Note: This checklist is not customized for specific system scans and checks to increase processing speed. Check the computer's specific user guide for more details.

1. Check how much memory (RAM) is in your computer
   1. Right-click the My computer icon, and then select Properties from the drop-down list.
   2. In the System Properties menu, select the General tab (if not already selected). The system RAM is listed under Computer:

   If there is not at least 256MB of RAM listed, consider upgrading the memory. Refer to Gateway Memory on gateway.com to upgrade the computer's memory (RAM).

2. Check drive space

   When looking at the Hard Drive properties window incorrectly, you might assume that the hard drive is not the correct size.

   1. On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
   2. In the My Computer window, right-click the C: drive, and then click Properties.
   3. The Local Disk (C:) Properties dialog box opens.

   

   Note: System performance may begin to deteriorate if there is less than 10% of drive space available. If this is the case, go to the Empty Recycle Bin step.

3. B>Empty the Recycle Bin
   1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon.
   2. From the drop-down menu, click Empty Recycle Bin, and then click OK.

4. Running Disk Cleanup
   1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

   2. In the Select Drive dialog box, in the Drives list, click drive C:, and then click OK.

      

   3. In the Disk Cleanup for (C:) dialog box, select the appropriate files to delete, and then click OK.

      On the graphic, click the More Options tab for more information.

      

   4. In the Disk Cleanup for (C:) dialog box, click Yes.

      

5. Use Task Manager
   1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys simultaneously to enter Task Manager.
   2. Click the Process tab.
   3. Move the scroll bar to the top.

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   4. Sort the "CPU" column by clicking on CPU so that the tasks taking the most CPU Usage are at the top. (You may have to click on CPU twice).

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   5. Look at the processes that are using the most CPU usage.

   Note: "System Idle Process" is normally one of the top processes running.

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   6. If the process can be stopped, highlight the process and click End Process.

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   7. When the Warning dialog box prompts Are sure you want to terminate the process, click Yes.

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6. Run an anti-virus scan
   1. Refer to the help file or the documentation for the specific anti-virus software program to get the instructions to run a complete scan of the computer.
   2. Follow all on-screen instructions.
   3. Refer to the Windows XP - Detecting/Identifying Viruses checklist for additional information.

7. Run an anti-spyware scan
   1. Refer to the help file or the documentation for the specific anti-spyware software program to get the instructions to run a complete scan of the computer.
   2. Follow all on-screen instructions.
   3. Refer to the Windows XP - Detecting/Identifying Spyware checklist for additional information.

8. Run Check Disk (chkdsk) inside Windows

Chkdsk

Microsoft® Windows® XP does not include scandisk. However, it does contain chkdsk. The chkdsk command creates and displays a status report for the disk. It can also be used to list and correct errors on the disk.

Notes:

• Chkdsk requires exclusive access to a disk volume when it runs. Close all programs before running the chkdsk command. If one or more files on the disk being checked are open, you are prompted to schedule the disk check for the next time the computer is restarted.
• Depending on the number of files and folders, the size of the disk volume, disk performance, and available system resources, such as processor and memory, the chkdsk command may take a long time to complete.
• Chkdsk may not accurately report information in read-only mode.

Perform the following steps to use the chkdsk command.

1. Click Start, then double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.

2. In the My Computer window, click to select the local disk. From the File menu, click Properties.

3. In the Local Disk Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab. On the Tools tab, in the Error-checking box, click Check Now.

   

4. In the Check Disk Local Disk dialog box, select one or both of the option checkboxes, and then click Start.

   Automatically fix file system errors - Fixes errors without scanning the volume for bad sectors. Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors - Repairs errors, locates bad sectors, and recovers readable information.

5. The disk is checked. When complete, close all open dialog boxes.

   Note: All files must be closed for this process to run. If the volume is currently in use, the following dialog box opens.

   

6. In the Checking Disk Local Disk dialog box, to schedule disk check on the next restart, click Yes.

7. Restart the computer.

8. The next time the computer is turned on, the disk check executes before entering Windows.

For more information about the chkdsk command, click the following Microsoft hyperlinks.

• Chkdsk (Definition)
• Troubleshooting Disks and File Systems
• Microsoft Knowledge Base article 314835: An explanation of the new /C and /I Switches that are available to use with Chkdsk.exe
9. If you can not get into Windows, run Check Disk (chkdsk) from the command prompt

Notes:

• Chkdsk requires exclusive access to a volume when it runs. Therefore, if one or more of the files are open on the disk that you want to check, Chkdsk displays a prompt asking if you want schedule the disk check for the next time that you restart your computer.
• Chkdsk might take a long time to run, depending on the number of files and folders, the size of the volume, disk performance, and available system resources, such as processor and memory.
• Chkdsk might not accurately report information in read-only mode.
1. From the Start menu, click Run. In the Run dialog box, type: cmd, and then press the ENTER key.
2. At the Command Prompt type: chkdsk /r, and then press ENTER.

