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Emachines t3104 256 MB Ram Computer

Uploaded by

Mark Schrader
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
45 views214 pages

Emachines t3104 256 MB Ram Computer

Uploaded by

Mark Schrader
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 214

User Guide

for your eMachines computer


www.emachines.com Contents

Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Thank you for purchasing our computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using the eMachines Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting help in Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7


Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network . . . 12
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chapter 3: Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15


Working safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting up your computer and computer accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Restarting (rebooting) your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Enhanced keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Standard keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Keyboard features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 4: Using Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25


Using the Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Using the Start menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Adding icons to the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Identifying window items 28

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Working with files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29


Viewing drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Creating folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Copying and moving files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Deleting files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Searching for files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Using the Windows Search utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Browsing for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Working with documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Printing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Using shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Chapter 5: Using the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41


Learning about the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Setting up an Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Accessing your Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Using the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Connecting to a Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Downloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Using e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Sending e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Checking your e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Chapter 6: Networking Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49


Introduction to Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Using a router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Creating an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Setting up an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Configuring your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Sharing resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Mapping a network drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Adding a printer to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

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Chapter 7: Sending and Receiving Faxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63


Installing and configuring Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Installing Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Configuring Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Sending a simple fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Setting up your cover page template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Faxing from programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Faxing a scanned document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Receiving and viewing a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Automatically retry sending a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Automatically canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Chapter 8: Using Drives and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71


Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Using a second monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Viewing the display on a television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Modifying television settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Using Windows Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Manually updating the Media Center Program Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Using multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Playing music and movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Playing WAV audio files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Playing audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Creating audio files and music libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Creating music files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Building a music library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Editing track information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Creating and editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Transferring your video to your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Editing your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Saving your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Creating music CDs and video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Creating a music CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Creating video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Creating and copying data CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Copying a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

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Advanced multimedia software features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105


Recording audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Chapter 9: Customizing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107


Adjusting the screen and desktop settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Adjusting the color depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Adjusting the screen resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Changing the colors on your Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Changing the desktop background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Selecting a screen saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Using an extended desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Changing the mouse settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Changing Power-Saving Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Changing advanced power settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Activating and using Hibernate mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Installing an uninterruptible power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Chapter 10: Protecting Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119


Hardware security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Kensington lock slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Data security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
About startup and hard drive passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
About Windows XP user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Using McAfee SecurityCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Using Windows XP Security Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Security updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Windows Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Chapter 11: Protecting and Recovering Your Files and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
System recovery options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Copying driver and application recovery files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Creating recovery discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Copying driver and application recovery files to a network . . . . . . . . . 132
Creating discs from recovery files on a network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Recovering specific files and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Recovering your system from the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Chapter 12: Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139


Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Setting up a maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

iv
www.emachines.com Contents

Updating Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142


BigFix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Using Disk Cleanup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Using the Scheduled Task Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Transferring files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Transferring Internet settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Installing your old printer or scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Installing your old programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Chapter 13: Adding and Replacing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153


Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Adding or replacing a CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Replacing the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Adding or replacing a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Replacing the rear fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Replacing the power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Replacing the heat sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Replacing the front I/O panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Adding or replacing an expansion card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Replacing the system board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Chapter 14: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175


Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
CD or DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Diskette drive 178

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Contents www.emachines.com

DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179


File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Before calling eMachines Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Appendix A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193


Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

vi
CHAPTER 1
Getting Help

• Thank you for purchasing our


computer!
• Using the eMachines Web site
• Using Help and Support
• Using Online help
• Contact information
• Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help www.emachines.com

Thank you for purchasing our computer!


You have made an excellent decision by choosing eMachines. We are sure that
you will be pleased with the outstanding quality, reliability, and performance
of your new computer. Each and every eMachines computer uses the latest
technology and passes the most stringent quality control tests to make sure that
you are provided with the best product possible.
Please read this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with your new computer,
as well as our range of services and support. We have highlighted some basic
care and safety information to help you keep your computer in good operating
condition.
eMachines stands behind our value proposition to our customers — to provide
best-of-class service and support, in addition to high-quality, brand-name
components, at affordable prices. If you ever have a problem, our
knowledgeable, dedicated customer service department will provide you with
fast, considerate service.
We sincerely hope that you will receive the utmost satisfaction and enjoyment
from your new eMachines computer for years to come.
Thanks again, from all of us at eMachines.

Using the eMachines Web site


eMachines'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 computer. Visit the eMachines Web
support site at www.emachines.com/support.

2
www.emachines.com Using Help and Support

Using Help and Support


Your computer 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 eMachines computer.

To start Help and Support:


■ Click Start, then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens.

Using Help and Support, you can find help information by clicking a link,
performing a search, or browsing the index.

Searching for a topic


To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in
the Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click
the arrow button.
For each search, you receive the following search result types:
■ Suggested Topics—These topics are located in Help and Support and are
relevant to your search topic.
■ Full-text Search Matches—These topics are located in Help and Support
and contain the words you entered in the Search box.
■ Microsoft Knowledge Base—These topics are located on the Microsoft
Web site and contain the words you entered in the Search box. You must
be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics.
To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results
you want to view.

3
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help www.emachines.com

To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list.

Getting help in Media Center


If your computer has Windows XP Media Center Edition, you can access online
help or refer to the printed Windows XP Media Center Edition Guide.

To access Media Center help:


1 In the Media Center window, move the mouse to activate the Media Center
tool bar. The tool bar appears at the top of the window.

2 Click the Help icon in the tool bar.

Using Online help


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
a Help button.

4
www.emachines.com Contact information

You can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the
index, searching for a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help.

Contact information
The label on the front of your computer case contains information that identifies
your computer model and serial number. eMachines Customer Care will need
this information if you call for assistance.

5
CHAPTER 1: Getting Help www.emachines.com

Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity


The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your
computer includes the product key code for your operating system. If you ever
reinstall Windows from the installation CD or DVD, you will need to enter these
numbers to activate Windows.

6
CHAPTER 2
Getting to Know Your
Computer

• Front
• Back
• Connecting the dial-up modem
• Connecting to a cable or DSL
modem or to a wired Ethernet
network
• Installing a printer, scanner, or other
peripheral device
• Configuring the audio jacks
CHAPTER 2: Getting to Know Your Computer www.emachines.com

Front
Important
Your computer hardware
options and port locations may
vary from the illustration below.
Optical drive

Optical drive (optional)

USB port Memory card reader


(optional) (optional)

Power button/
Power indicator

Hard drive access


indicator

IEEE 1394
ports (optional) Microphone jack
USB ports (optional) Headphone jack

Model:
S/No:

eMachines help resources Model and serial number


and Customer Care
information

Component Icon Description


Optical drive Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch DVDs,
and store large files onto recordable discs (depending on drive type).
This drive may be a CD, recordable CD, DVD, or recordable DVD drive. To identify
your drive type and for more information about your drive, see “Identifying
drive types” on page 73.

USB ports Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner, camera,
(optional) keyboard, or mouse) into this port. For more information, see “Installing a
printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 13.

Hard drive access Turns on when the hard drive is accessed.


indicator

8
www.emachines.com Front

Component Icon Description


IEEE 1394 ports Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device (such as a digital
(optional) camcorder) into one of these 6-pin IEEE 1394 ports. For more information, see
“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 13.

