Gateway E-4610s User Manual

							www.gateway.com
85
Finding other files
Use Windows Find or Search to locate other personal data files. 
For more information, see “Using Windows” in your online User 
Guide.
You can often identify different data file types by looking at 
the file’s extension (the part of the file name following the last 
period). For example, a document file might have a .DOC 
extension and a spreadsheet file might have an .XLS extension.
To find files using Find or Search:  
1In Windows Vista or Windows XP, click (Start), then 
click Search. The Search Results window opens.
- OR -
In Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000, click 
Start, Find or Search, then click For Files or Folders. 
The Search Results window opens.
2Type the filename or part of a filename you want to 
search for, then press E
NTER. The search results are 
displayed.
3To learn about more search options, click Help.
File typeFile usually ends in...
Documents.DOC, .TXT, .RTF, .HTM, .HTML, .DOT
Spreadsheets .XLS, .XLT, .TXT
Pictures.JPG, .BMP, .GIF, .PDF, .PCT, .TIF, .PNG, .EPS
Movies .MPEG, .MPG, .AVI, .GIF, .MOV
Sound and music.WAV, .CDA, .MP3, .MID, .MIDI, .WMA
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							CHAPTER 5: Maintaining Your Computer
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							CHAPTER6
87
Troubleshooting
Safety guidelines
First steps
Troubleshooting
Recovering your system
Telephone support
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Safety guidelines
While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety 
guidelines:
First steps
If you have problems with your computer, try these things first:
Make sure that the power cord is connected to your 
computer and an AC power outlet and that the power 
outlet is supplying power.
If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure 
that it is turned on.
If a peripheral device does not work, make sure that all 
connections are secure.
Make sure that your hard drive is not full.
If an error message appears on the screen, write down 
the exact message. The message may help Customer 
Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.
If you added or removed peripheral devices, review the 
installation procedures you performed and make sure 
that you followed each instruction.
If an error occurs in a program, see the program’s 
printed documentation or the online help. Warning
Never open your computer case while your computer is turned on and 
while the modem cable, network cable, and power cord are connected.
WarningMake sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing internal 
components. For more information about preventing damage from static 
electricity, see “Preventing static electricity discharge” on page 38.
WarningTo avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to troubleshoot your computer 
problem if:
 Power cords or plugs are damaged
 Liquid has been spilled into your computer
 Your computer was dropped
 The case was damaged
Instead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer technician.
HelpFor more information about troubleshooting, click Start, then click 
Help and Support. Type the keyword/phrase troubleshooting in the 
Search Help box, then press E
NTER.
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89
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting topics are listed in alphabetical order.
Add-in cards
See “Expansion cards” on page 94.
Audio
See “Sound” on page 106.
CD or DVD drives
The computer does not recognize a disc or the CD or DVD 
drive
Make sure that the disc label is facing up or out, then try 
again.
Try a different disc. Occasionally, discs are flawed or 
become scratched and cannot be read by the CD or DVD 
drive.
If you are trying to play a DVD, make sure that you have 
a DVD drive. To identify your drive type, see “Identifying 
optical drive types” on page 27.
Your computer may be experiencing some temporary 
memory problems. Shut down and restart your 
computer.
Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may 
not be able to play these CDs on your computer.
Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning 
optical discs” on page 74.
Restart your computer, then enter the BIOS Setup utility 
by pressing and holding F2 while your computer 
restarts. Make sure that the IDE controllers are enabled.
Make sure that the drive is configured correctly by 
following the instructions in the drive documentation.
Reinstall the device driver.
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An audio CD does not produce sound
Make sure that the disc label is facing up or out, then try 
again.
Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may 
not be able to play these CDs on your computer.
Make sure that the volume controls are turned up. For 
more information, see “Adjustin g th e volume ” on 
page 33.
Make sure that the mute controls are turned off. For 
more information, see “Adjustin g th e volume ” on 
page 33.
If you have external speakers attached, make sure that 
the speakers are turned on and that the cables are 
connected correctly and securely.
Shut down and restart your computer.
Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning 
optical discs” on page 74.
Reinstall the appropriate device drivers.
A DVD movie will not play
Make sure that you have a DVD drive. To identify your 
drive type, see “Identifying optical drive types” on 
page 27.
Make sure that the disc label is facing up or out, then try 
again.
Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are flawed or 
become scratched and cannot be read by the DVD drive.
Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning 
optical discs” on page 74.
Shut down and restart your computer.
Make sure that the DVD program has been installed on 
your computer.
DVDs and DVD drives contain regional codes that help 
control DVD title exports and help reduce illegal disc 
distribution. To be able to play a DVD, the disc’s regional 
code and your DVD drive’s regional code must match.
The regional code on your DVD drive is determined by 
your computer’s delivery address. The regional code for 
the United States and Canada is 1. The regional code for 
Mexico is 4. Your DVD drive’s regional code must match 
the regional code for the disc. The regional code for the 
disc is on the disc, disc documentation, or disc 
packaging.
If the DVD movie does not play, the disc’s regional code 
and your DVD drive’s regional code may not match.
Reinstall the device driver.
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Diskette drive
The diskette drive is not recognized
Shut down and restart your computer.
