Gateway E-2300 - Manual

Chapter 1 1 Getting Help ■ Using the Gateway Web site ■ Using Help and Support ■ Using Your Computer guide ■ Using Do More With Gateway ■ Using online help ■ Contacting Gateway

2 www.gateway.com Help and Support Your computer includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help information, troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway c...

3 www.gateway.com Searching for a topic To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in the Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click the arrow button. For each search, you receive the following search result types: ■ Suggested Topics - Th...

4 www.gateway.com Online help Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a Help button. You can search for inform...

Chapter 2 5 Checking Out Your Gateway Computer ■ Identifying features ■ Locating your computer serial number ■ Locating the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity ■ Locating the specifications for your computer ■ Purchasing accessories

6 www.gateway.com Front Your computer includes the following components. CD/DVD eject button CD/DVD/Recordable drive Power button/ power indicator Diskette drive Diskette eject button USB ports Headphone jack Microphone jack Zip drive or memory card reader (optional) Zip drive eject button

8 www.gateway.com Back Your computer includes the following components: Power connector PS/2 keyboard port PS/2 mouse port Parallel port Serial port USB ports Monitor port Audio input (Line in) jack Microphone jack Headphone/Speakers (Line out) jack Ethernet (Network) jack Voltage switch Case cover ...

12 www.gateway.com Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your computer includes the product key code for your operating system. Finding your specifications For more information about your computer, such as memory size, memo...

13 www.gateway.com Accessories To order accessories, visit the Accessory Store at accessories.gateway.com . Memory Large programs, such as multimedia games or graphics programs, use a lot of memory. If your programs are running more slowly than you think they should, try adding more memory. Printers...

Chapter 3 15 Getting Started ■ Using your computer safely ■ Protecting your computer from power source problems ■ Turning your computer on and off ■ Adjusting the volume ■ Connecting the modem and network ■ Installing peripheral devices

16 www.gateway.com Working safely Before using your computer, read the following recommendations for setting up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding discomfort and strain. Reducing eye strain Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the monitor screen or shine directly into ...

17 www.gateway.com Setting up your computer desk and chair When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make sure that the desk is the appropriate height and the chair helps you maintain good posture. ■ Select a flat surface for your computer desk. ■ Adjust the height of the computer desk s...

18 www.gateway.com Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain ■ Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition. ■ Take breaks to change your position, stretch your muscles, and relieve your eyes. ■ Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a variety of tasks. Protecting from po...

19 www.gateway.com To set the voltage selection switch: ■ Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection switch to the correct voltage position. Starting your computer To start your computer: 1 Connect the cables to your computer. See the setup poster for setup instructions. ...

20 www.gateway.com Waking up your computer When you have not used your computer for several minutes or have not turned off your computer, it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in Standby, the power indicator flashes. If your computer is in Standby mode, move the mouse or press the p...

21 www.gateway.com Restarting (rebooting) your computer If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your computer to normal operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your com...

22 www.gateway.com Using the keyboard Standard keyboard This keyboard is the basic model of keyboard available with your computer. Press these keys... To... Function keys Start program actions. Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find ou...

23 www.gateway.com Multifunction keyboard This keyboard is the full-featured model available with your computer. Press these keys... To... Function keys Start program actions. Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program’s help to learn more about function key ac...

25 www.gateway.com Adjusting the volume You can use the volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the volume of specific sound devices in your computer. To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls: ■ If you are using external speakers, turn the knob on the front of the speakers...

26 www.gateway.com Connecting the modem Your computer may have an optional 56K modem that you can use to connect to a standard telephone line. To connect the modem: 1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack on the back of your computer. 2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a ...

Chapter 4 29 Using Drives and Ports ■ Using the diskette drive ■ Using the Zip drive ■ Using the memory card reader ■ Using CD or DVD drives

31 www.gateway.com Using the Zip drive Iomega Zip drives, like diskette drives, use disks to store data. Zip disks can store 100 MB, 250 MB, or 750 MB of data. You can use a Zip drive to back up files you do not use so you can remove them from your hard drive. Zip drives also provide an easy way to ...

32 www.gateway.com Using the memory card reader You can use the optional memory card reader to transfer pictures from a digital camera to your computer. You can also use the memory card reader to transfer data between your computer and a device that uses memory cards, such as a PDA, MP3 player, or c...