Memory card reader Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3 player, PDA, cellular
(optional) telephone, or other devices into the memory card reader. For more
information, see “Using the memory card reader” on page 72.

Power button / Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power
Power indicator button to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode.
The button lights when the computer is turned on.

Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is color-coded red or pink.

Headphone jack Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones
into this jack. This jack is color-coded orange.

eMachines help Contains information about how to access eMachines Customer Care.
resources and
Customer Care
information

eMachines model Contains your model and serial number.


and serial number

9
CHAPTER 2: Getting to Know Your Computer www.emachines.com

Back
Important
Your computer hardware options and
port locations may vary from the
illustration below.

Voltage selection
switch
Power connector

PS/2 mouse port


PS/2 keyboard port Case cover
thumbscrew
Serial port
Parallel port
Monitor port
IEEE
USB ports 1394 ports (optional)
USB ports Ethernet
(optional) (network) jack
Microphone jack
Audio output (Line
out) jack
Audio input
(Line in) jack
Modem jack
Telephone jack Case cover
thumbscrew

Component Icon Description


Voltage selection Before turning on your computer, make sure that this switch is in the correct
switch position for the correct power available. The switch is preset at the factory with
the correct voltage for your area.
In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60
Hz. The power supply should always be set to this when your computer is
operating in the United States. In other areas of the world, such as Europe, the
utility power is supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your computer is operating in
an environment such as this, the voltage switch should be moved to 230. For more
information, see “Checking the voltage selection” on page 18.

Power connector Plug the power cord into this connector.

PS/2 mouse port Plug a Personal System/2® (PS/2) mouse into this port.

PS/2 keyboard port Plug a PS/2 keyboard into this port.

Serial port Plug a serial device into this port. For more information, see “Installing a printer,
scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 13.

Parallel port Plug a parallel device (such as a printer) into this port. For more information, see
“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 13.

10
www.emachines.com Connecting the dial-up modem

Component Icon Description


Monitor port Plug a monitor into this port.

USB ports Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices (such as a USB Iomega™ Zip™ drive,
(optional) printer, scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For more
information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on
page 13.

Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is color-coded red or pink.

Audio output (Line Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones into
out) jack this jack. This jack is color-coded lime green.

Audio input Plug an external audio input source (such as a stereo) into this jack so you can
(Line in) jack record sound on your computer. This jack is color-coded blue.

Telephone jack If your modem has a telephone jack, plug the cable for a telephone into this jack.
(optional)

Case cover Remove these screws before opening the case.


thumbscrews

IEEE 1394 ports Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire® or i.Link®) device (such as a digital
(optional) camcorder) into one of these 6-pin IEEE 1394 ports. For more information, see
“Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 13.

Ethernet (network) Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a DSL or cable modem
jack for a broadband Internet connection) into this jack.

Modem jack Plug a modem cable into this jack.

Connecting the dial-up modem


Your computer has a built-in 56K modem that you can use to connect to a
standard telephone line for a dial-up Internet connection.
Warning
To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 To connect the modem:
AWG or larger telecommunications line
cord. 1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack on the back
of your computer.
2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack. The
modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines.
3 Start your computer, then start your communications program.

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CHAPTER 2: Getting to Know Your Computer www.emachines.com

Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet


network
Your computer has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable or
DSL modem or to a 10/100 wired Ethernet network.
Important
Your computer is equipped with a built-in To connect to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network:
Ethernet port. For information about
setting up a wired or wireless Ethernet 1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack on the back
network, see “Networking Your
Computer” on page 49. of your computer.
Tips & Tricks
You can use your computer’s Ethernet
jack for more than just networking.
Broadband Internet connections, such as
cable and DSL modems, also connect to
your computer’s Ethernet jack.

2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a network jack.

12
www.emachines.com Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device

Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device


Important
Before you install a printer, scanner, or Your computer has one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also known
other peripheral device, see the device
documentation and installation
as Firewire® or i.Link®), Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. You use
instructions. these ports to connect peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital
cameras to your computer. For more information about port locations, see
“Front” on page 8.
IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot-swapping, which means
that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it
into the appropriate port. When you use an IEEE 1394 or USB device for the first
time, your computer will prompt you to install any software the device needs.
After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.
Help and Support
For more information about installing Parallel and serial port devices are not plug-and-play. See the device
peripheral devices, click Start, then click documentation for detailed information and installation instructions.
Help and Support. Type the keyword
installing devices in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

Configuring the audio jacks


If the back of your computer has five audio jacks, they are universal jacks. This
means that they can be used for more than one purpose. For example, the blue
jack on the computer can be a stereo-in jack or a stereo-out jack. To use the
audio jacks for something other than the default audio device, you need to
configure the audio jacks.

To configure the audio jacks:


1 Connect your audio device(s) to the computer audio jack(s).
2 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio
Devices. Click/Double-click Sounds and Audio Devices, then click
Advanced under Speaker Settings. The Advanced Audio Properties dialog
box opens.
-OR-
If your computer has the Realtek Sound Effect Manager installed,
double-click the Sound Effect Manager icon on the taskbar. The
Realtek dialog box opens.
3 Configure the audio jacks for your speaker setup.

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CHAPTER 2: Getting to Know Your Computer www.emachines.com

14
CHAPTER 3
Using Your Computer

• Working safely
• Starting your computer
• Turning off your computer
• Restarting (rebooting) your
computer
• Using the keyboard
• Using the mouse
• Adjusting the volume
CHAPTER 3: Using Your Computer www.emachines.com

Working safely
Before using your computer, read the following recommendations for setting
up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding discomfort and strain.
Top of screen is not
higher than eye level

Screen is perpendicular
to your line of sight
Hands and
arms are
parallel to the
floor

Feet are flat on the floor

Reducing eye strain


Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the monitor screen or
shine directly into your eyes.
■ Position the computer desk and monitor so you can avoid glare on your
screen and light shining directly into your eyes. Reduce glare by installing
shades or curtains on windows, and by installing a glare screen filter on
your monitor.
■ Use soft, indirect lighting in your work area. Do not use your computer in
a dark room.
■ Avoid focusing your eyes on your computer screen for long periods of
time. Look away from your computer occasionally, and try to focus on
distant objects.

Setting up your computer desk and chair


When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make sure that the desk
is the appropriate height and the chair helps you maintain good posture.
■ Select a flat surface for your computer desk.
■ Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are
positioned parallel to the floor when you use the keyboard and mouse. If
the desk is not adjustable or is too tall, consider using a keyboard drawer.
■ Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes your weight evenly,
and keeps your body relaxed.

16
www.emachines.com Working safely

■ Position your chair so the keyboard is at or slightly below the level of your
elbow. This position lets your shoulders relax while you type.
■ Adjust the chair height, adjust the forward tilt of the seat, or use a footrest
to distribute your weight evenly on the chair and relieve pressure on the
back of your thighs.
■ Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower curve of your spine.
You can use a pillow or cushion to provide extra back support.

Setting up your computer and computer accessories


■ Set up the monitor so the top is no higher than eye level, the monitor
controls are within reach, and the screen is tilted to be perpendicular to
your line of sight.
■ Place your keyboard and mouse at a comfortable distance. You should be
able to reach them without stretching.
■ Set paper holders at the same height and distance as the monitor.

