Gateway Personal Computer Maintaining Your Computer

Chapter 6

Maintaining Your Computer

•Caring for your computer

•Updating Windows

•Protecting your computer from viruses

•Cleaning your computer

•Restoring your system

Contents

Page Page Contents Getting Help Checking Out Your Gateway Computer Getting Started Using Drives and Ports Networking Your Computer Maintaining Your Computer Upgrading Your Computer Troubleshooting Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information Index Page Getting Help Thank you for purchasing our computer Gateway Web site Using Support Support Home Product Support Downloads Customer Service Upgrade Center Help and Support To start Help and Support: Searching for a topic BigFix To start BigFix: To learn more about using BigFix: Using Your Computer guide To access the Using Your Computer guide: Online help Gateway contact information Checking Out Your Gateway Computer Front Page Back Page Right side Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity Finding your specifications Accessories Storage Devices USB flash drive Uninterruptible power supplies Getting Started Working safely Reducing eye strain Setting up your computer desk and chair Setting up your computer and computer accessories Sitting at your computer Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain Protecting from power source problems Starting your computer To start your computer: Waking up your computer Turning off your computer To turn off your computer: Restarting (rebooting) your computer To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer: Using the cord cover To install the optional cord cover: To remove the cord cover: Locking your computer To lock your computer: Adjusting the volume To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls: Using the keyboard Standard keyboard Multifunction keyboard Special-functionbuttons Wireless keyboard Using the mouse click click and drag Connecting the modem To connect the modem: Connecting to a wired Ethernet network To connect to a wired Ethernet network: Computer display External controls OSD options To adjust the OSD settings: OSD menus Page USER Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device Using Drives and Ports Using the diskette drive To use a diskette: Using the memory card reader Memory card types Inserting a memory card To use a memory card: To remove a memory card: Using the CD or DVD drive Identifying drive types Inserting a CD or DVD To insert a CD or DVD: Playing a CD Playing a DVD Creating CDs and DVDs Adding and removing PC Cards Adding a PC Card To insert a PC Card: Removing a PC Card To remove a PC Card: Page Networking Your Computer Introduction to Networking Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet Using a router Example router-basedEthernet network Equipment you need for a router-basedEthernet network Creating an Ethernet network Making sure your broadband connection works Naming the computers and the workgroup To identify this computer on the network: Configuring the TCP/IP protocol Terms you should know Using a DHCP server To use a DHCP server: Page Setting up an Ethernet network Setting up a network using a router Configuring your router Testing your network Using your computer on your network Page Maintaining Your Computer Caring for your computer Updating Windows To run Windows Update: Protecting your computer from viruses To scan for viruses: To remove a virus: To update Norton Internet Security: Cleaning your computer Cleaning the exterior Cleaning the keyboard Cleaning the computer display Cleaning the mouse To clean your optical mouse: To clean your trackball mouse: Cleaning CDs or DVDs Restoring your system Microsoft System Restore To run Microsoft System Restore: Reinstalling programs and drivers To reinstall your program or driver: Restoring your computer to the original configuration To restore your computer to the original configuration: Upgrading Your Computer Preventing static electricity discharge Opening the case To remove the back panel: Closing the case To replace the back panel: Replacing the hard drive To replace the hard drive: Page Page Page Installing memory To install or replace DIMM memory: Page Troubleshooting Safety guidelines First steps Troubleshooting Audio Battery CD or DVD drives Computer Diskette drive Display DVD drives File management To restore deleted files: Hard drive Internet Keyboard Memory Memory card reader Modem (dial-up) To check the dialing properties: Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K The modem is not recognized by your computer To run modem diagnostics: To turn down the modem volume: Mouse Networks Passwords Power Printer To set a default printer: To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline: Sound Telephone support Before calling Gateway Customer Care Telephone numbers Automated troubleshooting system Telephone numbers Self-help Tutoring Training Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information Important safety information Regulatory compliance statements United States of America Canada Laser safety statement EPA ENERGY STAR Environmental information Notices Index