User manual GATEWAY M250GS

Gateway Notebook User Guide Contents 1 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using eSupport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Your Computer guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 5 6 6 7 7 2 Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Left side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyboard area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Identifying your model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gateway model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finding your specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 16 17 17 3 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Installing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the AC adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network . . . . . . Starting your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waking up your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning off your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restarting (rebooting) your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Key types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . System key combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the EZ Pad touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.gateway.com 20 20 22 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 i Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Turning your wireless radio on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 4 Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Using the DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Playing a DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Creating CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Removing a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Adding and removing a PC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Viewing the display on a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Connecting a video camera to your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 5 Managing Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Monitoring the battery charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Recalibrating the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Changing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Extending battery life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Conserving battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Using alternate power sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Changing power modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 6 Upgrading Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Adding or replacing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Replacing the hard drive kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 7 Using the Optional Port Replicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Connecting to the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Attaching to the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 ii www.gateway.com Disconnecting from the port replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 8 Maintaining Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Caring for your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning the notebook screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Protecting your notebook from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restoring your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 81 81 82 82 82 83 86 87 9 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 CD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Device installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 www.gateway.com iii Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 A Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 iv www.gateway.com Chapter 1 Getting Help · Using the Gateway Web site · Using Help and Support · Using BigFix · Using Your Computer guide · Using online help 1 Chapter 1: Getting Help Thank you for purchasing our notebook! You have made an excellent decision choosing Gateway. We are sure that you will be pleased with the outstanding quality, reliability, and performance of your new notebook. Each and every Gateway notebook uses the latest technology and passes through the most stringent quality control tests to ensure that you are provided with the best product possible. Your new Gateway notebook is designed to provide an exceptional balance of performance and portability. Your notebook uses the latest chipset and mobile processor technologies to manage the processor speed and power consumption for a greater battery life experience. This design provides you with maximum performance when plugged into AC power balanced with optimized battery life when on battery power. Please read this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with our range of services and support. We have highlighted some basic care and safety information to help you keep your notebook in good operating condition. Gateway stands behind our value proposition to our customers -- to provide best-of-class service and support in addition to high-quality, brand-name components at affordable prices. If you ever have a problem, our knowledgeable, dedicated customer service department will provide you with fast, considerate service. We sincerely hope that you will receive the utmost satisfaction and enjoyment from your new Gateway notebook for years to come. Thank you again, from all of us at Gateway. 2 www.gateway.com Gateway Web site Gateway Web site Gateway's online support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and provides the most current drivers, product specifications, tutorials, and personalized information about your notebook. Visit the Gateway eSupport Web site at support.gateway.com. Using eSupport The eSupport site is divided into seven major areas: Support Home Product Support Downloads Customer Service Upgrade Center Resources Contact Us www.gateway.com 3 Chapter 1: Getting Help Support Home Click Support Home, then click Computers. To view support documents for your notebook, type your serial number in the Serial Number box, then click Submit. Click the arrow button to open the Select Your Computer Product box, then click Notebook Computers to access product documentation, specifications, and guides for all Gateway notebooks. Product Support Click Product Support to view a list of all the products that Gateway supports. Downloads Click Downloads, then click My Downloads to get the latest software updates for BIOS and driver upgrades. By entering your serial number you get drivers specific to your notebook. Click Browse All Downloads to walk through a step-by-step wizard to locate your drivers. Customer Service Click Customer Service to view information about your account and general information about warranties and special offers. Upgrade Center Click Upgrade Center to view and purchase upgrades for your notebook. Resources Click Resources to access utilities to help you manage your notebook. Contact Us Click Contact Us to access links to customer care with a live technician, including chat and e-mail. Click Call Us to get a list of Gateway telephone numbers for both sales and support. For more information, see "Telephone support" on page 112. 