Sitting at your computer


■ Avoid bending, arching, or angling your wrists. Make sure that they are in
a relaxed position when you type.
■ Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back straight so your
knees, hips, and elbows form right angles when you work.
■ Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.
■ Avoid twisting your torso or neck.

Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain


■ Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.
■ Take breaks to change your position, stretch your muscles, and relieve your
eyes.
■ Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a variety of tasks.

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CHAPTER 3: Using Your Computer www.emachines.com

Protecting from power source problems


During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your computer
can increase to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage.
Protect your computer and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge
protector, which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your
computer.
Warning
High voltages can enter your computer
through both the power cord and the An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) supplies battery power to your computer
modem connection. Protect your during a power failure. Although you cannot run your computer for an extended
computer by using a surge protector. If
you have a telephone modem, use a period of time with a UPS, a UPS lets you run your computer long enough to
surge protector that has a modem jack. If save your work and shut down your computer normally.
you have a cable modem, use a surge
protector that has an antenna/cable
TV jack. During an electrical storm,
unplug both the surge protector and the
modem.

Checking the voltage selection


Caution
If you set the voltage selection switch
incorrectly, your system will be damaged.
Make sure this switch is set correctly for
your location before turning on your
computer.
In the United States, the utility power is A power supply is integrated into your computer to provide power to the system
supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60 Hz. board, add-in cards, and peripheral devices. The voltage selection for your
The power supply should always be set to
this when your computer is operating in location is typically set at the factory. Use the power selection switch on the back
the United States. In other areas of the of your computer to set the power supply to 115V or 230V. To verify that your
world, such as Europe, the utility power is
supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your
system has the correct setting for your environment, check the voltage selection
computer is operating in an environment switch.
such as this, the voltage switch should be
moved to 230.
To set the voltage selection switch:
■ Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection
switch to the correct voltage position.

Voltage selection switch

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www.emachines.com Starting your computer

Starting your computer


To start your computer:
1 Connect the cables to your computer. See the setup poster.
2 Turn on your computer.
3 If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen
instructions to set up your computer.
Important
Your computer has a built-in variable 4 Connect and turn on any peripheral devices, such as printers or scanners,
speed fan. In addition, your computer and see the documentation that came with the device for setup
uses a powerful processor which
produces heat. Both the system fan and instructions.
processor can run at different speeds at
times to ensure proper system cooling.
You may notice an increase in the fan
noise when the fan is running at high
speed and a decrease in the fan noise
when it switches to normal speed.

Waking up your computer


When you have not used your computer for several minutes or have not turned
off your computer, it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in
Standby, the power indicator flashes.
Tips & Tricks
For more information about changing If your computer is in Standby mode, move the mouse or press the power
the power button mode, see “Changing button to “wake” it up.
Power-Saving Settings” on page 105.

Turning off your computer


Warning
When you turn off your computer, certain To turn off your computer:
components in the power supply and
system board remain energized. In order 1 Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog
to remove all electrical power from your
computer, unplug the power cord and box opens.
modem cable from the wall outlets. We
recommend disconnecting the power 2 Click Turn Off. Windows shuts down and turns off your computer.
cord and modem cable when your
computer will not be used for long
periods.

Important
If for some reason you cannot use the
Turn Off Computer option in Windows to
turn off your computer, press and hold
the power button for about five seconds,
then release it.

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CHAPTER 3: Using Your Computer www.emachines.com

Restarting (rebooting) your computer


If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have
to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs
does not restore your computer to normal operation, you may have to restart
(reboot) your computer.

To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:


1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Task Manager window opens.
2 Click the Applications tab, then click the program that is not responding.
3 Click End Task.
4 Click × in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog box.
Important
If your computer does not turn off, press 5 If your computer does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then turn
and hold the power button for about it on again.
five seconds, then release it.
As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status
runs automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts.

Using the keyboard


Enhanced keyboard
Audio playback
Editing buttons buttons Navigation keys
Internet
Function keys buttons Indicators

Directional keys
Windows keys Application key Numeric keypad

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www.emachines.com Using the keyboard

Standard keyboard
Function keys Navigation keys
Indicators
Internet buttons

Directional keys
Windows keys Application key Numeric keypad

Keyboard features
The keyboard has several different types of keys and buttons. Your keyboard
also has status indicators that show which keyboard feature is active.

Feature Icon Description


Editing buttons Use these buttons to copy, cut, and paste.

Function keys Use these buttons to start program actions. Each program uses different
function keys for different purposes. See the program documentation to find
out more about the function key actions.

Internet buttons Use these buttons to launch your Internet home page, search, or e-mail
programs.

Audio playback Use these buttons to play your audio files and to adjust the volume.
buttons

Navigation keys Use these keys keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end
of a line, up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or
to the end of a document.

Indicators Show if your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are activated. Press
the corresponding key to activate the function.

Windows keys Use one of these keys to open the Windows Start menu. These keys can
also be used in combination with other keys to open utilities like F (Search
utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer utility).
Application key Use this key to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.

Directional keys Use these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or left.
Numeric keypad Use these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (NUM LOCK) is
turned on.

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Using the mouse


The mouse is a device that controls the pointer movement on the computer
display. This illustration shows the standard mouse.
Right button

Left button Scroll wheel

As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the display moves in the same
direction.

You can use the left and right buttons on the mouse to select objects on the
display.
You can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to move through a document. This
feature is not available in all programs.

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www.emachines.com Adjusting the volume

To... Do this...
Move the pointer Move the mouse around on the mouse pad. If you run
on the computer out of space on your mouse pad and need to move
display the pointer farther, pick up the mouse, set it down
in the middle of the mouse pad, then continue
moving the mouse.

Select an object Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
on the computer and release the left mouse button once. This action
display is called clicking.
click

Start a program or Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
open a file or and release the left mouse button twice. This action
folder is called double-clicking.
click,
click

Access a shortcut Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
menu or find more click and release the right mouse button once. This action
information about is called right-clicking.
an object on the
computer display.

Move an object on Position the pointer over the object. Press the left
the computer mouse button and hold it down. Move (drag) the
display. object to the appropriate part of the computer
click display. Release the button to drop the object where
(hold) you want it.
and drag

Tips & Tricks


For more information about how to For instructions on how to clean the mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on
adjust the double-click speed, pointer page 141.
speed, right-hand or left-hand
configuration, and other mouse settings,
see “Changing the mouse settings” on
page 114.

Adjusting the volume


You can use the volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the volume
of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:


■ If you are using external speakers, turn the knob on the front of the
speakers.
Tips & Tricks
For instructions on how to adjust the -OR-
volume in Windows, see “Adjusting the
volume” on page 81. Use the mute and volume control buttons on the keyboard. For more
information, see “Using the keyboard” on page 20.

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24
CHAPTER 4
Using Windows XP

• Using the Windows desktop


• Working with files and folders
• Searching for files
• Working with documents
• Using shortcuts
CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

Using the Windows desktop


After your computer 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 can open programs and perform other tasks.
Your desktop may be different from this example, depending on how your
computer is set up.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
Windows desktop in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon.

Desktop Description
elements

The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button on the
left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs that are running.
Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.
The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and other programs, and
computer tools and utilities.
Click the Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu that opens.

The Recycle Bin is where files, folders, and programs that you discarded are stored. You must empty
the Recycle Bin to permanently delete them from your computer. For instructions on how to use
the Recycle Bin, see “Deleting files and folders” on page 31.

