Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Gateway Profile

Storage Devices

If you need additional storage space or you want to back up your files, you can add storage devices to you computer.

With a CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) drive, you can free up hard drive space by backing up files, then removing them from your hard drive. The inexpensive discs for CD-RW drives can hold as much as 700 MB of data. CD-RW drives can write to either CD-R or CD-RW discs. You can write to CD-R discs just one time. You can write to and erase CD-RW discs multiple times. For more information, see “Using a recordable drive” on page 100.

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 transfer files between computers.

If you need to back up your entire system, you probably need a tape backup (TBU) drive. TBU drives, like tape recorders, use magnetic tape cartridges to store data. Tape drive cartridges can store 2 GB, 20 GB, 40 GB, or even 130 GB or more of data.

If you want to increase your internal storage space, replace your existing hard drive with a larger drive. For more information, see “Replacing the hard drive” on page 210.

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. For more information, see “Installing or replacing DIMM memory” on page 219.

Uninterruptible power supplies

A standby, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protects your computer from data loss during a total power failure. A UPS uses a battery to keep your computer running temporarily during a power failure so you can save your work and shut down your computer correctly. A UPS also provides protection from power surges. For more information, see “Setting up an uninterruptible power supply” on page 147.

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