Thanks again, from all of us at Gateway. Using the Gateway Web site Gateway’s online support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and provides the most current drivers, product specifications, tutorials, and personalized information about your notebook.
Your notebook includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help information, troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway notebook. To start Help and Support: •...
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help Using online help If you are connected to the Internet, many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking the Help button on the menu bar and selecting Online Support from the list.
CHAPTER Using Windows Vista • Using the Windows desktop • Working with files and folders • Searching for files • Using Tablet PC • Working with documents • Shortcuts...
Using the Windows desktop After your notebook starts, the first screen you see is the Windows desktop. The desktop is like the top of a real desk. Think of the desktop as your personalized work space where you open programs and perform other tasks. Help For more information about the Windows desktop, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Click All Programs to see all programs, files, and folders in the Start menu. If you click an item with a folder Click a file or program to open it. www.gateway.com (Start) on the lower left of the Windows desktop. The Start menu opens, showing icon, the programs, files, and subfolders appear.
Adding icons to the desktop Help For more information about the desktop icons, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type desktop icons in the Search Help box, then press E You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you use frequently. To add icons to the desktop: Shortcut Start...
To view the drives, folders, and files on your computer: Click Hard drive Disc drive Double-click the drive icon. www.gateway.com Description Clicking the minimize button reduces the active window to a button on the taskbar. Clicking the program button in the taskbar opens the window again.
Creating folders Folders are much like the folders in a file cabinet. They can contain files and other folders. Files are much like paper documents—letters, spreadsheets, and pictures—that you keep on your notebook. In fact, all information on a notebook is stored in files. Folders Files To create a folder:...
Click the files or folders that you want to restore. For instructions on how to select multiple files and folders, see Click Restore. Windows returns the deleted files or folders to their original locations. www.gateway.com “Searching for files” on page “Searching for files” on page “Shortcuts”...
To empty the Recycle Bin: Caution Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently erases any files or folders in the bin. These files cannot be restored. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. The Recycle Bin window opens. Click Empty the Recycle Bin. Windows asks you if you are sure that you want to empty the bin.
Help For more information about browsing for files and folders, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type files and folders in the Search Help box, then press E NTER www.gateway.com (Start), then click Computer. The Computer window opens.
Using Tablet PC Your notebook may have the Tablet PC features. Some of these features include: • Tablet PC Settings—Lets you set the properties for the pen, tablet buttons, display screen, and Input Panel. • Table PC Input Panel (TIP)—Use its writing pad or soft keyboard for entering data. •...
Store the pen in the tablet PC’s pen holder. Store extra pens in a drawer to avoid prolonged pressure on the pen tip. • The pen has internal electronics, so keep it dry and avoid contact with liquids. www.gateway.com To accomplish Draw a right-to-left line. Draw a left-to-right line.
Using the Tablet Input Panel (TIP) Tap the Tablet PC Input Panel icon Panel (TIP). Use the TIP to enter data by hand or soft keyboard into a word processing program or a text-entry form. Access the TIP keyboard and writing pad by tapping or clicking the buttons near the top left of the window.
Click Save. Help For more information about saving documents, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type saving in the Search Help box, then press E www.gateway.com (Start), All Programs, Accessories, then click WordPad. Microsoft WordPad starts File name ®...
Opening a document To view, revise, or print an existing document, first you need to open it. Open the document in the program that it was created in. To open a document: Start the program. Click File, then click Open. Click Folders to open the Folders list, then click the folder you want to open.
Close the active window or program Switch to a different file, folder, or running program www.gateway.com Do this... Click the item, then press C + C. Click inside the folder or window where you want to paste the object, then press C...
CHAPTER Using the Internet and Faxing • Learning about the Internet • Setting up an Internet account • Using the World Wide Web • Using e-mail • Using Windows Fax and Scan...
Learning about the Internet The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together to provide information to people everywhere. The two most popular services on the Internet are e-mail and the World Wide Web. You can access this network by connecting your notebook to a telephone, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), or cable television line and signing up with an Internet service provider (ISP).
