Chapter 6: Troubleshooting
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 internal components. For more information about preventing damage from static electricity, see “Preventing static electricity discharge” on page 49.
Warning | To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to troubleshoot your computer |
problem if: |
■Power cords or plugs are damaged
■Liquid has been spilled into your computer
■Your computer was dropped
■The case was damaged
Instead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer technician.
First steps
If you have problems with your computer, try these things first:
■Make sure that the power cord is connected to your computer and an AC outlet and that the AC outlet is supplying power.
■If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on.
■If a peripheral device (such as a keyboard or mouse) does not work, make sure that all connections are secure.
■Make sure that your hard drive is not full.
■If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. The message may help Gateway Customer Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.
■If you added or removed peripheral devices, review the installation procedures you performed and make sure that you followed each instruction.
■If an error occurs in a program, see the program’s printed documentation or the online help.
60 | www.gateway.com |