33 www.gateway.com To remove a memory card: ■ Wait for the media reader access indicator to stop blinking, then pull the card out of the slot. Caution Do not remove the card or turn off the computer while the card reader access indicator is blinking. You could lose data. Also, remove the card from t...

34 www.gateway.com Using the CD or DVD drive You can use your computer to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia features. Identifying drive types Your Gateway computer may contain one of the following drive types. Look on the front of the drive for one or more of the following logos: If your drive has ...

35 www.gateway.com Inserting a CD or DVD To insert a CD or DVD: 1 Press the eject button on the CD or DVD drive. 2 Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up. 3 Press the eject button to close the tray. Important Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may not be able to play thes...

Chapter 5 37 Maintaining Your Computer ■ Caring for your computer ■ Updating Windows ■ Protecting your computer from viruses ■ Cleaning your computer ■ Restoring your system ■ Opening the computer case ■ Adding memory and replacing the battery

38 www.gateway.com Caring for your computer To extend the life of your computer: ■ When transporting your computer, we recommend that you put it in the original packaging materials. ■ Keep diskettes and your computer away from magnetic fields. Magnetic fields can erase data on both diskettes and har...

39 www.gateway.com Protecting your computer from viruses A virus is a program that attaches itself to a file on a computer, then spreads from one computer to another. Viruses can damage data or cause your computer to malfunction. Some viruses go undetected for a period of time because they are activ...

41 www.gateway.com To update Norton AntiVirus: 1 Make sure that you are connected to the Internet. 2 Click Start , All Programs , Norton AntiVirus , then click LiveUpdate - Norton AntiVirus . The LiveUpdate wizard opens. 3 Follow the on-screen instructions to update your Norton AntiVirus program wit...

42 www.gateway.com Your computer is cooled by air circulated through the vents on the case, so keep the vents free of dust. With your computer turned off and unplugged, brush the dust away from the vents with a damp cloth. Be careful not to drip any water into the vents. Do not attempt to clean dust...

43 www.gateway.com To clean your trackball mouse: 1 Turn the mouse upside down. 2 Rotate the retaining ring on the bottom of the mouse counter-clockwise, then remove the retaining ring and mouse ball. 3 Remove any dust, lint, or dirt from the mouse ball with a soft cloth. 4 Clean the mouse rollers w...

44 www.gateway.com Cleaning CDs or DVDs Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a circle, using a product made especially for the purpose. Restoring your system All programs that were preinstalled on your computer are available on the backup Restore CDs or DVDs that you created, the Restore ...

45 www.gateway.com Preventing static electricity discharge The components inside your computer are extremely sensitive to static electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD). Before opening the computer case, follow these guidelines: ■ Turn off your computer. ■ Wear a grounding wrist str...

46 www.gateway.com Opening the case To open the case: 1 Follow the instructions in “Preventing static electricity discharge” on page 45 . 2 Shut down your computer, then disconnect the power cord and modem, network, and all peripheral device cables. 3 Press the power button to drain any residual pow...

49 www.gateway.com Closing the case To close the case: 1 Make sure that all of the internal cables are arranged inside the case so they will not be pinched when you close the case. 2 Align the door tabs into the case notches. 3 Swing the side panel toward the case until the release handle locks. 4 I...

50 www.gateway.com Installing memory When you upgrade the computer memory, make sure that you install the correct type of memory module for your computer. Your computer uses DIMM memory.

51 www.gateway.com To install or replace DIMM memory: 1 Open the case by following the instructions in “Opening the case” on page 46 . 2 Find the memory module banks on your system board. 3 If you are removing a DIMM from the memory module bank, gently pull the plastic tabs away from the sides of th...

55 www.gateway.com Replacing the system battery If the computer clock does not keep time or the settings in the BIOS Setup utility are not saved when you turn off your computer, replace the system battery. Use a battery of the same size and voltage as the original battery that was in your computer. ...

Chapter 6 57 Troubleshooting ■ Troubleshooting typical hardware and software problems

58 www.gateway.com Safety guidelines While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines: ■ Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is turned on and while the modem cable and the power cord are connected. ■ Make sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing ...

59 www.gateway.com Troubleshooting Add-in cards The computer does not recognize an add-in card ■ Shut down and restart your computer. ■ Make sure that you have installed the required software. For more information, see the documentation that came with your add-in card. Audio See “Sound” on page 73 ....

