About Your Computer

    This chapter provides basic information about your Gateway computer. Read this chapter to find out:

How to start and turn off your computer
Where components and connectors are located
How to use the keyboard
How to use the mouse
What accessories are available

Starting your computer

To start your computer:

    1. Connect the cables to your computer using the setup poster.

    2. Press the power button.

    3. Turn on any peripherals (speakers, printers, scanners, etc.). When the computer is finished starting, the Windows desktop screen appears.

    4. If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your computer.

Turning off your computer

To turn off your computer:

    1. Click Start, then select Shut Down. The Shut Down Windows dialog box opens.

    2. Select Shut Down.
    1. Click OK. Windows shuts down your computer.
      If for some reason you cannot use the Shut down option in Windows to shut down your computer, press the power button for about five seconds.

        Warning

        When you shut down your computer the power turns off, but some electrical current still flows through the computer.

    Protecting from power source problems

      During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your computer can increase to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage. Protect your computer and peripherals by connecting them to a surge suppressor, which will absorb voltage surges and prevent them from reaching your computer.

        Warning

        High voltages can enter your computer through the power cable and the phone line that is connected to the modem. Protect your computer by using a surge suppressor with a modem connection. During an electrical storm, unplug both the surge suppressor from the power outlet and the phone line from the phone jack.

        An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) supplies battery power to your computer during a power failure. Although you cannot run your computer for an extended period of time with a UPS, a UPS lets you run your computer long enough to save your work and shut your computer down normally.

      Front

        Component Icon Description

        A

        Microphone


        Use to record sound.

        B

        CD drive


        Insert CDs into this drive.

        C

        CD drive eject button


        Press the eject button to eject the disc tray from the drive.

        D

        Diskette drive


        Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into this drive.

        E

        Diskette drive activity light


        Lights up when the computer is reading the diskette drive.

        F

        Power button

        Press this button to start or restart your computer.

        G

        Headphone cable connection

        Plug a cable for headphones into this connection.

        H

        Diskette drive eject button


        Press the eject button to remove a diskette from the drive.

      Back and side

        Component Icon Description

        A

        Power cable connection

        Plug a power cable into this connection.

        B

        USB device (Universal Serial Bus) cable connections

        Plug cables for USB devices (such as a keyboard) into these connections.

        C

        KensingtonTM lock slot

        Secure your computer to an object by connecting a Kensington cable lock to this slot.

        D

        USB device (Universal Serial Bus) cable connections

        Plug cables for USB devices (such as a USB IomegaTM ZipTM drive) into these connections.

        E

        Network cable connection (optional)

        Plug an Ethernet 10/100 network cable into this connection.

        F

        Modem cable connection

        Plug a modem cable into this connection.

        G

        Hard drive bay


        Remove the bay cover to replace the hard drive.

      Keyboard

        Component Description

        A

        Function keys

        Press these keys to perform actions in programs. For example, pressing F1 may open help.

        Each program uses different function keys for different purposes. Refer to the program documentation to find out more about the function key actions.

        B

        Navigation keys

        Press these keys to move the cursor up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a document.

        C

        Indicator lights

        Light up when your Num Lock, Caps Lock, or Scroll Lock is activated.

        D

        Windows keys

        Press to open the Windows Start menu. These keys can also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like F (Find utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer utility).

        E

        Application key

        Press for quick access to shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.

        F

        Arrow keys

        Press these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or left.

        G

        Numeric keypad

        Use these keys to type numbers when Num Lock is enabled. Press Num Lock to enable the numeric keypad.

      Mouse

        The mouse is a device that controls the pointer and cursor movement on the screen. This illustration shows the standard mouse.

        As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the screen moves in the same direction.

        The pointer turns into a cursor (I-bar) when you type information in a word processing program or enter text from the keyboard.

        You can use the left and right buttons on your mouse to select objects on the screen.

        You can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to move through a document. This feature is not available in all programs.

      Using the Mouse

      To... Do this...

      Move the pointer on the screen

      Move the mouse around on the mouse pad. If you run out of space on your mouse pad and need to move the pointer farther, pick up the mouse, set it down in the middle of the mouse pad, then continue moving the mouse.

      Select an object on the screen

      Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the left mouse button once. This action is called clicking.

      Start a program or open a file folder

      Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the left mouse button twice. This action is called double-clicking.

      Access a shortcut menu or find more information about an object on the screen.

      Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press and release the right mouse once. This action is called right-clicking.

      Move an object on the screen.

      Position the pointer over the object. Press the left mouse button and hold it down. Move (drag) the object to the appropriate part of the screen, then release the button.

      Accessories

        Gateway offers various accessories that can help you make the most of using your computer.

          Important

          If you buy a peripheral for your computer, make sure that it is a USB   device or a device with an USB adapter. Your computer only has USB cable connections.

        Storage Devices

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

          Iomega Zip drives, like diskette drives, use disks to store data. Zip disks can store 100 MB or more of data. You can use a Zip drive to back up files you do not use so that you can remove them from your hard drive. Zip drives also provide an easy way to transfer files between computers. If you need to backup your entire system, you probably need a tape drive.

          Tape drives, like tape recorders, use magnetic tape cartridges to store data. Tape drive cartridges can store 2 GB or more of data, which is a lot more data than Zip disks can store.

        Imaging equipment

          A digital camera lets you take pictures that you can view and edit on your computer.

          A scanner copies (scans) an image, such as a graphic or document, and it stores the copy in a file. You can view and edit scanned files on your computer.

          You can attach your digital photographs or scanned images to e-mail messages or post them on a Web site.

        Printers

          You can attach almost any type of printer to your computer (as long as it is USB compatible). 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, greeting cards, etc.

          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.

        Uninterruptable power supplies

          A standby uninterruptable 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 properly.