Note: If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, the following message is displayed:


"Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)"

3. Type: Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

The following table lists the exit codes that Chkdsk reports after it has finished:

Exit code	Description
0	No errors were found.
1	Errors were found and fixed.
2	Disk cleanup, such as garbage collection, was performed, or cleanup was not performed because /r was not specified.
3	Could not check the disk, errors could not be fixed, or errors were not fixed because /f was not specified.

10. Run Disk Defragmenter

Disk Defragmenter consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard drive so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. As a result, your computer can gain access to your files and folders and save new ones more efficiently. By consolidating your files and folders, Disk Defragmenter also consolidates the volume's free space, making it less likely that new files are fragmented.

Running Disk Defragmenter

1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

   

2. In the Disk Defragmenter window, click Defragment. The hard drive is analyzed, and then defragmented.

   Note: Disk Defragmenter may take a long time to finish.

   

   

3. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click View Report or click Close when it is finished.

   

4. In the Defragmentation Report dialog box, click Close.

   

5. In the Disk Defragmenter window, from the File menu, click Exit.

11. Delete uneccessary programs.

Removing unused programs frees up additional space on your hard drive.

1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
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2. With Control Panel in Category View, click Add or Remove Programs.
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3. In the Add or Remove Programs window, click to select the driver or program you want to remove, and then click Remove.
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4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
   

5. Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select any additional programs to be removed.

6. When you are finished removing unused programs, close the Add or Remove Programs window.

7. Restart the computer.
12. Remove Startup items in MSCONFIG

Clearing Startup items in MSCONFIG would be used to:

• Help identify spyware, adware, or viruses being initiated upon Startup of Windows.
• identify possible problems causing the system to run unusally slow or halting.
• If errors are appearing upon startup of Windows.
1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Run dialog box, type: MSCONFIG, and then press the ENTER key.

3. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the Startup tab.
   

4. Uncheck everything in the startup list except those needed for proper functionality of the system.

   Note: Leave the following items checked if they appear in the Startup items list.

   BigFix	Keeps software and drivers up to date
   Tabtip	Tablet stylus
   Snippingtool	Tablet stylus
   readericon45g	multimedia Card Reader
   mHotKey	Multimedia Keyboard driver
   zHotKey	Multimedia Keyboard driver
   ccApp	Norton Antivirus
   ccRegVfy	Norton Antivirus
   VShield32	Norton Antivirus
   SynTPLpr	Notebook Touchpad driver
   SynTPEnh	Notebook Touchpad driver
   Atray	Broadcom Wireless driver (Notebooks)
   BCMltry	Broadcom Wireless driver (Notebooks)
   Pronomgr	Intel Wireless driver (Notebooks)
   SpySweeper	Spyseeper, eliminates spyware/adware
   SNDmon	Sound driver
   UrlLstCk	Norton Internet Security Suite
   Remind_XP	SoftThinks Medialess reminder
   rec_guard	SoftThinks Hidden Partition
   showwnd	Media card reader
   shwicon2k	Media card reader
   shwiconem	Media card reader
   msscli	McAfee Anti-sypware
   mcagent	McAfee tray icon
   mcupdate	McAfee automatic update
   cfgwiz	Norton Anti-virus configuration Wizard
   qfui	Pre-Empt
   AtiCwd32	ATI video card or Chipset
   Atikey	ATI video card or Chipset
   cli	ATI video card or Chipset
   atiptaxx	ATI video card or Chipset
   ati2mdxx	ATI video card or Chipset
   Nwiz	nVidia video card or Chipset
   NvMediaCenter (NvMcTray)	nVidia video card or Chipset
   NvCplDaemon	nVidia video card or Chipset
   NvCpl	nVidia video card or Chipset
   Rthdcpl	RealTek Audio Chipset
   ifrmewrk	Intel Wireless driver
   EOUWiz	Intel Wireless driver

   Note: If you change any startup setting thorugh MSCONfig, the following message may appear the next time you log on to the system:
   "You have used the System Configuration Utility to change the way Windows starts. The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts. Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility."

5. Make sure the Do not show this message again is checked, and then click OK.

6. When the error does not appear anymore, place a checkmark in a box to test if that is the item that is causing the problem. Repeat until the error reappears to validate the problem startup item.
   Note: If doing this because the system is running slow, remind the customer that more items that are being initiated upon startup, the slower the system will perform.

7. Update Device Drivers

Go to the Device Driver checklist for procedures on updating the device drivers.

If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of the following methods:


• Chat support
• Email support
• Phone support
• Answers By Gateway
• International support