	129
The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV	129
You need to configure your notebook to output to a TV	131
You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality	131
You want to know whether you can burn videos that were recorded in Media Center mode to a DVD	132
You want to know whether you can play recorded videos on other computers	132
You want to know whether you can play recorded videos on your home DVD player	132
Memory	132
You see a “Memory error” message	132
You see a “Not enough memory” error message	133
Memory card reader	133
Drive letter for the memory card slot does not appear in the My Computer window	133
Modem (cable or DSL)	133
The modem does not connect	133
Modem (dial-up)	133
Your modem does not dial or does not connect	133
You cannot connect to the Internet	135
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K	135
Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at 14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem	135
The modem is not recognized by your notebook	135
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects	136
Mouse	136
The external mouse does not work	137
The external mouse works erratically	137
Networks (wired)	137
You cannot see the other computers on your wired Ethernet network	137
Your wired Ethernet network is running slower than you expect	138
You cannot connect to your company network	138
Internet Explorer is unable to access the Internet	138
You cannot connect to your home network	138
Networks (wireless)	139
You turned wireless networking on, but it takes a while to connect	139
Your connection on the network seems intermittent or your wireless network is running slower than you expect	139
You are in a wireless network, you can see the network, but cannot communicate, send files, print, or get to the Web	139
You are in a wireless network, but no available networks are listed in the Connect to a network dialog box	140
Your wireless network is listed as a preferred network, but it has an “x” on it	140
Internet Explorer is unable to access the Internet	140
You cannot see other computers on your network	140
You cannot connect to your network	140
Passwords	141
Your notebook does not accept your password	141
You forgot your startup password	141
Power	141
Your notebook is not working on AC power	141
Your notebook is not working on battery power	141
Printer	142
The printer will not turn on	142
The printer is on but will not print	142
You see a “Printer queue is full” error message	142
You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message	143
Sound	143
You are not getting sound from the built-in speakers	143
Status indicators	143
The status indicators are not functioning	143
Touchpad	144
Touchpad is not working	144
The notebook is not responding when you click or tap on the touchpad	144
The pointer moves unexpectedly	144
Video	144
The projector or monitor is not working	144
Telephone support	144
Before calling Gateway Customer Care	144
Legal Information	147
Important safety information	148
Regulatory compliance statements	149
Product:	151
Environmental information	155
Notices	156
If your notebook has a DVD drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph applies:	156
A	157
B	157
C	157
D	159
E	159
F	160
G	160
H	160
I	160
J	161
K	161
L	161
M	161
N	162
O	162
P	162
R	163
S	164
T	165
U	166
V	166
W	166

Match case Limit results 1 per page

CHAPTER 7: Maintaining Your Notebook

Recovering your system

You can solve most notebook problems by following the

information in

“Troubleshooting” on page 113

or in the

technical support pages at

www.gateway.com

. Problem

solving may also involve re-installing some or all of the

notebook’s software (also called

recovering

restoring

your

system). Gateway provides everything you need to recover

your system under most conditions.

•

If only one or two items of software or hardware have

stopped working correctly, the problem may be solved

by re-installing the software or the hardware drivers. To

recover software and drivers that were pre-installed at

the factory, see

“Recovering pre-installed software and

drivers” on page 89

. For instructions on reinstalling

software and drivers that were not pre-installed, see

that product’s documentation or support Web site.

•

If re-installing software or drivers does not help, then the

problem may be solved by returning your system to a

previous state when everything was working correctly.

For instructions, see

“Using Microsoft System Restore” on

page 94

•

If nothing else has solved the problem and you want to

return your system to factory condition, see

“Recovering

your system to its factory condition” on page 97

If you upgrade or exchange your hard drive or if your hard

drive is completely erased or corrupted, your only option for

system recovery may be to reinstall Windows from the

Windows DVD, then recover your pre-installed software and

device drivers using recovery discs that you created.

•

To re-install Windows using the Windows DVD, see

“Recovering your system using the Windows DVD” on

page 98

•

To re-install your pre-installed software and device

drivers using recovery discs, see

“Recovering

pre-installed software and drivers using recovery discs”

on page 93

Caution

To prepare your notebook for additional system recovery options, you

should create a set of software and driver recovery discs as soon as possible. For

instructions, see

“Preparing for software and device driver recovery” on page 89