61 www.gateway.com Computer The computer will not start ■ Make sure that the power cord is connected to an AC power source and your computer is turned on. Diskette drive The diskette drive is not recognized ■ Shut down and restart your computer. You cannot save a file to diskette or you see the mess...

62 www.gateway.com ■ Run Error checking on the diskette. For more information, see “Checking the hard drive for errors” in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start , All Programs , then click Gateway Documentation . You see a “Non-system disk”...

63 www.gateway.com Hard drive You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message ■ Delete unnecessary files from the hard drive using Disk Cleanup. For instructions on deleting unnecessary files, see “Using Disk Cleanup” in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access th...

64 www.gateway.com Internet You cannot connect to the Internet ■ If you are using a dial-up modem, make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the modem jack and not the Ethernet network jack. See “Back” on page 8 to make sure that the connections have been made correctly. - OR - If you are using...

65 www.gateway.com ■ Make sure that your account with your Internet service provider (ISP) is set up correctly. Contact your ISP for technical support. Keyboard The keyboard does not work ■ Make sure that the keyboard cable is plugged in correctly. For more information, see the poster that came with...

66 www.gateway.com Memory card reader Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the My Computer window ■ Reboot your computer. Modem (dial-up) Your modem does not dial or does not connect ■ Make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the modem jack and not the Ethernet network jack...

68 www.gateway.com ■ If the modem shares the telephone line with another device, make sure that the telephone line is not in use (for example, someone is on the telephone, or another modem is in use). ■ Use the modem cable that came with your computer. Some telephone cables do not meet required cabl...

69 www.gateway.com 3 Click the modem you want to adjust, then click Properties . 4 Click the Modem tab, then adjust the Speaker volume control. 5 Click OK twice to close the Phone and Modem Options dialog box. Monitor The screen resolution is not correct Change the screen resolution from the Display...

70 www.gateway.com ■ You demagnetize the screen using the monitor’s degauss feature. For more information on degauss, see your monitor’s documentation. Why is there a horizontal line or wire visible across the monitor screen? Your monitor may use a thin damper wire, located approximately 1/3 of the ...

71 www.gateway.com If you have an optical mouse, clean the mouse by wiping the bottom with a clean, damp cloth. Make sure that the optical sensor is clean and free of debris. If you have a trackball mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on page 42 . Networks You cannot connect to your company network Ever...

72 www.gateway.com The printer is on but will not print ■ Check the cable between the printer and your computer. Make sure that it is connected to the correct port. ■ Make sure that the printer is online. Many printers have an online/offline button that you may need to press so the printer can start...

73 www.gateway.com ■ Wait until files have been printed before sending additional files to the printer. ■ If you print large files or many files at one time, you may want to add additional memory to the printer. See the printer documentation for instructions for adding additional memory. You see a “...

Chapter 7 75 Networking Your Computer ■ Introducing networking ■ Creating an Ethernet network ■ Testing your network ■ Sharing your resources ■ Troubleshooting your Ethernet network

76 www.gateway.com Introduction to networking A network is a collection of computers and other devices that communicate with each other. Using a network A network lets you: ■ Share a single Internet connection ■ Share computer drives ■ Share peripheral devices ■ Stream audio and video files ■ Play m...

77 www.gateway.com Playing multi-player games With a home network, you can play multi-player games. Load a game like Microsoft Racing Madness 2 on your computers, and in minutes, you and your friends can race in competing cars or on competing motorcycles. Selecting a network connection The biggest d...

82 www.gateway.com Wired Ethernet network Create a wired Ethernet network by using special wires to connect all the computers and devices on your network. Wired Ethernet networks are typically faster than other network types. Create a wired Ethernet network if: ■ You are building a new home or your ...

84 www.gateway.com Determining if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computers To determine if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computer: 1 Click Start , then click Control Panel . The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and Ma...

85 www.gateway.com Making sure your broadband connection works Before you change anything about your home setup, make sure that your broadband connection is working correctly. To test the connection, log onto the Internet using your current setup. If the connection is not working, contact your Inter...

86 www.gateway.com Configuring the TCP/IP protocol A networking protocol is a language computers use to talk to each other. One of several available protocols must be set up on each computer you plan to use on your network. We recommend you use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TC...

88 www.gateway.com 6 Click the General tab. 7 Click Obtain an IP address automatically . 8 Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box. 9 Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box. 10 Click X to close the Network Connections window. 11 Repeat this p...

