Using your Gateway PC Contents

Computer Basics

What is a personal computer?
Starting and turning off your computer
· Starting your computer
· Turning off your computer
Using your mouse
Windows basics
· About the desktop
· About windows
· About the Start menu
· About dialog boxes
· About files, folders, and drives
· Browsing and searching
· Copying, moving, and deleting files
For more information . . .
· Microsoft Windows manual
· Welcome to Windows
· Online help
· Microsoft Office assistants
· Gateway Web site
Working safely

Computer Features and Customization

Controls
· Micro-tower front panel
· Mid-tower front panel
· Tower front panel
· Standard keyboard
· Multi-function keyboard
Customizing your system's features
· Programming your multi-function keyboard
· Changing your mouse settings
· Changing your display properties
· Using Standby mode

Using Your Computer

Working with documents
· Creating a new document
· Saving a document
· Opening a document
· Printing a document
Using multimedia
· Adjusting volume
· Playing an audio CD
· Playing a DVD
· Using the DVDPlayer control panel
· Selecting languages
· Setting parental controls
· Searching for chapters
· Using the MediaPlayer
· Making an audio recording
· Playing an audio recording
Playing games

About the Internet, e-mail, and the Web

Connecting to the Internet
· Setting up an Internet account
· Connecting to your Internet account
· Disconnecting from your Internetaccount
Using the World Wide Web
· Connecting to a Web site
· Downloading software
Using e-mail
· Sending e-mail
· Checking your e-mail

Maintaining Your Computer

Creating an emergency startup diskette
Backing up your files
Scanning your hard drive for errors
Defragmenting your hard drive
Cleaning your computer
· Creating a computer cleaning kit
· Cleaning your computer case
· Cleaning your keyboard
· Cleaning your monitor
· Cleaning your mouse

Upgrading your computer

Selecting a place to work
Creating a tool kit
Preventing static electricity
Micro-tower computer
· Opening the micro-tower case
· Replacing micro-tower drives
Mid-tower computer
· Opening the mid-tower case
· Replacing mid-tower drives
Tower computer
· Opening the tower case
· Replacing tower drives
Upgrading memory

Reinstalling Device Drivers

Reinstalling Windows98 or Windows95 device drivers
Reinstalling WindowsNT device drivers
· Locating WindowsNT drivers
· Reinstalling WindowsNT device drivers
· Reinstalling WindowsNT Service Pack CD

Reinstalling Windows

Reinstalling Windows98 or Windows95
Reinstalling WindowsNT
Reinstalling applications

Using Your BIOS Setup Utility

Opening the BIOS Setup utility

Troubleshooting

· Safety guidelines
· First steps
· CD/DVD drive
· Computer
· Diskette drive
· Expansion cards
· Hard drive
· Internet
· Keyboard
· Memory
· Modem
· Monitor
· Mouse
· Power
· Printer
Handling and cleaning CDs
Reseating a Card

Getting Technical Assistance

Before calling for technical support
Technical support resources

Regulatory Statements and Notices

Index