The Windows Security Center icon may appear on the taskbar near the clock. The icon changes
appearance to notify you when the security settings on your computer are set below the
recommended value or when updates are available. Double-click this icon to open the Windows
Security Center.

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www.emachines.com Using the Windows desktop

Using the Start menu


You can start programs, open files, customize your system, get help, search for
files and folders, and more using the Start menu.

To use the Start menu:


1 Click the Start button on the lower left of the Windows desktop. The Start
menu opens showing you the first level of menu items.

2 Click All Programs to see all programs and files in the Start menu. When
you move the mouse pointer over any menu item that has an arrow next
to it, another menu, called a submenu, opens and reveals related files,
programs, or commands.
3 Click a file or program to open it.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
Windows Start menu in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

Adding icons to the desktop


You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you
use frequently.

To add icons to the desktop:


1 Click Start, then click All Programs.
2 Right-click (press the right mouse or touchpad button) the program that
you want to add to the desktop.
3 Click Send To, then click Desktop (create shortcut). A shortcut icon for
that program appears on the desktop.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
desktop icons in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

Identifying window items


When you double-click the icon for a drive, folder, file, or program, a window
opens on the desktop. This example shows the Local Disk (C:) window, which
opens after you double-click the Local Disk (C:) icon in the My Computer
window.
Title bar Close
Menu bar Maximize
Minimize

Every program window looks a little different because each has its own menus,
icons, and controls. Most windows include these items:

Window item Description


The title bar is the horizontal bar at the top of a window
that shows the window title.

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.

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www.emachines.com Working with files and folders

Window item Description


Clicking the maximize button expands the active window to
fit the entire computer display. Clicking the maximize
button again restores the window to its former size.

Clicking the close button closes the active window or


program.

Clicking an item on the menu bar starts an action such as


Print or Save.

Help and Support


For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
window in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

Working with files and folders


You can organize your files and programs to suit your preferences much like you
would store information in a file cabinet. You can store these files in folders and
copy, move, and delete the information just as you would reorganize and throw
away information in a file cabinet.

Viewing drives
Drives are like file cabinets because they hold files and folders. A computer
usually has more than one drive. Each drive has a letter, usually Local Disk (C:)
for the hard drive and 3½ Floppy (A:) for the diskette drive. You may also have
additional drives, such as CD or DVD drives.

To view the drives on your computer:


■ Click Start, then click My Computer on the Start menu.

Hard
drives

Diskette Disc drive


drive

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

To see the files and folders on a drive:


■ Double-click the drive icon. If you do not see the contents of a drive after
you double-click its icon, click Show the contents of this drive.

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 computer. In fact, all information on a computer is stored in
files.

Folders

Files

To create a folder:
1 Click Start, then click My Computer on the Start menu.
2 Double-click the drive where you want to put the new folder. Typically,
Local Disk (C:) is your hard drive and 3½ Floppy (A:) is your diskette drive.
If you do not see the contents of the drive, click Show the contents of
this drive.
3 If you want to create a new folder inside an existing folder, double-click
the existing folder. If you do not see the contents of the drive or folder,
click Show the contents of this drive or Show the contents of this
folder.
4 Click File, New, then click Folder. The new folder is created.
5 Type a name for the folder, then press ENTER. The new folder name appears
by the folder icon.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
creating files and folders in the Search For information about renaming folders, see “Using shortcuts” on page 39.
box, then click the arrow.

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www.emachines.com Working with files and folders

Copying and moving files and folders


The skills you need to copy and move files are called copying, cutting, and
pasting.
When you copy and paste a file or folder, you place a copy of the file or folder
on the Windows clipboard, which temporarily stores it. Then, when you decide
what folder you want the copy to go in (the destination folder), you paste it there.
When you cut and paste a file or folder, you remove the file or folder from its
original location and place the file or folder on the Windows clipboard. When
you decide where you want the file or folder to go, you paste it there.
Important
The clipboard stores whatever you cut or To copy a file or folder to another folder:
copy until you cut or copy again. Then the
clipboard contains the new information 1 Locate the file or folder you want to copy. For more information, see
only. Therefore, you can paste copies of a
file or folder into more than one place, “Viewing drives” on page 29 and “Searching for files” on page 33.
but as soon as you copy or cut a different
file or folder, the original file or folder is 2 Right-click (press the right mouse or touchpad button) the file or folder
deleted from the clipboard. that you want to copy. A pop-up menu opens on the desktop.
3 Click Copy on the pop-up menu.
4 Open the destination folder.
5 With the pointer inside the destination folder, right-click.
6 Click Paste. A copy of the file or folder appears in the new location.

To move a file or folder to another folder:


1 Locate the file or folder you want to move. For more information, see
“Viewing drives” on page 29 and “Searching for files” on page 33.
2 Right-click (press the right mouse or touchpad button) the file or folder
that you want to move. A pop-up menu opens on the desktop.
3 Click Cut on the pop-up menu.
4 Open the destination folder.
Help and Support
For more information about the 5 With the pointer inside the destination folder, right-click.
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword 6 Click Paste. The file or folder you moved appears in its new location and
creating files and folders or moving
files and folders in the Search box, then is removed from its old location.
click the arrow.

Deleting files and folders


When you throw away paper files and folders, you take them from the file
cabinet and put them in a trash can. Eventually the trash can is emptied.
In Windows, you throw away files and folders by first moving them to the
Windows trash can, called the Recycle Bin, where they remain until you decide
to empty the bin.
You can recover any file in the Recycle Bin as long as the bin has not been
emptied.
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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

To delete files or folders:


Help and Support
For more information about the 1 In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the files or folders that you
Windows desktop, click Start, then click want to delete. For instructions on how to select multiple files and folders,
Help and Support. Type the keyword
deleting files and folders in the Search see “Using shortcuts” on page 39.
box, then click the arrow.
If you cannot find the file you want to delete, see “Searching for files” on
page 33.
2 Click File, then click Delete. Windows moves the files and folders to the
Recycle Bin.

To recover files or folders from the Recycle Bin:


1 Double-click the Recycle Bin icon. The Recycle Bin window opens and lists
the files and folders you have thrown away since you last emptied it.
2 Click the files or folders that you want to restore. For instructions on how
to select multiple files and folders, see “Using shortcuts” on page 39.
3 Click File, then click Restore. Windows returns the deleted files or folders
to their original locations.

To empty the Recycle Bin:


Caution
Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently 1 Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. The Recycle Bin window
erases any files or folders in the bin. These opens.
files cannot be restored.
2 Click File, then click Empty Recycle Bin. Windows asks you if you are sure
that you want to empty the bin.
3 Click Yes. Windows permanently deletes all files in the Recycle Bin.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
emptying Recycle Bin in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

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www.emachines.com Searching for files

Searching for files


If you are looking for a particular file or folder or a set of files or folders that have
characteristics in common, but you do not remember where they are stored on
your hard drive, you can use the Search utility to search by:
■ Name or part of a name
■ Creation date
■ Modification date
■ File type
■ Text contained in the file
■ Time period in which it was created or modified
You can also combine search criteria to refine searches.
Files and folders found using this utility can be opened, copied, cut, renamed,
or deleted directly from the list in the results window.

Using the Windows Search utility


To find files and folders using the Search utility:
1 Click Start, then click Search. The Search Results window opens. Click All
files and folders.