4 www.gateway.com Help and Support Help and Support Your notebook includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help information, troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway notebook. To start Help and Support: Click Start, then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens. You can find help information by clicking a link, performing a search, or browsing the index. www.gateway.com 5 Chapter 1: Getting Help Searching for a topic To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in the Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click the arrow button. For each search, you receive the following search result types: Suggested Topics - These topics are located in Help and Support and are relevant to your search topic. Full-text Search Matches - These topics are located in Help and Support and contain the words you entered in the Search box. Microsoft Knowledge Base - These topics are located on the Microsoft Web site and contain the words you entered in the Search box. You must be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics. To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results you want to view. To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list. BigFix Your notebook may include BigFix. BigFix monitors your notebook for problems and conflicts. It automatically gathers information about the latest bugs, security alerts, and updates from BigFix sites on the Internet. Whenever BigFix detects a problem, it alerts you by flashing the blue taskbar icon. To fix the problem, click on that icon to open BigFix. To start BigFix: Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click BigFix. To learn more about using BigFix: From the BigFix program, click Help, then click Tutorial. 6 www.gateway.com Using Your Computer guide Using Your Computer guide In addition to this guide, the Using Your Computer guide has been included on your hard drive. The Using Your Computer guide includes information on using Windows, using the Internet, sending a fax, and changing power-saving settings as well as other topics. To access the Using Your Computer guide: Click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. Online help Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a Help button. www.gateway.com 7 Chapter 1: Getting Help You can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the index, searching for a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help. 8 www.gateway.com Chapter 2 Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook · Identifying features · Locating your notebook's model and serial number · Locating the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity · Locating the specifications for your notebook · Purchasing accessories 9 Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook Front Volume control LCD panel Memory release latch Microphone jack Headphone jack card reader Component Volume control Icon Description Press the button to the right to increase the volume. Press the button to the left to decrease the volume. Press the button in to mute the volume. Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack. Headphone jack Plug amplified speakers or headphones into this jack. The built-in speakers are turned off when speakers or headphones are plugged into this jack. Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player, PDA, or cellular telephone into the memory card reader. For more information, see "Using the memory card reader" on page 43. The memory card reader supports Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, MultiMediaCardTM, and Secure DigitalTM. Open the LCD panel by sliding the release latch. Memory card reader LCD panel release latch 10 www.gateway.com Left side Left side Modem jack Ventilation fan Docking port Monitor port PC Card slot Component Modem jack Icon Description Plug a modem cable into this jack. For more information, see "Connecting the dial-up modem" on page 23. Connect the port replicator to this port. Warning: Power is passed through this port. This docking connection is certified to UL 1950 for use only with port replicators designed for your Gateway notebook. Docking port Ventilation fan Helps cool internal components. Warning: Do not work for long periods with the notebook resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may become hot enough to harm your skin. Caution: Do not block or insert objects into these slots. If these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook. Caution: Provide adequate space around your notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not use the notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. Monitor port PC Card slot Plug an analog VGA monitor or projector into this port. Insert one Type II PC Card into this slot. For more information, see "Adding and removing a PC Card" on page 44. www.gateway.com 11 Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook Right side IEEE 1394 port USB ports DVD drive Power connector Component IEEE 1394 port Icon Description Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device (such as a digital camcorder or external hard drive) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port. Plug USB devices (such as a diskette drive, flash drive, printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. Insert CDs or DVDs into this drive. For more information, see "Using the DVD drive" on page 40. This drive may be a combination DVD/CD-RW or recordable DVD drive. To determine the type of drive in the notebook, examine the drive tray's plastic cover and compare the logo to those listed in "Identifying drive types" on page 40. Plug the AC adapter cable into this connector. USB ports DVD/CD-RW or recordable DVD drive Power connector 12 www.gateway.com Back Back Kensington lock slot Power/battery charge indicator Ethernet jack Component KensingtonTM lock slot Power/ battery charge indicator Icon Description Secure your notebook