You cannot save a file to diskette or you see the message 
“disk is full or write-protected”
Make sure that the write-protection tab on the 
upper-right corner of the diskette is down (unprotected).
The diskette may be full. Delete unnecessary files on the 
diskette and try again.
Make sure that the diskette you are using is 
IBM-compatible.
Try a different diskette. Occasionally diskettes are flawed 
and cannot be read by the diskette drive.
Run Error-checking on the diskette. For more 
information, see “Checking the hard drive for errors” on 
page 78. If errors are detected and corrected, try using 
the diskette again.
You see an “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error 
message
Make sure that the write-protection tab on the 
upper-right corner of the diskette is down (unprotected).
The diskette may be full. Delete unnecessary files on the 
diskette and try again.
Make sure that the diskette you are using is 
IBM-compatible.
Try a different diskette. Occasionally diskettes are flawed 
and cannot be read by the diskette drive.
You see a “Disk is full” error message
Delete unnecessary files on the diskette.
Try a different diskette. Occasionally diskettes are flawed 
and cannot be read by the diskette drive.
Run Error-checking on the diskette. For more 
information, see “Checking the hard drive for errors” on 
page 78. If errors are detected and corrected, try using 
the diskette again.
You see a “Non-system disk” or “Disk error” error message
Eject the diskette from the diskette drive, then press 
ENTER.
Make sure that the diskette you are using is 
IBM-compatible.
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The diskette drive LED is lit continuously
Remove the diskette from the drive. If the light stays on, 
try restarting your computer.
Display
The screen resolution is not correct
Change the screen resolution from the Display Settings 
dialog box. For more information, see the “Customizing 
Windows” chapter in your online User Guide.
The computer is running, but there is no picture
Adjust the brightness and contrast controls to the center 
position.
Check the cable for bent or damaged pins.
Make sure that the monitor is plugged in and turned on. 
If the monitor is turned on, the power LED should be lit.
Make sure that the video cable is connected to the video 
port on your computer.
Connect a monitor that you know works to your 
computer.
Reinstall the device driver.
The color is not uniform
Make sure that the monitor warms up for at least 
30 minutes before making a final judgment about color 
uniformity.
The text on the screen is dim or difficult to read
Adjust the brightness and contrast controls.
Change the display settings. For more information, see 
the “Customizing Windows” chapter in your online User 
Guide. 
For more information about monitor types, see your monitor 
and video card documentation.
DVD drives
See “CD or DVD drives” on page 89. Help
For more information about changing the screen resolution, click Start, 
then click Help and Support. Type the phrase screen resolution in the 
Search Help box, then press E
NTER.
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Ethernet
You cannot see the other computers on your network
Make sure that your Ethernet cable is plugged into the 
Ethernet jack on your computer. Make sure that the 
other end is plugged into a network router, switch, hub, 
or other network device.
Make sure that all computers are plugged into a 
powered electrical outlet and turned on.
Make sure that the router (if you are using one) is 
plugged into a powered electrical outlet and turned on. 
Most routers have lights that indicate they are working. 
For more information, see the documentation that came 
with your router.
If you are using a router, try rebooting it by unplugging 
its power cord, waiting five seconds, then plugging it 
back in.
Make sure that all computers on your network have the 
same workgroup name.
Make sure that all computers are using the same Subnet 
Mask.
If you assigned IP addresses to the computers, make sure 
that all computers have different IP addresses. For home 
networks, IP addresses should be 192.168.N.N where N 
is a number you assign between 0 and 254. The first N 
should be the same for all computers on your network 
and the second N should be different for all computers 
on your network.
The computer does not recognize an Ethernet expansion 
card
Shut down and restart your computer.
Make sure that you have installed the required software. 
For more information, see the documentation that came 
with your Ethernet card.
Reseat the card. For more information about reseating 
the card, see “Adding or replacing an expansion card” on 
page 53. For more information about your Ethernet card, 
see the documentation that came with your Ethernet 
card.
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Your Ethernet network is running slower than you expect
If your Ethernet network is running slower than you 
expect, check the speed of each Ethernet component. 
For best results, all Ethernet components should be 
standard Ethernet (10 Mbps), Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps or 
10/100 Mbps), or Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps or 
10/100/1000 Mbps). A mixture of Ethernet, Fast 
Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet components will result in 
your network running at the slowest component speed.
Expansion cards
The computer does not recognize an expansion card
Shut down and restart your computer.
Make sure that you have installed the required software. 
For more information, see the documentation that came 
with your expansion card.
Reseat the card. For more information, see “Adding or 
replacing an expansion card” on page 53.
File management
A file was accidentally deleted
If a file was deleted while holding down the S
HIFT key, the file 
cannot be restored.
To restore deleted files:  
1Double-click the Recycle Bin icon.
2Right-click the file you want to restore, then click 
Restore. The file is restored to the place where it was 
originally deleted from.
If the Recycle Bin was emptied before you try to restore 
a file, the file cannot be restored.
You need to restore your computer to a working condition
See “Recovering your system” on page 107.
Floppy drive
See “Diskette drive” on page 91. Help
For more information about restoring deleted files, click Start, then click 
Help and Support. Type the keyword/phrase System Restore in the Search 
Help box, then press E
NTER.
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