2 If you want to search by file or folder name, type in all or part of the file
or folder name in the name box in the left pane of the window.
■ If you type all of the name, Search will list all files and folders of
that name.
■ If you type part of the name, Search will list all of the file and folder
names containing the letters you typed.

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

3 Click Search. When the search is completed, Windows lists the files and
folders whose names contain the text that you searched for.

4 Open a file, folder, or program by double-clicking the name in the list.

Help and Support


For more information about the Using advanced search options
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword Search can find files meeting more criteria than file name. You can narrow your
searching in the Search box, then click
the arrow. search by selecting the search options that you want. You can search by the:
■ Date the file was created or modified.
■ Size of the file.
■ Type of file, such as a program or a text document.

Browsing for files and folders


A file or folder that you need is rarely right on top of your Windows desktop. It
is usually on a drive inside a folder that may be inside yet another folder, and
so on.
Windows drives, folders, and files are organized in the same way as a real file
cabinet in that they may have many levels (usually many more levels than a file
cabinet, in fact). So you will usually have to search through levels of folders to
find the file or folder that you need. This is called browsing.

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www.emachines.com Searching for files

To browse for a file:


1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2 Double-click the drive or folder that you think contains the file or folder
that you want to find. If you do not see the contents of a folder, click Show
the contents of this drive or Show the contents of this folder.

3 Continue double-clicking folders and their subfolders until you find


the file or folder you want.

Help and Support


For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
files and folders in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

Working with documents


Computer documents include word processing files, spreadsheet files, or other
similar files. The basic methods of creating, saving, opening, and printing a
document apply to most of these types of files.
The following examples show how to create, save, open, and print a document
using Microsoft® WordPad. Similar procedures apply to other programs such as
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
For more information about using a program, click Help on its menu bar.

Creating a new document


To create a new document:
1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, then click WordPad. Microsoft
WordPad starts and a blank document opens.

2 Begin composing your document. Use the menus and toolbar buttons at
the top of the window to format the document.

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www.emachines.com Working with documents

Saving a document
After you create a document, you need to save it if you want to use it later.

To save a document:
1 Click File, then click Save. The Save As dialog box opens.

Save in
list

File
name

2 Click the arrow button to open the Save in list, then click the folder where
you want to save the file. If you do not see the folder you want, browse
through the folders listed below the Save in list.
3 Type a new file name in the File name box.
Help and Support
For more information about the 4 Click Save.
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
saving in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

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:
1 Start the program.
2 Click File, then click Open.

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

3 Click the arrow button to open the Look in list, then click the folder you
want to open. If you do not see the folder you want, browse through the
folders listed below the Look in list.

Look in list

4 Double-click the document file name. The document opens.


Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
opening files in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

Printing a document
To print a document, you must have a printer connected to your computer or
have access to a network printer. For more information about installing or using
your printer, see the printer documentation, or “Installing a printer, scanner, or
other peripheral device” on page 13. For information on installing a printer on
your network, see “Adding a printer to your network” on page 62.

To print a document:
1 Make sure that the printer is turned on and loaded with paper.
2 Start the program and open the document.
3 Click File, then click Print. The Print dialog box opens.
4 Set the print options, then click OK. The document prints.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
printing in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

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www.emachines.com Using shortcuts

Using shortcuts
The following table shows a few shortcuts that you can use in Windows and
almost all programs that run in Windows. For more information about shortcuts,
see your Windows or program documentation.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword To... Do this...
Windows keyboard shortcuts in the
Search box, then click the arrow. Copy a file, folder, text, or graphic Click the item, then press CTRL + C.
Cut a file, folder, text, or graphic Click the item, then press CTRL + X.

Paste a file, folder, text, or graphic Click inside the folder or window where you want to paste the object,
then press CTRL + V.

Select multiple items in a list or window Click the first item, press and hold down the CTRL key, then click each
of the remaining items.

Select multiple adjacent items in a list or Click the first item in the list, press and hold down the SHIFT key, then
window click the last item in the list.

Permanently delete a file or folder Click the file or folder, then press SHIFT + DELETE. The file or folder is
permanently deleted. The file or folder is not stored in the Recycle Bin.

Rename a file or folder Click the file or folder, press F2, type the new name, then press ENTER.

Close the active window or program Press ALT + F4.

Switch to a different file, folder, or Press ALT + TAB.


running program

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CHAPTER 4: Using Windows XP www.emachines.com

40
CHAPTER 5
Using the Internet

• Learning about the Internet


• Setting up an Internet account
• Using the World Wide Web
• Using e-mail
CHAPTER 5: Using the Internet www.emachines.com

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 computer to a telephone, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), or cable
television line and signing up with an Internet service provider (ISP).

Internet Servers
store information so other
computers can access it from the
Internet.

ISP Servers
Your computer let you connect to the
connects to the Internet and access your
Internet through an e-mail messages.
ISP.

If you want to access the Internet you need:


■ A modem—a device that connects your computer to other computers or
servers using a telephone, DSL, or cable television line. Your computer may
have a built-in dial-up telephone modem. Cable and DSL modems connect
to your computer through an Ethernet jack and provide a faster
connection speed than a standard, dial-up telephone modem.
Important
To determine if you have an Ethernet jack ■ An Internet service provider—a company that provides access to the
on your computer, see your computer’s Internet through an ISP server. When you connect to an ISP, the ISP server lets
setup poster.
you access the Internet and your e-mail messages. Check your telephone
book for a list of Internet service providers available locally.
■ A Web browser—a program that displays information from the World
Wide Web. Microsoft Internet Explorer was included with your computer.
For more information, see “Using the World Wide Web” on page 43.
■ An e-mail program—a program that lets you create, send, and receive
e-mail messages over the Internet. Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express
was included with your computer. For more information, see “Using
e-mail” on page 46.

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www.emachines.com Setting up an Internet account

Setting up an Internet account


Before you can view the information on the World Wide Web, you need to set
up an Internet account with an Internet service provider (ISP). To set up an ISP
service or to transfer an existing account to this computer, contact the ISP
directly.
Dial-up Internet connections are those using a telephone system to connect to
the Internet. This may include ordinary analog telephone lines, ISDN
connections, and in some cases ADSL over PPP or other technologies. Because
dial-up connections are designed to be temporary connections to the Internet,
dial-up charges (with both your telephone company and Internet service
provider) often increase the longer you connect to the Internet. To minimize the
cost for dial-up Internet users, we suggest that you only connect to the Internet
during your e-mail and Web browsing session, then disconnect when you are
finished. Your Internet service provider can provide instructions on how to
connect to and disconnect from the Internet.
Cable and DSL modems, connections known as broadband, use your cable
television or special telephone lines to connect to your ISP and access the
Internet. In many instances, broadband is considered an always-connected
service. With this type of service, your cost is the same regardless of the amount
of time you use your Internet connection.

Accessing your Internet account


The method you use to access your Internet account varies from ISP to ISP.
Contact your ISP for the correct procedure.
Help and Support
For general information about using
Internet accounts, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword ISP
in the Search box, then click the arrow.