to an object by connecting a Kensington cable lock to this slot. LED solid blue - notebook is on, and if the notebook is connected to AC power, the battery is fully charged. LED blinking blue - notebook is in Standby mode. LED solid purple - battery is charging. LED blinking purple - battery is charging and notebook is in Standby mode. LED blinking red - battery charge is very low and has insufficient power to turn on the notebook. LED off - notebook is off. Ethernet jack Plug a 10/100/1000 Ethernet network cable into this jack. The other end of the cable can be plugged into a cable modem, DSL modem, router, access point, or an Ethernet network jack. For more information, see "Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network" on page 24. www.gateway.com 13 Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook Bottom Battery Battery latch Memory bay Battery lock Hard drive bay Website: Online Support: Tech Support Phone: Hours: System label Component Battery Battery latch Memory bay Hard drive bay System label Battery lock Description Provides power when the notebook is not plugged into AC power. Slide to release the battery. For more information, see "Changing batteries" on page 53. Install a memory module into this bay. For more information, see "Adding or replacing memory" on page 61. The hard drive is located in this bay. For more information, see "Replacing the hard drive kit" on page 65. Includes the product model number. For more information, see "Identifying your model" on page 16. Slide to unlock the battery. For more information, see "Changing batteries" on page 53. 14 www.gateway.com Keyboard area Keyboard area Power button Keyboard Status Touchpad indicators Component Power button Icon Description Press to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power button for Standby/Resume mode. For more information on configuring the power button mode, see "Changing Power-Saving Settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. Provides all the features of a full-sized keyboard. For more information, see "Using the keyboard" on page 29. Provides all the functionality of a mouse. For more information, see "Using the EZ Pad touchpad" on page 33. Inform you when a drive is in use or when a button has been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. For more information, see "Status indicators" on page 28. Keyboard Touchpad Status indicators www.gateway.com 15 Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook Identifying your model Important The labels shown in this section are for informational purposes only. Label information varies by model, features ordered, and location. Gateway model and serial number The label on the bottom of your notebook contains information that identifies your notebook model and its features. Gateway Customer Care will need this information if you call for assistance. Online Support: Tech Support Phone: Hours: Model: S/No: support.gateway.com Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the bottom of your notebook includes the product key code for your operating system. 16 www.gateway.com Finding your specifications Finding your specifications For more information about your notebook, such as memory size, memory type, and hard drive size, visit Gateway's eSupport page at support.gateway.com. The eSupport page also has links to additional Gateway documentation and detailed specifications. For more information, see "Gateway Web site" on page 3. Accessories To order accessories, visit the Accessory Store at accessories.gateway.com. Batteries If you run your notebook on battery power for extended periods, you may want to buy an additional battery so you can swap batteries when necessary. See "Changing batteries" on page 53 for more information about using an additional battery. Carrying cases Gateway has large-capacity carrying cases if you need additional space for accessories or supplies. 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. See "Adding or replacing memory" on page 61 for more information. Port replicators Although you can attach devices directly to your notebook, a port replicator lets you make all of those connections at one time. When you travel with your notebook, you merely disconnect from the port replicator instead of unplugging all the devices. A port replicator also provides additional ports and other expansion features not included with your notebook. See "Using the Optional Port Replicator" on page 71 for more information about using a port replicator with your notebook. www.gateway.com 17 Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Gateway Notebook Printers You can attach almost any type of printer to your notebook. The most common types are inkjet and laser printers, which print in color or black and white. Inkjet printers and cartridges are relatively inexpensive, but they are slower than laser printers. Using an inkjet color printer, you can print pictures, banners, and greeting cards, as well as documents. Laser printers and cartridges are more expensive, but they print much faster than inkjet printers. Laser printers are better than inkjet printers when you are printing large documents. USB flash drive Use a USB flash drive for storing files or transferring files to another computer. 18 www.gateway.com Chapter 3 Getting Started · Installing the battery · Connecting the AC adapter · Connecting the dial-up modem · Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network · Turning your notebook on and off · Using the status indicators · Using the keyboard and the EZ Pad touchpad · Adjusting the volume · Connecting to a wireless network 19 Chapter 3: Getting Started Installing the battery To install the battery: 1 2 3 Close the LCD panel. Turn your notebook over so the bottom is facing up. Hold the battery label-side down and slide it into the open battery slot until the battery clicks into place. 4 Slide the battery lock to the locked position. Connecting the AC adapter You can run your notebook using an AC adapter or your notebook's battery. The battery was shipped to you partially charged. You should use the AC adapter right away to fully charge the battery. Allow three hours for the battery to fully charge. Important If the battery is not fully charged before you use your notebook on battery power for the first time, the battery life may be much shorter than you expect. If the battery life seems short even after being charged for three hours, the battery may need to be recalibrated. For information on recalibrating the battery, see "Recalibrating the battery" on page 51. 