Main
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Contents
1G e t t i n g H e l p
2 Checking Out Your Gateway Computer
3G e t t i n g S t a r t e d
4 Using Drives and Ports
5 Maintaining Your Computer
6 Troubleshooting
iii
7 Networking Your Computer
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Chapter 1
Getting Help
2
Help and Support
To start Help and Support:
Searching for a topic
Using Y our C omputer guide
To access the Using Your Computer guide:
Page
Chapter 2
Checking Out Your Gateway Computer
6
Front
Your computer includes the following components.
Page
8
Back
Your computer includes the following components:
Using Your Computer
10
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Page
13
Accessories
Memory
Printers
Storage Devices
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Chapter 3
Getting Started
16
Working safely
Reducing eye strain
Setting up your computer desk and chair
Setting up your computer and computer accessories
Sitting at your computer
18
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain
Protecting from power source problems
Checking the voltage selection
To set the voltage selection switch:
Starting your computer
To start your computer:
1 2 3
4
20
Turning off your computer
To turn off your computer:
1 2
Restarting (rebooting) your computer
22
Using the keyboard
Standard keyboard
This keyboard is the basic model of keyboard available with your computer.
Press these keys... To...
F(Search utility), R(Run utility), and E(Explorer utility).
Multifunction keyboard
24
Special-function buttons
Adjusting the volume
To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:
Connecting the modem
Connecting to a wired Ethernet network
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device
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Chapter 4
Using Drives and Ports
30
Using the diskette drive
To use a diskette:
1 2
3
Using the Zip drive
To use a Zip disk:
1 2
3
32
Using the memory card reader
Memory card types
Inserting a memory card
To use a memory card:
1 2
To remove a memory card:
34
Using the CD or DVD drive
Identifying drive types
Inserting a CD or DVD
36
Playing a CD
Playing a DVD
Creating CDs and DVDs
Chapter 5
Maintaining Your Computer
38
Caring for your computer
Updating Windows
To run Windows Update:
1 2 3
Protecting your computer from viruses
To scan for viruses:
1
Page
To update Norton AntiVirus:
1 2
3
4
Cleaning your computer
Cleaning the exterior
42
Cleaning the keyboard
Cleaning the monitor
Cleaning the mouse
To clean your optical mouse:
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44
Cleaning CDs or DVDs
Restoring your system
Preventing static electricity discharge
Opening the case
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Page
Closing the case
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52
4
5
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Replacing the system battery
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58
Safety guidelines
First steps
59
Troubleshooting
Add-in cards
The computer does not recognize an add-in card
Audio
Battery
60
Audio CD does not produce sound
A DVD movie will not play
61
Computer
The computer will not start
Diskette drive
The diskette drive is not recognized
You cannot save a file to diskette or you see the message disk is full or write-protected
DVD drives
File management
A file was accidentally deleted
To restore deleted files:
1 2
Hard drive
You see an Insufficient disk space err or messa ge
You see a Data error mess age
You see a Non-system disk o r disk error error message
64
Internet
You cannot connect to the Internet
You see an Unable to loca te ho st message and ar e unab le to br ow se the I ntern et
Connecting to a Web site takes too long
People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any mail
Keyboard
The keyboard does not work
A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a keyboard stuck or key failure error message
Liquid spilled in the keyboard
Memory
Memory card reader
Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appea r in the My C omputer windo w
Modem (dial-up)
Your modem does not dial or does not connect
To check the dialing properties:
67
You cannot connect to the Internet
Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K
The modem is not recognized by your computer
68
1 2
3 4 5
2
The modem is noisy when it dials and connects
To turn down the modem volume:
Monitor
The screen resolution is not corre ct
The computer is running but there is no picture
The color is not uniform
70
Mouse
The mouse does not work
The mouse works erratically
71
Networks
You cannot connect to your company network
Passwords
Your computer does not accept your password
Power
1
2
3
You see a Printer queue is full error message
To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline:
1
2
3
73
You see a Printer i s out of paper error message
Sound
You are not getting sound from the speakers
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Chapter 7
Networking Your Computer
76
Introduction to networking
Using a network
Sharing a single Internet connection
Sharing drives
Sharing peripheral devices
Selecting a network connection
Wireless Ethernet network
Using a wireless Ethernet network
78
Wireless Ethernet speed and frequency
Network Type Speed Frequency Advantages Disadvantages
79
Example access point router wireless Ethernet network
80
Equipment you need for an access point wireless Ethernet network
1
2
3
82
Wired Ethernet network
Using a wired Ethernet network
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet
83
Example router-based wired Ethernet network
Equipment you need for a router-based wired Ethernet network
84
1
Creating an Ethernet network
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers
Making sure your broadband connection works
Naming the computers and the workgroup
To identify this computer on the network:
1
2 3 4 5
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol
Terms you should know
Using a DHCP server
To use a DHCP server
3
4
5
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Setting up a wireless Ethernet network
Mounting the access point
Configuring the access point
To configure the Linksys wireless access point router with 4-port switch:
1
8 9
10
11 12
13 14 15
Connecting to an access point network
1
3
4
92
Configuring computer settings for an a ccess poi nt
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
94
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
Setting up a wired Ethernet network
Setting up a network using a router
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98
5
Configuring your router
To configure the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router:
1
2
3
Testing your netw ork
100
Sharing your resources
Sharing an Internet connection
To set up Internet Explorer on each computer on your Ethernet network:
1
2
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Accessing the Internet To access the Internet from your computer:
1 2
Sharing drives and printers
Sharing drives or folders
To share drives or folders:
1
2
3
4
5
Un-sharing drives, folders, and files To un-share drives or folders:
1
Using the network
106
Viewing shared drives and folders To view shared drives and folders:
1 2
3 4
5
Mapping a network drive
To map a network drive:
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108
Printing files across the network To print files across the network:
1 2 3 4
Connecting to hotspots
109
Troubleshooting Your Ethernet network
Wired Ethernet network
You cannot see the other computer s on your n etwork
The computer does not recognize an add-in Ethernet card
Your wired Ethernet network is r unning slow er than y ou expect
Wireless Ethernet network
You turned the wireless on, bu t it tak es a while to c onnect.
Your connection on the network seems int ermitte nt.
Your wireless Ethernet network is running slower than you expect
To check the signal strength of your wireless Ethernet network:
3
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Appendix A
114
Important safety information
Setting up your system
Care during use
Replacement parts and accessories
Regulatory compliance statements
United States of America
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Unintentional emitter per FCC Part15
FCC declaration of conformity
116
Canada
Industry Canada (IC) Unintentional emitter per ICES-003
Telecommunications per Industry Canada CS-03 (for products fitted with an IC-compliant modem)
Laser safety statement
118
Notices
All Rights Reserved
Trademark Acknowledgments
Index