Using the World Wide Web


The World Wide Web is a multimedia window to the Internet that gives you
access to millions of information sources.
Information on the Web comes to you on Web pages, which are electronic
documents that you view using a Web page display program called a browser.
You can use any of the commercially available Web browsers, like Microsoft
Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
Web pages can contain text, animations, music, and other multimedia features.
A group of related Web pages is called a Web site. You can access Web sites to
shop, track investments, read the news, download programs, and much more.
You can explore a Web site, or visit other Web sites, by clicking areas on a Web
page called links or hyperlinks. A link may be colored or underlined text, a
picture, or an animated image. You can identify a link by moving the mouse or
touchpad pointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link.

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CHAPTER 5: Using the Internet www.emachines.com

To learn more about using the Web browser features, click Help in the menu bar.

Link

Web
page

Linked Web
page

Connecting to a Web site


After you set up an account with an Internet service provider (ISP), you can
access the many information sources on the World Wide Web.

To connect to a Web site:


1 Connect to your Internet account.
2 Depending on the method you use to connect to your Internet account,
you may need to start your Web browser. Click Start, then click Internet.
Your default Web browser opens showing an opening page or welcome
screen.
3 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.emachines.com), then click GO on the browser address bar.
- OR -
On the current Web page, click a link to a Web site.
Help and Support
For general information about using The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, downloads
Internet accounts, click Start, then click (transfers) data to your computer, and displays the page on the site that
Help and Support. Type the keyword
connecting to Web site in the Search you requested.
box, then click the arrow.

Sometimes Web pages display slowly. The speed that a Web page displays on
your screen depends on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet
conditions. Additionally, the speed of your connection will determine how fast
Web pages display.

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www.emachines.com Using the World Wide Web

Tips & Tricks


To protect your children from accessing
objectionable Web sites, use the Parental
Control feature in McAfee SecurityCenter.

Downloading files
Downloading is the process of transferring files from a computer on the Internet
to your computer.
Caution
To protect your computer against viruses, To download files or programs from a Web site:
make sure that you scan the files you
download. For more information, see 1 Connect to your Internet account.
“Protecting your computer from viruses”
on page 121.
2 In the address bar, type the address of the Web site that contains the file
or program you want to download, then click GO on the browser address
bar.
- OR -
Click a link on a Web page to navigate to the Web site containing the file
that you want to download.
3 Create or locate the folder where you want to store the file on your
computer. For more information, see “Working with files and folders” on
page 29.
4 Click the link on the Web page for the file that you want to download.
5 Follow the on-screen instructions for saving the file in the folder that you
want. A copy of the file is downloaded to your computer. The time that it
takes to transfer the file to your computer depends on file size and Internet
conditions.
6 Open the folder that you created.
7 Install or view the downloaded file by double-clicking it. If applicable,
follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the
program.
Help and Support
For general information about using
Internet accounts, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
downloading files in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

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CHAPTER 5: Using the Internet www.emachines.com

Using e-mail
E-mail (electronic mail) lets you send messages to anyone who has an Internet
connection and e-mail address. E-mail is usually a free service of your Internet
account.
The Internet never closes, so you can send e-mail messages at any time. Your
e-mail messages arrive at most e-mail addresses in minutes.
An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the Internet
domain name of the Internet service provider (ISP) or company that “hosts” that
user. Your e-mail address is assigned when you sign up for an account with an
ISP. For example, a person with an account with Hotmail might have an e-mail
address that is similar to this one:

[email protected]

User name Internet domain name

Sending e-mail
To send e-mail using Outlook or Outlook Express:
1 Connect to your Internet service provider.
2 Click Start, then click E-Mail. Your default e-mail program opens.
3 Click New.
4 Type the e-mail address of the recipient you want to send e-mail to in the
To box.
5 Type the subject of your e-mail in the Subject box.
6 Type the e-mail message.
Tips & Tricks
Most e-mail programs let you attach files, 7 When finished, click Send. Your e-mail is sent over the Internet to the
such as photographs, to your e-mail. For e-mail address you specified.
more information, see the help for your
e-mail program.

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www.emachines.com Using e-mail

Checking your e-mail


Tips & Tricks
To protect your computer from viruses, To check your e-mail using Outlook Express:
check any e-mail attachments using
McAfee SecurityCenter. For more 1 Connect to your Internet service provider.
information, see “Protecting your
computer from viruses” on page 121.
2 Click Start, then click E-Mail. Your default e-mail program opens.
3 Click Send/Receive.
Help and Support
For general information about using 4 Double-click the message you want to read.
Internet accounts, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
e-mail in the Search box, then click the
arrow.
For more information about managing and organizing your e-mail messages,
see the online help in your e-mail program.

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CHAPTER 5: Using the Internet www.emachines.com

48
CHAPTER 6
Networking Your Computer

• Introduction to Networking
• Creating an Ethernet network
• Sharing resources
• Using the network
• Adding a printer to your network
CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

Introduction to Networking
An Ethernet network consists of two or more computers connected together
through an Ethernet cable. This connection type is commonly used in offices
around the world and can also be used to build computer networks in the home.

Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet


Ethernet is available at three different speeds. Standard Ethernet runs at
10 Mbps, Fast Ethernet runs at 100 Mbps, and Gigabit Ethernet runs at
1000 Mbps. Most home networks are built using Standard or Fast Ethernet
components. Business networks are typically built using Fast or Gigabit Ethernet
components.
Important
Check local code requirements before To create an Ethernet network, you or your electrician must install special
installing Ethernet cable or other wiring Ethernet cables in your home or office.
in your home or office. Your municipality
may require you to obtain a permit and
hire a licensed installer.

Using a router
The most common way to set up an Ethernet network is Dynamic Host Control
Protocol (DHCP) using a router. A DHCP network configuration uses a router to
automatically assign IP addresses to each computer or network device.

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www.emachines.com Introduction to Networking

Example router-based Ethernet network


The following is an example of an Ethernet network. The network is made up
of a router, your computers, and cables connecting each of these components.
The router is the central control point for the network. Attached to the router
are all of your computers or Ethernet-ready devices. Also connected to the
router is a cable or DSL modem that provides access to the Internet.

Cable or DSL
modem

Router

Tips & Tricks


To add the ability to access a wireless Equipment you need for a router-based Ethernet network
Ethernet network to your wired Ethernet
network, connect an access point to the For an Ethernet network you need:
router or use a router that has a built-in
access point, such as the Linksys wireless
access point router with 4-port switch.

Important
For best results, Ethernet network ■ Two or more computers with Ethernet jacks
components should be either all
standard Ethernet (10 Mbps), all Fast ■ One router
Ethernet (100 Mbps or 10/100), or all
Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps or ■ Ethernet cables connecting all of the network equipment
10/100/1000). A mixture of components
rated at different speeds will result in your ■ One broadband Internet connection (optional)
network running at the speed of the
slowest rated component.

Tips & Tricks


When buying your router, make sure that
the model includes everything your
network needs, including
Internet security features, such as a
firewall, to protect your network from
unwanted intruders,
a 4-port switch to eliminate the need for
additional network hardware, and
DHCP server/dynamic IP address
assignment to automatically configure
network and IP addresses.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

Determining if an Ethernet device is already installed on your computer

To determine if Ethernet is already installed on your computer:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance.
2 Click/Double-click System, click the Hardware tab, then click Device
Manager. The Device Manager window opens.
3 Click the plus (+) in front of Network adapters. The Ethernet device
installed in your computer is listed. If one is not listed, you must install one.