20 www.gateway.com Connecting the AC adapter To connect the AC adapter: 1 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter. Caution Make sure that you use the AC adapter that came with your notebook or one of the same type purchased from Gateway. Replace the power cord if it becomes damaged. The replacement cord must be of the same type and voltage rating as the original cord or your notebook may be damaged. 2 Connect the AC adapter to your notebook's power connector. www.gateway.com 21 Chapter 3: Getting Started 3 Plug the power cord into a wall outlet. The power/battery charge indicator turns on (see "Back" on page 13 for the location of the power/battery charge indicator). If the power/battery charge indicator does not turn on, complete the following steps until it turns on: a b 4 Unplug the adapter from your notebook, then plug it back in. Press FN+F1 to toggle the status lights on and off. When you finish using your notebook for the first time, turn off your notebook and leave your notebook connected to AC power until the power/battery charge indicator turns blue. Warning Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The AC adapter has no user-replaceable or user-serviceable parts inside. The AC adapter has dangerous voltages that can cause serious injury or death. Contact Gateway about returning defective AC adapters. Important If the power/battery charge indicator does not turn blue after three hours, contact Gateway Customer Care at support.gateway.com. Protecting from power source problems During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your notebook can increase to levels far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage. Protect your notebook and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge protector, which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your notebook. Warning High voltages can enter your notebook through both the power cord and the modem connection. To protect your notebook and avoid electrical shock, use a surge protector. If you have a telephone modem, use a surge protector that has a modem jack. If you have a cable modem, use a surge protector that has an antenna/cable TV jack. During an electrical storm, unplug both the surge protector and the modem. 22 www.gateway.com Connecting the dial-up modem Connecting the dial-up modem Your notebook has a built-in 56K modem that you can use to connect to a standard telephone line. Warning To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 AWG or larger telecommunications line cord. To connect the modem: 1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack left side of your notebook. on the 2 3 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack. The modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines. Start your notebook, then start your communications program. www.gateway.com 23 Chapter 3: Getting Started Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network Your notebook has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network. To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network: 1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack the back of your notebook. on 2 3 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem, DSL modem, or Ethernet network jack. Start your notebook. 24 www.gateway.com Starting your notebook Starting your notebook To start your notebook: 1 2 Slide the latch on the front of your notebook, then lift the LCD panel. Press the power button located above the keyboard. The power button is preset to On/Off mode. However, you can also set it to function in Standby/Resume mode. Tips & Tricks For more information about changing the power button mode, see "Changing Power-Saving Settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. 3 If you are starting your notebook for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your notebook. www.gateway.com 25 Chapter 3: Getting Started Warning Do not work for long periods with the notebook resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may become hot enough to harm your skin. Caution Provide adequate space around your notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not use the notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. Waking up your notebook When you have not used your notebook for several minutes or if you close the LCD panel without turning off your notebook, it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in Standby, the power indicator flashes. If your notebook is in Standby mode, press the power button to "wake" it up. Tips & Tricks For more information about changing the power button mode, see "Changing Power-Saving Settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. Turning off your notebook To turn off your notebook: 1 2 Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box opens. Click Turn Off. Windows shuts down and turns off your notebook. Important If for some reason you cannot use the Turn Off Computer option in Windows to turn off your notebook, press and hold the power button for about five seconds, then release it. 26 www.gateway.com Restarting (rebooting) your notebook Restarting (rebooting) your notebook If your notebook does not respond to keyboard, touchpad, or mouse input, you may have to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs does not restore your notebook to normal operation, you may have to restart (reboot) your notebook. To close unresponsive programs and restart your notebook: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Windows Security dialog box opens. Click Task Manager. The Windows Task Manager dialog box opens. Click the program that is not responding. Click End Task. Click X in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog box. If your notebook does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again. Important If your notebook does not turn off immediately, complete the following steps until the notebook turns off: 1 Press and hold the power button for about five seconds, then release it. 2 Unplug the power cord and remove the battery for more than 10 seconds. As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status runs automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts. www.gateway.com 27 Chapter 3: Getting Started Status indicators Status indicators inform you when a drive is being used or when a button has been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. AC power Caps lock Num lock Drive Wireless network Indicator AC power Icon Description LED on - AC power is connected. LED off - AC power is not connected. LED on - Wireless network is turned on. LED off - Wireless network is turned off. LED on - Caps lock is turned on. LED off - Caps lock is turned off. LED on - Numeric