Customizing your computer

    Use this chapter to install additional devices, such as a printer, scanner, and video camera on your computer. This chapter also provides information about customizing system settings such as the screen settings, mouse sensitivity, standby mode, and others.

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral

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

    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 USB device documentation for further instructions about connecting the device to the computer.

    Parallel and serial ports may require additional software set up. See the device documentation for further instructions about connecting a serial or parallel device to the computer.

To connect a USB device to a USB port:

    1. Insert the device USB plug into a USB port. You do not need to turn the computer off to connect the device.
      Your computer detects the new USB device and starts an installation wizard, or program, that guides you through the installation.
    1. Follow the on-screen instructions for setting up the USB device. See the manual for the device for installation instructions.

To connect a parallel or serial device

    1. Turn the computer off
    2. Connect the parallel or serial cable to the device and to the computer.
    3. If required, connect the power cable to the device and the power outlet.
    4. Turn the computer on.
    5. Install the device drivers according to the device installation instructions.

Adjusting the screen settings

    Adjust the screen settings for brightness, contrast, and horizontal and vertical image position using the controls located on the front of the monitor or LCD panel. For more information about the screen adjustments, see the monitor or LCD manual.

    You also can adjust the desktop settings such as the screen background and screen saver using the Display Properties window. The section describes some of the screen settings you can adjust.

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.
    1. Click the Settings tab.
      The Settings tab opens.
    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.
    1. Double-click the Display icon.
      The Display Properties window opens.
    1. Click the Appearance tab.
      The Appearance tab opens.
    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.
    1. Double-click Display .
      The Display Properties dialog box opens.
    1. Click the Background tab.
      The Background tab opens.
    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.
    1. Double-click Display .
      The Display Properties dialog box opens.
    1. Click the Screen Saver tab.
      The Screen Saver tab displays.
    1. Select a screen saver from the Screen Saver drop-down list.
      A preview of the screen saver displays.
    1. 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.
    1. Click OK .

Changing the mouse settings

    You can adjust your mouse settings to make your mouse work comfortably for you. The mouse sensitivity, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other settings can be modified.

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

Programming the Multi-function keyboard

    All of the Multi-function buttons on the Gateway Multi-function keyboard are programmed to perform certain functions such as playing a CD or DVD or opening your Web browser. The Shortcut button does not perform a function until you program it using the Multi-function keyboard utility. You can also use this utility to change the functions of some of the other buttons.

To program your Multi-function keyboard buttons:

    1. Click Start , then select Settings , then Control Panel .
      The Control Panel window opens.
    1. Double-click the Multi-function keyboard icon.
      The Gateway Multi-function Keyboard dialog box opens.
    1. Click the tabs to change the functions of your Multi-function keyboard buttons:
CD/DVD . You can select a CD Player program to control the CD player functions.
Help . If you do not want to use the Help button to open online help, you can program the button to open a different program.
Internet . You can change the Web address that is opened when you first launch your Web browser. If you do not want to use the Internet button to open your Web browser, you can change the button to open a different program.
E-mail . If you do not want to use the E-mail button to open your E-mail program, you can change the button to open a different program.
Shortcut . You can change this button to open a program.

Using Standby mode

    You may not always want to shut down your computer each time you leave it, especially if you plan to be away for just a short time. The Standby mode lets you conserve energy and reduce wear on your computer and screen.

    Remember to always save your work before leaving the computer. When the computer is in Standby, information in the computer memory is not saved on the hard drive. If there is an interruption in power, information in memory is lost.

Using Standby mode in Windows 98

    Windows 98 uses Standby mode. When in Standby, your computer cuts off power to most devices except memory.

    The following table shows how to change the system modes in Windows 98.

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

    Off

    Start up

    Press the power button.

    On

    Standby

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

    In Standby mode

    Resume power

    Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard.

    On

    Shut down

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

Managing power

    In addition to using the Standby mode, you can set up preset power management settings to automate power management on your computer. For example, automating power management lets you specify how long you want the computer on before it turns off the screen or the hard drive.

To change the Power Management Properties:

    1. Click Start , then select Settings , then Control Panel .
      The Control Panel opens.
    1. Double-click the Power Management icon.
      The Power Management Properties dialog box opens. The available setting tabs may vary from the those shown in the Power Management Properties dialog box below.
    1. Click the appropriate tab to view and modify settings.

Creating power schemes

    A power scheme is a group of settings defined in the Power Management Properties program. The Home/Office Desk , Portables/Laptop , Always On power scheme changes the settings to suit your power scheme preferences.

    You can select one of the pre-defined power schemes from the Power schemes drop-down list, or you can create your own scheme and add it to the list.

To create a power scheme:

    1. Click Start , then select Settings , then Control Panel .
      The Control Panel opens.
    1. Double-click the Power Management icon.
      The Power Management Properties window appears.
    1. Click the Power Schemes tab.
    2. Set the properties for your power scheme, then click Save As .
    3. Type a name for your power scheme, then click OK .
    4. Select your power scheme from the Power scheme drop-down list.
    5. Click OK .