Gateway GT5062b Safety guidelines, First steps

CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting

Safety guidelines

While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines:

Warning

Never open your computer case while your computer is turned on and while the modem cable, network cable, and power cord are connected.

Warning

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 36.

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 power outlet and that the power outlet is supplying power.

•If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on.

•If a peripheral device 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 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.

Help

For more information about troubleshooting, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type the keyword/phrase troubleshooting in the Search Help box, then press ENTER.

78

Contents

GATEWAY COMPUTER Page Chapter 1: About This Reference Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Computer Chapter 3: Setting Up and Getting Started Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer Chapter 5: Maintaining Your Computer Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Appendix A: Legal Notices Index CHAPTER1 About This Reference •About this guide •Accessing the online User Guide •Gateway contact information About this guide Formore information Accessing the online User Guide Gateway contact information Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity Page CHAPTER2 •Front •Back Front Page Back Page Page CHAPTER3 Setting Up and Getting Started •Working safely and comfortably •Preparing power connections •Connecting to a broadband modem or network Working safely and comfortably Reducing eye strain Setting up your computer desk and chair Sitting at your computer Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain Preparing power connections Protecting from power source problems Checking the voltage selection Connecting a dial-upmodem Starting your computer Waking up your computer Turning off your computer Restarting (rebooting) your computer Using the keyboard Premium multimedia keyboard features Elite multimedia keyboard features Page Using the mouse Page Using optical drives Features Loading an optical disc Identifying optical drive types Playing discs Playing a CD Playing a DVD Playing a Blu-rayDisc Playing an HD-DVD Creating discs Recordingto optical discs Using the memory card reader Memory card types Using a memory card Using the diskette drive Adjusting the volume Page Configuring the audio jacks Installing a printer, scanner, or other device Page CHAPTER4 Upgrading Your Computer •Preventing static electricity discharge •Opening the case •Closing the case Preventing static electricity discharge Opening the case Removing the side panel Removing the front bezel Closing the case Replacing the front bezel Replacing the side panel Replacing the color panel Page Page Installing memory Page Adding or replacing an optical disc drive Page Replacing the memory card reader Page Adding or replacing a hard drive Page Replacing the heat sink and processor Page Adding or replacing an expansion card Page Replacing the system battery Page Replacing the system board Page CHAPTER5 Maintaining Your Computer •Setting up a maintenance schedule •Caring for your computer Setting up a maintenance schedule Caring for your computer Cleaning your computer Cleaning the exterior Cleaning the keyboard Cleaning the monitor Cleaning the mouse Cleaning optical discs Updating Windows Using BigFix Managing hard drive space Checking hard drive space Deleting unnecessary files Checking the hard drive for errors Defragmenting the hard drive Backing up files Page Scheduling maintenance tasks Moving from your old computer Transferring files and settings automatically Transferring files and settings manually Finding your documents Finding other files Page Troubleshooting •Safety guidelines •First steps •Troubleshooting •Recovering your system Safety guidelines First steps Troubleshooting Add-incards Audio CD or DVD drives Page Diskette drive Display DVD drives Ethernet Expansion cards File management Floppy drive Hard drive Internet Page Keyboard Media Center Page Page Page Memory Memory card reader Modem (cable or DSL) Modem (dial-up) Page Page Monitor Mouse Networks Passwords Power Printer Sound Recovering your system Recovering pre-installedsoftware and drivers Page Page Recovering pre-installedsoftware and drivers using Gateway Recovery Center Recovering pre-installedsoftware and drivers using recovery discs Page Using Microsoft System Restore Page Manually creating a restore point Recovering your system to its factory condition Recovering your system using the Windows DVD Telephone support Before calling Gateway Customer Care Self-help Calling Customer Care Page Legal Notices •Important safety information •Regulatory compliance statements •Environmental information •Notices Important safety information Setting up your system Careduring use Replacement parts and accessories United States of America Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Unintentional emitter perFCC Part FCC declaration of conformity California Proposition 65 Warning Canada Industry Canada (IC) Unintentional emitter per ICES-003 Laser safety statement External television antenna grounding Lightning protection Powerlines Environmental information Notices All Rights Reserved Trademarkacknowledgments Macrovision statement Page Index