If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link. To learn more about using the Web browser features, click Help in the menu bar. page Linked Web page www.gateway.com NTER Link...
To go to a different Web site, type the address (called a URL for “Universal Resource Locator”) in the browser address bar (for example www.gateway.com), then click GO on the browser address bar.
Checking your e-mail To check your e-mail using Windows Mail: Connect to your Internet service provider. Click Click Send/Receive. www.gateway.com jdoe@hotmail.com User name Internet domain name (Start), then click E-mail. Your default e-mail program opens. (Start), then click E-Mail. Your default e-mail program opens.
Double-click the message you want to read. Help For general information about using e-mail, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type the e-mail in the Search Help box, then press E To protect your notebook from viruses, check any e-mail attachments using McAfee SecurityCenter.
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Click the type of connection you will be using (fax modem or fax server). The Choose a modem name screen opens. Type the name of the fax modem in the dialog box, then click Next. The Choose how to receive faxes screen opens.
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Create your fax, then open the Cover Page menu by clicking the arrow and selecting a cover page from the list. The Sender Information dialog box opens. Type your information in the spaces provided, then click OK. The New Fax dialog box opens. To enter optional dialing rule information, click Dialing Rule and select a rule from the menu.
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(Start), All Programs, then click Windows Fax and Scan. Windows Fax and Scan opens. If Windows Fax and Scan is in Scan view, click Fax in the lower left corner of the window. Click Tools, Cover Pages, then click New. The Fax Cover Page Editor opens. www.gateway.com...
• If you want to include fields that are imported from the Send Fax Wizard or the Fax Configuration Wizard (such as To or From), add them to the page by using the Insert menu, then move them to the appropriate place on your template. You can also use the Insert menu to include information that is automatically calculated (such as number of pages or date and time sent).
CHAPTER Using Multimedia • Playing music and movies • Creating audio files and music libraries • Creating music CDs and video DVDs • Creating and copying data discs • Using Windows Media Center...
Playing music and movies Playing audio and video files Windows Media Player can play several types of audio and video files, including WAV, MIDI, MP3, AU, AVI, WMV, and MPEG formats. For more information about using Windows Media Player, click Help.
To watch a DVD you must have a DVD-compatible drive in your notebook. If you do not have a DVD-compatible drive and would like to add an external drive, visit the Accessory Store at www.gateway.com. Playing an optical disc using Windows Media Player Use Windows Media Player to listen to CDs or watch movies on DVDs.
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If a dialog box opens and asks you what you want your notebook to do with the disc, click Play. Windows Media Player opens and begins playing the disc. If Windows Media Player does not open automatically, click click Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player opens. If the disc is not already playing, click CHAPTER 4: Using Multimedia Playback controls...
To record an audio file: Shortcut Start Plug a microphone into the microphone jack on your notebook. For the location of the microphone jack, see your notebook’s Reference Guide. -OR- Use the built-in microphone available on select Gateway notebooks. www.gateway.com Repeat Rewind Shuffle Stop Pause/Play “Playing audio and video files”...
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Click Sound Recorder opens. Click When you finish recording, click Type a name for the recording, specify the file type and location where you want to save the recording, then click Save. The recording is saved. Creating WMA and MP3 music files Important Some music CDs have copy protection software.
Advanced Tag Editor dialog box opens. Enter track information such as Title, Artist, Album, and Genre, then click OK. The new track information appears in the Windows Media Player library. www.gateway.com (Start), All Programs, then click Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player...
Creating music CDs and video DVDs Creating a music CD Important We recommend that you do not use your notebook for other tasks while creating CDs or DVDs. If you record copyrighted material on a CD or DVD, you need permission from the copyright owner.
Insert a blank, writeable DVD into your recordable optical disc drive. Click introduction window opens. Click Choose Photos and Videos. The main screen opens. www.gateway.com (Start), All Programs, then click Windows DVD Maker. The Windows DVD Maker...
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Click Add items. The Add Items to DVD dialog box opens. Find and select the videos you want to add to the video DVD, then click Add. The videos are added to the video list, and a graphic in the lower left corner of the window shows you how much disc capacity will be used.
