Customizing your computer

    You can add new hardware devices to the computer and change software settings in Windows to suit your needs. This chapter provides information about customizing the computer to your preferences, including:

Adjusting the screen tilt
Changing the screen settings
Adjusting the mouse settings
Installing additional peripherals
Using Standby Mode
Changing power settings

Adjusting the screen tilt

    For your viewing comfort you can adjust the screen tilt up or down using the screen tilt adjustment.

To adjust the screen tilt:

    1. Turn the computer on its side to access the tilt adjustment bar.

    2. Pull the tilt adjustment bar out and rotate 180 degrees, locking it into the tilt position.
    1. Place the computer back into the upright position.

Adjusting the screen settings

    Adjust the screen settings for brightness, contrast, and horizontal and vertical image position using the Screen and Sound Controls.

    You also can adjust the display settings such as the screen background and screen saver using Display properties.

To change the screen settings:

    1. Click the Screen and Sound Controls icon on the taskbar. The Quick Controls open.

    1. Adjust the screen Brightness or Contrast by clicking the up or down arrows.

    2. If necessary, adjust the other controls by clicking the Display button in the Advanced Controls options. The Monitor Properties dialog box opens.
    1. Adjust a screen setting by moving the slider left or right.
      For more information about the screen controls, click Help or ? in the Monitor Properties dialog box.
    1. When your are finished making the screen adjustments, click Done.

To change the color depth and screen area (resolution):

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties window opens.

    2. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Select the color depth or number of colors used for the screen display from the Colors drop-down list.

    2. Drag the Screen area slider to select the screen area or number of pixels used for the horizontal and vertical screen display.

    3. Click OK.

To select a color scheme:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    2. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties window opens.

    3. Click the Appearance tab.
    1. Select a color scheme from the Scheme drop-down list.
      - OR -
      Select various desktop items from the Item drop-down list and customize each item.
    1. Click OK.

To select a background:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    2. Double-click Display. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    3. Click the Background tab.
    1. Select a design from the Wallpaper list.
      If you want the design you selected to cover the entire screen, select Tile from the Display drop-down list.
      - OR -
      If you want to change the solid color behind your wallpaper image, click Pattern, select a pattern from the Pattern list, then click OK.
    1. Click OK. The new wallpaper is now the background image for your desktop.

To select a screen saver:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    2. Double-click Display. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

    1. Select a screen saver from the Screen Saver drop-down list. A preview of the screen saver displays.

    2. If you want to customize screen saver settings, click Settings. If the Settings button is not available, you cannot customize the screen saver you selected.

    3. Click OK.

Changing the mouse settings

    You can adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other mouse settings.

To change your mouse settings:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Double-click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click one of the tabs to change your mouse settings:
Buttons - change the button configuration and the double-click speed.
Pointers - customize the look of your cursor and pointer.
Motion - set your pointer speed and pointer trails.

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral

    Your Gateway computer has four Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports to connect peripheral devices such as mice, modems, keyboards, scanners, video cameras, and other devices to the computer.

    USB supports plug-and-play installation, which means that normally you can plug the device into the computer and Windows automatically sets up the device. See the documentation for further instructions about connecting the device to the computer that came with the USB device.

    You can purchase a converter cable to connect a parallel printer, a serial mouse, or another non-USB device to the USB cable connection.

Using Standby mode

    Computer equipment can use a lot of energy. You may not want to shut down your computer each time you leave it, especially if you plan to be away for only a short time. Windows 98 lets you use the Standby mode to conserve energy when the system is not in use.

    Always save your work before using the Standby mode. Once in Standby, your computer reduces or turns off the power to most devices except memory. However, the information in the memory is not saved to the hard drive. If power is interrupted, the information is lost.

    The table below shows how to change the power modes.

    If your computer is... ...and you want to... ...then

    Off

    Start up

    Press the power button.

    On

    Enter Standby mode

    Click Start, then select Shut Down, then Standby, then click OK.

    In Standby mode

    Exit Standby mode

    Click the mouse or press a key on the keyboard.

    On

    Shut down

    Click Start, then select Shut Down, Shut Down, then click OK.

Changing power settings

    You can change power management settings, such as the power button function and power-saving timers, by changing power settings in Windows 98.

    You can also adjust power schemes and adjust advanced power settings.

    Power schemes let you change power saving options including when the monitor or hard drive turns off. You can also select one of the defined power schemes or make changes and save the new settings as a custom power scheme.

    Advanced power settings let you assign different power saving modes to the power button.

To change the power scheme:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, Control Panel, then double-click Power Management. The Power Management Properties dialog box opens.
    1. Select a defined power scheme from the drop-down list.
      - OR -
      Set the timers for System Standby, Turn off monitor, and Turn off hard disks, then save your custom power scheme by clicking Save As and typing in a name for the scheme.
    1. Apply the changes by clicking OK.

To change advanced power management settings:

    1. Click Start, then select Settings, Control Panel, then double-click Power Management. The Power Management Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Advanced tab.
    1. Change the settings, then save them by clicking OK.