Creating an Ethernet network


Installing Ethernet cards and drivers
After you have determined the type of Ethernet you are using for your network,
you need to install Ethernet cards and drivers on the computers that do not have
Ethernet already installed. Use the documentation that comes with your
Ethernet cards for instructions on installing the card and any required drivers.
For information on installing cards in your computer, see “Adding or replacing
an expansion card” on page 171.

Making sure your broadband connection works


Important
If you do not have a broadband Before you change anything about your home setup, make sure that your
connection already installed, make the broadband connection is working correctly. To test the connection, log onto the
necessary arrangements with your ISP. Be
sure to find out how soon after the Internet using your current setup. If the connection is not working, contact your
installation the line will be activated. Internet service provider.

Important
Broadband Internet settings will differ
from ISP to ISP. Before you begin setting
up your network, you should contact
your ISP for any specific instructions they
have for setting up a network.

Naming the computers and the workgroup


Important
You must give each computer on the To identify this computer on the network:
network a unique Computer Name and
the same Workgroup Name. 1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance. The Performance and Maintenance window opens.
2 Click/Double-click System. The System Properties dialog box opens.
3 Click Computer Name.

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www.emachines.com Creating an Ethernet network

4 Click Change. The Computer Name Changes dialog box opens.


5 Type a unique computer name in the Computer name box. This name
identifies the computer to other users on the network. Use a computer
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. Each computer name
must be unique on your network. All-numeric computer names are not
allowed. Names must contain some letters.
6 Type a name for your workgroup in the Workgroup box. Use a workgroup
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. The workgroup name
must be the same for all computers in your network workgroup, and the
name must be different than any computer name on your network.
7 Click OK to close the Computer Name Changes dialog box.

Configuring the TCP/IP protocol


A networking protocol is a language computers use to talk to each other. One
of several available protocols must be set up on each computer you plan to use
on your network. We recommend you use the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which is widely accepted and compatible
for local area networks (LANs), as well as for Internet communications.
When networking is set up in Windows XP, TCP/IP is automatically installed as
the default protocol.

Terms you should know


DHCP—Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lets a router temporarily
assign an IP address to a computer on the network.
IP Address—Internet Protocol (IP) address is a number that uniquely identifies
a computer on the network.
Subnet Mask—Subnet mask is a number that identifies what subnetwork the
computer is located on. This number will be the same on all computers on a
home network.

Using a DHCP server


In order to use the TCP/IP protocol on each computer with a router or access
point router, you must set the option to “Obtain an IP address from a DHCP
server.”

To use a DHCP server


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Network and Internet
Connections. The Network and Internet Connections window opens.
2 Click/Double-click Network Connections. The Network Connections
window opens.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

3 Right-click Local Area Connection, then click Properties. The Local Area
Connection Properties dialog box opens.
- OR -
If you do not have a LAN connection setup, click Create a new connection
and follow the instructions in the New Connection Wizard.

4 Click to select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) check box in the This
connection uses the following items list. If you do not see TCP/IP, drag
the scroll bar to see more choices.
5 Click Properties. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box opens.
6 Click the General tab.

7 Click Obtain an IP address automatically.


8 Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box.

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www.emachines.com Creating an Ethernet network

9 Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.


10 Click X to close the Network Connections window.
11 Repeat this procedure for every computer on your network.

Setting up an Ethernet network


Important
Category 5 cables are available in two
different types; straight-through cables,
used to connect computers to a router, We recommend using category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair cable
and crossover cables, used to connect (approximately 1/4” in diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight
two computers.
To determine which type of cable you color-coded wires), and equipment compatible with this type of cable. This type
have, hold both ends of the cable with the of cable is equipped with RJ-45 connectors (like a large telephone jack
connectors facing away from you and connector, but with eight pins) on each end.
with the spring clip on the bottom. For
straight-through cable, the wires on both
connectors are attached to copper pins in
the same order (same colors, left to right).
For a crossover cable, the wires on each Setting up a network using a router
connector are attached to the copper
pins in a different order (different colors, If you are setting up a network for more than two computers and you will be
left to right). connecting your network to a high-speed Broadband Internet connection
(cable or DSL modem), we recommend the use of a router. A router lets you
access the Internet connection from any network computer. The router can
assign IP addresses to the computers on the network and can provide firewall
protection for your network as well.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

In addition to a router, you need a straight-through cable for each computer


you want to connect to the network.

Cable/DSL
modem

Router

WAN port

To set up a network using a router:


1 Plug one end of the power adapter into the AC connector on the router
and the other end into a grounded, 110V electrical outlet.
2 Turn on your computers.
3 Plug one end of a straight-through network cable into any numbered port
on the router (except the WAN port). The WAN port is used to connect the
router to the DSL or cable modem, and is identified by a label or a switch.
Plug the other end of the cable into the network connector on the
computer. As each computer is connected to the router, the
corresponding green indicator should light on the front of the router,
indicating a good connection.
4 Repeat Step 3 for each computer on the network.
5 For an Internet connection, plug a straight-through cable into the WAN
port on the router and the other end into the Ethernet jack on the DSL or
cable modem.

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www.emachines.com Creating an Ethernet network

Configuring your router


After you have named your computers and set up TCP/IP on them, you can
configure your router using your Web browser. For these instructions, we
assume that you are using the router to connect your network to a high-speed
Broadband Internet connection through an Internet service provider (ISP) and
that you are configuring it as a DHCP server.
Important
The following configuration information To configure the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router:
applies to the Linksys® EtherFast
Cable/DSL routers. For any other brand or 1 From one of the computers connected to the network, open your Web
model of router, see the manufacturer’s
documentation, which may accompany browser, type http://192.168.1.1 in the browser’s address box, then press
the router or be available from the ENTER.
manufacturer’s Web site.
2 When prompted for a username and password, leave the username box
empty and type admin in the password box, then click OK. The Setup page
opens.
3 Enter the following values in the appropriate fields:
■ Router Name and Domain Name—Check with your ISP to see if
entries are required in these fields and, if so, what entries are
required. Normally, leaving the fields blank will work.
■ LAN IP Address—We recommend that you accept the defaults.
■ WAN IP Address—If your ISP assigns you a different IP address
each time you log on, click Obtain an IP Address Automatically.
If your ISP requires a fixed IP address, click Specify an IP Address,
then type the values provided by your ISP.
4 When you are finished entering information on the Setup page, click
Apply.
5 Click the DHCP tab on the top of the screen.
6 Click the Enable checkbox, then click Apply.
7 Press the reset button on your cable or DSL modem, then restart the
computer. Your network should be running. Go to “Testing your network”
on page 57.

Testing your network


Now that your home network is set up, log onto one of your computers and
access a favorite Internet Web site.
If you are unable to connect to the Internet:
■ Run the New Connection Wizard (for more information, see “To use the
Internet Connection Wizard:” on page 149)
■ Check all physical cable connections
■ Compare the status lights on the front of the router or access point with
the patterns described in the router or access point literature
■ Temporarily turn off any firewall software on your desktop computer
■ Turn off all of the devices, then power them back on, cable or DSL modem
first, router second, and computers last.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

■ Refer to your router’s or access point’s troubleshooting information


■ Contact your Internet service provider

Sharing resources
With a network, you can share your Internet connection, drives, and printers.