Click Mastered, then click Next. An empty folder opens. Open the folder that contains the files you want to burn to disc, then click and drag the files to the empty disc folder. Click Burn to disc. The files are burned to the disc. www.gateway.com...
Using Windows Media Center If your notebook has Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, you can use Windows Media Center to watch videos and movies, listen to music, and view photos. Media Center is a simplified, streamlined interface that is ideally suited for playing and managing media files.
CHAPTER Networking Your Notebook • Introduction to Networking • Wired Ethernet networking • Wireless Ethernet networking • Setting up your network connection • Testing your network • Adding a printer to your network • Sharing resources • Using the network...
Introduction to Networking Making sure your broadband connection works Important If you do not have a broadband connection already installed, make the necessary arrangements with your ISP. Be sure to find out how soon after the installation the line will be activated. Broadband Internet settings differ from ISP to ISP.
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Example router-based Ethernet network The following is an example of a wired Ethernet network. The network is made up of a router, a cable or DSL modem, your computers, and cables connecting each of these components. The router is the central control point for the network.
Ethernet cards and drivers on the computers that do not have Ethernet already installed. To order wired Ethernet PCI or PC cards, visit the Accessories Store at www.gateway.com. Use the documentation that comes with your Ethernet cards for instructions on installing the card and any required drivers.
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In addition to a router, you need a straight-through cable for each computer you want to connect to the network. Router To set up a network using a router: Plug one end of the power adapter into the AC connector on the router and the other end into a grounded, 110V electrical outlet.
Equipment you need for an access point-based network For a wireless Ethernet network you need: • Your Gateway computer with a wireless Ethernet network card installed • A broadband Internet connection (optional) •...
• Internet security features like a firewall to keep intruders out of your network. • Wireless security features like SecureEasySetup™ or 128-bit WEP encryption. If you are not sure what to buy, check out Gateway’s accessory store at www.gateway.com. Determining if a wireless Ethernet device is already installed on your computer...
Setting up your network connection Naming the computers and the workgroup Important You must give each computer on the network a unique Computer Name and the same Workgroup Name. Make sure that you have set up your router (wired network) or access point (wireless network). If you are setting up a wired network, make sure that you have connected the network cabling.
After you have named your computer and workgroup, you need to set up the network connection on your computer. To connect to your wireless Ethernet network: Click Click Network and Sharing Center. The Network and Sharing Center window opens. www.gateway.com (Start), then click Network. The Network window opens.
Click Connect to a network on the left of the window. The Connect to a network dialog box opens. Click a network, then click Connect. If you can see the network name, but you cannot connect to it, your network is using security.
If you share a drive, the entire contents of that drive will be available to everyone on your network. If you share a folder, only the contents of that folder will be available to everyone on the network. www.gateway.com “Sharing drives and printers” on page (Start), then click Computer.
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Click the Sharing tab. If Share is grayed out, click Advanced Sharing to set sharing for this drive/folder. Click OK, then click Close. Un-sharing drives and folders To un-share drives or folders: Click Right-click the drive or folder that you want to un-share, then click Share. Click Advanced Sharing, then click Share this folder (or drive) to uncheck the box.
Click File, then click Open. Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to open. Double-click the folder containing the file, then double-click the file. www.gateway.com (Start), then click Network. The Network window opens. NTER “Viewing shared drives and folders”...
Copying files across the network To copy files across the network: Click Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to copy. Browse to the file you want to copy. Right-click the file, then click Copy. Right-click the folder where you want to copy the file to, then click Paste. Printing files across the network Important Before you can print a file across the network, you must install the driver...
Use Computrace Complete’s online help to get the program up and running. If your notebook does not already have Computrace Complete installed, contact Gateway at www.gateway.com/business CHAPTER 6: Protecting Your Notebook...
Reference Guide. Make sure that you use a password you can remember. The password feature is very secure, and you cannot bypass it. If you forget your password, you will have to return your notebook to Gateway so we can reset it. Windows user accounts Windows lets you set up a user account for each person who uses your notebook.