keypad is turned on. LED off - Numeric keypad is turned off. LED blinking - The hard drive or DVD drive is in use. LED off - The hard drive or DVD drive is not in use. Wireless network (optional) Caps lock A Num lock 1 Drive Important If none of the indicators are on, you may need to press FN+F1 to toggle the status lights on and off. 28 www.gateway.com Using the keyboard Using the keyboard Your notebook features a full-size keyboard that functions the same as a desktop computer keyboard. Many of the keys have been assigned alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows, function keys for specific system operations, and the Num Lock keys for the numeric keypad. Function keys/System keys Numeric keypad Navigation keys FN key Arrow keys Windows key Application key Tips & Tricks You can attach an external keyboard to the notebook or port replicator using a USB port. You do not need to shut down the notebook to connect a USB keyboard. www.gateway.com 29 Chapter 3: Getting Started Key types The keyboard has several different types of keys. Some keys perform specific actions when pressed alone and other actions when pressed in combination with another key. Key type Function keys Icon Description Press these keys labeled F1 to F12 to perform actions in programs. For example, pressing F1 may open help. Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions. System keys Press these colored keys in combination with the FN key to perform specific actions. For more information, see "System key combinations" on page 31. Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document. Press these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or left. Press this key for quick access to shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows. Press this key to open the Windows Start menu. This key can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer utility). Press the FN key in combination with a colored system key to perform a specific action. Use these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad is turned on. Press FN+ to turn on the 1 numeric keypad. Navigation keys Arrow keys Application key Windows key FN key Numeric keypad 30 www.gateway.com Using the keyboard System key combinations When you press the FN key and a system key at the same time, your notebook performs the action identified by the text or icon on the key. Press and hold FN, then press this system key... To... Toggle the status indicators on or off. For more information, see "Status indicators" on page 28. Turn the optional wireless network on or off. For more information, see the printed network guide that came with your notebook. Warning: Radio frequency wireless communication can interfere with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. 802.11G (also known as wireless Ethernet or Wifi) communication devices are examples of devices that provide wireless communication. Enter Standby mode. Press the power button to leave Standby mode. For more information, see "Changing Power-Saving Settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. Toggle the notebook display in the following order: The LCD An external monitor or projector (a monitor or projector must be plugged into the monitor port on your notebook) Both displays at the same time For more information, see "Viewing the display on a projector or monitor" on page 46. Decrease the LCD panel brightness. www.gateway.com 31 Chapter 3: Getting Started Press and hold FN, then press this system key... To... Increase the LCD panel brightness. Play or Pause the CD or DVD. Stop playing the CD or DVD. Skip back one CD song or DVD track. Skip ahead one CD song or DVD track. Turn on Num Lock so you can use the numeric keypad. Press this key combination again to turn off Num Lock. The Num Lock status indicator appears when this function is turned on. 32 www.gateway.com Using the EZ Pad touchpad Using the EZ Pad touchpad The EZ PadTM consists of a touchpad, two buttons, and a scroll zone. Touchpad Scroll zone Left button Right button When you move your finger on the touchpad, the pointer (arrow) on the screen moves in the same direction. You can use the scroll zone to scroll through documents. Use of the scroll zone may vary from program to program. www.gateway.com 33 Chapter 3: Getting Started You can use the EZ-Pad left and right buttons below the touchpad to select objects. Tips & Tricks For instructions on how to adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, right-hand or left-hand configuration, and other touchpad settings, see "Changing the mouse or touchpad settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. Using the touchpad To... Move the pointer on the screen. Do this... Move your finger around on the touchpad. If you run out of space and need to move the pointer farther, lift your finger, move it to the middle of the touchpad, then continue moving your finger. Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the left button once. This action is called clicking. Position the pointer over the object. Press the left button twice in rapid succession. This action is called double-clicking. Select an object on the screen. Start a program or open a file or folder. 34 www.gateway.com Using the EZ Pad touchpad To... Access a shortcut menu or find more information about an object on the screen. Do this... Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the right button once. This action is called right-clicking. Position the pointer over the object. Press the left button and hold it down, then use the touchpad to move (drag) the object to the appropriate part of the screen. Release the button to drop the object where you want it. Move an object on the screen. Tips & Tricks You received your notebook with the EZ Pad touchpad set to only accept clicking by using the touchpad buttons. You can change this feature to allow tapping on the touchpad to simulate clicking the left button. For more information, see "Changing the mouse or touchpad settings" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation. www.gateway.com 35 Chapter 3: Getting Started Adjusting the volume You can use the volume control to adjust the overall volume your notebook. To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls: If you are using external speakers, turn the knob on the front of the speakers. -ORPress the volume control on the notebook. For more information, see "Front" on page 10. Tips & Tricks For instructions on how to adjust the volume in Windows, see "Adjusting the Volume" in Using Your Computer which has been included on your hard drive. To access this guide, click Start, All Programs, then click Gateway Documentation.