89 www.gateway.com Setting up a wireless Ethernet network See the instructions that came with your access point or wireless access point router for initial setup. How you set up your access point varies depending on the features of the access point and your networking situation. Mounting the access ...

92 www.gateway.com Configuring computer settings for an access point If you are unable to connect to an access point in the Choose a wireless network list, the most likely cause is that the access point is using WEP security. You need to configure your network settings to use the same WEP security s...

94 www.gateway.com Adding an access point If an access point does not appear in the Available networks list, and you know the access point is turned on, you need to add it manually. This typically happens when you set the access point’s Allow Broadcast SSID to associate to No . For more information,...

96 www.gateway.com Setting up a wired Ethernet network We recommend using category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair cable (approximately 1/4” in diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight color-coded wires), and equipment compatible with this type of cable. This type of cable is equipped with RJ...

97 www.gateway.com In addition to a router, you need a straight-through cable for each computer you want to connect to the network. To set up a network using a router: 1 Plug one end of the power adapter into the AC connector on the router and the other end into a grounded, 110V electrical outlet. 2...

98 www.gateway.com 5 For an Internet connection, plug a straight-through cable into the WAN port on the router and the other end into the Ethernet jack on the DSL or cable modem. Configuring your router After you have named your computers and set up TCP/IP on them, you can configure your router usin...

99 www.gateway.com Testing your network Now that your home network is set up, log onto one of your computers and access a favorite Internet Web site. If you are unable to connect to the Internet: ■ Run the New Connection Wizard (see “Sharing an Internet connection” on page 100 ) ■ Check all physical...

100 www.gateway.com Sharing your resources Sharing an Internet connection Internet sharing lets all computers on the network access the Internet at the same time using one Internet service provider (ISP) connection. To set up Internet Explorer on each computer on your Ethernet network: 1 Make sure t...

103 www.gateway.com Accessing the Internet To access the Internet from your computer: 1 Make sure that the router or access point is turned on. 2 Open Internet Explorer and browse the Internet. Sharing drives and printers With a network, you can share drives (for example hard drives, diskette drives...

105 www.gateway.com Un-sharing drives, folders, and files To un-share drives or folders: 1 In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive or folder that you want to un-share, then click Sharing and Security . 2 Make sure that the Share this folder on the network check box is not selected....

106 www.gateway.com Viewing shared drives and folders To view shared drives and folders: 1 Click Start , then click My Network Places . The My Network Places window opens. 2 Click/Double-click Entire Network . The Entire Network window opens. If you do not see the contents of the network after you d...

108 www.gateway.com Printing files across the network To print files across the network: 1 Open the file you want to print. 2 Click File , then click Print . 3 Click the arrow button to open the printer name list, then click the network printer. 4 Click OK . Connecting to hotspots A hotspot is a hig...

109 www.gateway.com Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network Wired Ethernet network You cannot see the other computers on your network ■ Make sure that your Ethernet cable is plugged into the Ethernet jack on your computer. Make sure that the other end is plugged into a router. ■ Make sure that all com...

110 www.gateway.com Wireless 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 intermitten...

Appendix A 113 Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information ■ Safety information ■ Regulatory statements ■ Notices

114 www.gateway.com Important safety information Your Gateway system is designed and tested to meet the latest standards for safety of information technology equipment. However, to ensure safe use of this product, it is important that the safety instructions marked on the product and in the document...

115 www.gateway.com Regulatory compliance statements United States of America Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Unintentional emitter per FCC Part 15 This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits...

116 www.gateway.com California Proposition 65 Warning Telecommunications per Part 68 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 47) (applicable to products fitted with USA modems) Your modem complies with Part 68 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 47) rules. On the computer or modem card is a labe...

117 www.gateway.com Telecommunications per Industry Canada CS-03 (for products fitted with an IC-compliant modem) The Industry Canada label identifies certified equipment. This certification means that the equipment meets certain telecommunications network protective, operation, and safety requireme...

118 www.gateway.com Notices Copyright © 2004 Gateway, Inc.All Rights Reserved14303 Gateway PlacePoway, CA 92064 USA All Rights Reserved This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted by any means or in any form, without prior co...

119 www.gateway.com Index A AC power connector 9 access point adding 94 configuring 89 , 92 connecting to 91 mounting 89 accessing Internet 103 shared drives 106 shared files 107 shared folders 106 accessories 13 safety precautions 114 activity indicators See indicators adding access point 94 applic...