For more information about modifying security settings, see settings” on page Your new Gateway notebook may have the McAfee SecurityCenter installed. The McAfee SecurityCenter includes the following components: • McAfee VirusScan is an anti-virus subscription service. You can use VirusScan to protect your notebook from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and hybrid attacks.
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Click Scan. McAfee scans your notebook for viruses and automatically removes any that it finds. When McAfee is finished scanning, the program displays a summary of the items detected and removed from your notebook. Updating your virus definitions McAfee is set up to automatically retrieve the latest virus definitions from the Internet and install them on your notebook.
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Click Computer & Files. A list of services appears to the right of Computer & Files category. Click Configure in the services area. The Computer & Files Configuration screen opens. Click the grey Virus protection is enabled bar to expand that area, then click Advanced. Click the type of scan you want to configure, then set the options for that scan type.
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To use McAfee Parental Controls: Click (Start), All Programs, McAfee, then click McAfee SecurityCenter. McAfee SecurityCenter opens. Click Parental Controls, then click Configure in the services area. The Parental Controls Configuration screen opens. Click the grey Parental controls are disabled bar to expand that area, then click Advanced.
Using Windows Security Center Windows Security Center helps protect your notebook through: • A firewall • Automatic Windows updates • Third party virus protection software • Security options in Internet Explorer Modifying security settings To modify security settings: Click Click Security Center. The Windows Security Center dialog box opens. Click: •...
To schedule automatic updates: Click Click Security Center. The Windows Security Center dialog box opens. Click Windows Update. www.gateway.com (Start), Control Panel, then click Security. Update, click Start, then click Help (Start), Control Panel, then click Security.
Click Change Settings. The Change Settings dialog box opens. Make your changes to the schedule settings, then click OK. BigFix Your notebook may include BigFix. BigFix monitors your notebook for problems and conflicts. It automatically gathers information about the latest bugs, security alerts, and updates from BigFix sites on the Internet.
CHAPTER Customizing Windows • Changing screen settings • Changing system sounds • Changing mouse, touchpad, or pointing device settings • Adding and modifying user accounts • Changing accessibility settings • Using the Windows Mobility Center...
Changing screen settings If you are using a monitor, you can adjust the screen settings for brightness, contrast, and horizontal and vertical image position using the controls on the front or side of your monitor. For more information about these adjustments, see your monitor’s user guide. Adjusting the color depth and screen area are two of the most basic display settings you may need to change.
To change the Windows desktop background: Click Change desktop background. The Choose a desktop background dialog box opens. www.gateway.com (Start), Control Panel, then under Appearance and Personalization, click (Start), Control Panel, then under Appearance and Personalization, click (Start), Control Panel, then under Appearance and Personalization, click...
Click the Picture Location list, then click the location where you want to look for background images. If the location you want is not in the list, click Browse and locate the drive and folder. Click the picture or color you want to use for the background, then click OK. Selecting a screen saver Caution If you are using a monitor (not a flat-panel display), an image may get burned in...
To delete a gadget, right-click the gadget, then click Close Gadget. To configure a gadget: In the Sidebar, right-click the gadget, then click Options. The gadget’s configuration window opens. Make the changes you want, then click OK. Your changes are saved. www.gateway.com...
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Using a gadget’s control panel Some gadgets have built-in control panels that you can use to control their behavior. To use a gadget’s control panel: In the Sidebar, hold the touchpad pointer over the gadget. The gadget’s built-in control panel appears on the gadget. (Slideshow gadget shown) Click the control you want to operate.
Browse and find the file in the appropriate folder. To test a sound you have selected, click Test. Click OK to save your changes. www.gateway.com (Start), All Programs, Accessories (Change audio settings). The Sound dialog box opens. then click Windows Mobility Center. The...
Changing mouse, touchpad, or pointing device settings Help For more information about mouse settings, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type mouse settings in the Search Help box, then press E You can adjust the double-click speed, pointer speed, left-hand or right-hand configuration, and other mouse settings.
To change the tablet options, click or tap a tab, then change an option. To change a pen option, click or tap the Other tab, then click or tap Go to Pen and Input Devices. Click or tap a tab, then change a pen option. www.gateway.com Control Panel Hardware and Sound (Start), Control Panel, then under Hardware and Sound, click Mouse.
To change an input panel option, click or tap the Other tab, then click or tap Go to Input Panel Settings. Click or tap a tab, then change an input panel option. Click or tap OK. Adding and modifying user accounts You can create and customize a user account for each person who uses your notebook.
To use the Ease of Access Center: Click Ease of Access Center opens. www.gateway.com (Start), click the arrow next to the lock icon, then click Switch User or Log Off. (Start), Control Panel, Ease of Access, then click Ease of Access Center. The...
In the Quick access to common tools section, click one of the following options to make some of the most common accessibility changes to Windows: • Start Magnifier provides a close-up view of the area near your touchpad pointer. • Start On-Screen Keyboard displays a keyboard on the screen.
To access the Windows Mobility Center: • Click Windows Mobility Center window opens. Control www.gateway.com (Start), All Programs, Accessories Description Click (Change display brightness settings for your power ■ plan) to open the Change settings for the plan dialog box and modify the display and sleep settings for the current power plan.
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Control CHAPTER 7: Customizing Windows Description Click (Change wireless network settings) to open the ■ Connect to a network dialog box and select a wireless network to connect to or disconnect from. For more information, see “Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network” on page Click Turn wireless on to turn the wireless radio on or click Turn ■...
CHAPTER Maintaining Your Notebook • Updating Windows • Using BigFix • Managing hard drive space • Scheduling maintenance tasks • Moving from your old computer...
Updating Windows Windows Update helps you keep your notebook up-to-date. Use Windows Update to choose updates for your notebook’s operating system, software, and hardware. New content is added to the site regularly, so you can always get the most recent updates and fixes to protect your notebook and keep it running smoothly.
Help For more information about keeping the hard drive free of unnecessary files, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type disk cleanup in the Search Help box, then press E www.gateway.com Computer right-click drive Properties (Start), All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click Disk Cleanup. The...
Checking the hard drive for errors The Error-checking program examines the hard drive for physical flaws and file and folder problems. This program corrects file and folder problems and marks flawed areas on the hard drive so Windows does not use them. If you use your notebook several hours every day, you probably want to run Error-checking once a week.
Use a backup device, such as a recordable disc drive, to do a complete hard drive backup. If you do not have a high-capacity backup device and you want to purchase one, you can visit the Accessories Store at www.gateway.com. To back up files: Click Right-click the drive that you want to back up, click Properties, then click the Tools tab.
Scheduling maintenance tasks Task Scheduler lets you schedule maintenance tasks such as running Disk Defragmenter and checking your drives for errors. Important Your notebook must be on during scheduled tasks. If your notebook is off, scheduled tasks will not run. To start the Task Scheduler: Click The Task Scheduler dialog box opens.
File type Documents Spreadsheets Pictures Movies Sound and music www.gateway.com (Start), then click Documents. The Documents folder opens and Step File usually ends in..DOC, .TXT, .RTF, .HTM, .HTML, .DOT .XLS, .XLT, .TXT .JPG, .BMP, .GIF, .PDF, .PCT, .TIF, .PNG, .EPS .MPEG, .MPG, .AVI, .GIF, .MOV...
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Gateway may improve and/or change products described in this publication at any time. Due to continuing system improvements, Gateway is not responsible for inaccurate information which may appear in this manual. For the latest product updates, consult the Gateway Web site at www.gateway.com. In no event will Gateway be liable for direct, indirect, special, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect or omission in this manual, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
Start menu DHCP disconnecting from Internet Disk Cleanup Disk Defragmenter display using screen saver documentation Gateway Web site help Help and Support online help documents creating opening printing saving downloading files drivers...
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Gateway Web address Web site Gigabit Ethernet hard drive backing up files checking for errors checking for free space defragmenting deleting files and folders scanning for errors...