Sharing drives and printers


With a network, you can share drives (for example hard drives and DVD drives)
and printers among the computers connected to the network.
After the drives and printers on each network computer are shared, you can
access them as though they were attached directly to your computer. Then you
can:
■ View a network drive
■ Open and copy files stored on other network computers
■ Print documents on network printers
Important
To share a printer among the network Sharing drives or folders
computers, each computer must have
the shared printer’s drivers installed.
Follow the instructions included with To share drives or folders:
your printer to install the printer drivers
on each computer. 1 In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive or folder that
you want to share, then click Sharing and Security. The folder properties
dialog box opens.
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.
2 Click the Sharing tab.

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www.emachines.com Sharing resources

3 If this is the first time you have shared a drive or folder, click Network
Setup Wizard to enable remote access, then follow the on-screen
instructions.
- OR -
If you have previously enabled remote file access and you want to share
a drive or folder with others on the network (network sharing), click to
select the Share this folder on the network check box, type a shared
name in the Shared name box. To let other users have full permissions
to read and write to the shared drive or folder, click to select the Allow
network users to change my files check box.
4 Click OK.

Un-sharing drives, folders, and files

To un-share drives or folders:


1 In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive or folder that
you want to un-share, then click Sharing and Security.
2 Make sure that the Share this folder on the network check box is not
selected.
3 Click OK.

Sharing printers

To share printers:
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other
Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes icon. The Printers and Faxes
window opens.
3 Right-click the name of the printer you want to share, then click Sharing.
4 Click Share this printer.
5 Click OK.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

Using the network


After the drives and printers on each network computer are shared, you can:
■ View shared drives and folders
■ Map a network drive
■ Open and copy files stored on other network computers
■ Print documents on network printers

Viewing shared drives and folders


To view shared drives and folders:
1 Click Start, then click My Network Places. The My Network Places window
opens.
2 Click/Double-click Entire Network. The Entire Network window opens. If
you do not see the contents of the network after you double-click Entire
Network, click entire contents.
Help and Support
For more information about workgroups, 3 Double-click Microsoft Windows Network.
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword workgroups in the 4 Double-click the name of your workgroup. The names of each of the
Search box, then click the arrow.
computers in your workgroup are listed.
5 Double-click the name of the computer containing the drive or folder you
want to view. All shared drives and folders on that computer are listed.

Mapping a network drive


After a drive or folder on one computer is mapped as a drive on another
computer, the contents of the drive or folder can be accessed as if the drive were
attached directly to the computer.
For example, the My Documents folder on computer 1 is mapped as the Z drive
on computer 2. To access the My Documents folder on computer 1 from
computer 2, double-click the Z drive.

To map a network drive:


1 Locate the drive or folder by completing the steps in “Viewing shared
drives and folders” on page 60.
2 Right-click the drive or folder, then click Map Network Drive. The Map
Network Drive wizard opens.
3 Click the arrow button to open the Drive list, then click the drive letter
you want to map this drive or folder to.
4 Click Reconnect at Logon if you want to reconnect to this drive or folder
each time you log on to the network.
5 Click Finish.

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www.emachines.com Using the network

Opening files across the network


To open files across the network:
1 Start the program for the file you want to open.
2 Click File, then click Open.
3 Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to open.
4 Double-click the folder containing the file, then double-click the file.

Copying files across the network


To copy files across the network:
1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2 Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to copy.
3 Browse to the file you want to copy.
4 Click the file.
5 Click Edit, then click Copy.
6 Double-click the folder where you want to copy the file to.
7 Click Edit, then click Paste.

Printing files across the network


Important
Before you can print a file across the To print files across the network:
network, you must install the driver for
the printer on the computer you are 1 Open the file you want to print.
sending the file from. You can obtain the
printer driver and installation
instructions from the CD that shipped 2 Click File, then click Print.
with your printer or from the
manufacturer’s Web site. 3 Click the arrow button to open the printer name list, then click the network
printer.
4 Click OK.

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CHAPTER 6: Networking Your Computer www.emachines.com

Adding a printer to your network


Instead of plugging a printer into your computer, you can add a printer to your
network. To add a printer to the network, do one of the following:
■ Connect your printer to your networked computer, then share the printer.
For information about sharing printers, see “Sharing drives and printers”
on page 58.
■ Connect your printer to your access point if the access point includes a
USB or parallel port. For more information, see the instructions that came
with your access point.
■ Use a printer that has built-in wireless networking.
■ Use a wireless print server.

62
CHAPTER 7
Sending and Receiving Faxes

• Installing and configuring Fax


• Sending a simple fax
• Setting up your cover page template
• Faxing from programs
• Faxing a scanned document
• Receiving and viewing a fax
• Canceling a fax
• Automatically retry sending a fax
• Automatically canceling a fax
CHAPTER 7: Sending and Receiving Faxes www.emachines.com

Installing and configuring Fax


This chapter describes using Microsoft Fax and your dial-up modem. You cannot
send or receive a fax using a cable or DSL modem by following these
instructions. Many Internet services exist that let you send or receive faxes using
a broadband connection.
Your dial-up modem cable must be installed before you can send and receive
faxes. You cannot use your standard telephone modem to connect to the
Internet while sending and receiving faxes.

Installing Fax
Microsoft Fax lets you send and receive faxes using your dial-up modem. When
Windows was originally installed on your computer, Fax may not have been
installed.

To install Fax:
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
Click/Double-click Add and Remove Programs. The Add or Remove
Programs dialog box opens. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
The Windows Components Wizard opens.
2 Click Fax Services, then click Next.
3 Click Finish to exit the Windows Components Wizard.
4 Click Exit to close the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP dialog box.
-OR-
Click Close to close the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.

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www.emachines.com Installing and configuring Fax

Configuring Fax
Before you send your first fax, you need to set up your user information. Your
fax cover sheets and fax headers contain this information, some of which is
required by law. The Fax Configuration Wizard opens the first time you try to
send a fax.
Important
The first time you run the Fax To configure Microsoft Fax:
Configuration Wizard, you may need to
provide information in the Location 1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, then click
Information and the Phone and Modem
Options dialog boxes. Fax Console. The Fax Configuration Wizard opens.
2 On the Welcome to Fax Configuration Wizard screen, click Next. The Sender
Information screen opens.

3 Type the information about yourself that you want to appear on your fax
cover page, then click Next. The Select Device for Sending or Receiving Faxes
screen opens.
4 Click the arrow to open the Please select the fax device list, then click
the modem you are using to send and receive faxes.
5 If you want the modem to automatically answer the telephone in order
to receive faxes, click the Enable Receive check box.
6 Click Next. The Transmitting Subscriber Identification (TSID) screen opens.
7 Type the transmitting fax identifier information. This identifier information
is required by law. You can type as many as 20 characters in the text box.
We suggest using eight characters for your identifier name, followed by
12 characters for your telephone number.

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Important
Some fax machines cannot use special
characters such as hyphens. We suggest
using spaces instead of hyphens in
telephone and fax numbers.

8 Click Next.
9 If you set up your computer to receive faxes, type the receiving fax
identifier information, then click Next. This identifier information is
required by law and can be the same identifier that you typed in Step 7.
The Routing Options screen opens.
10 If you set up your computer to receive faxes, select a folder you want to
store received faxes in and a printer you want to print received faxes on,
then click Next. The Configuration Summary screen opens.
11 Click Finish. The fax console opens.
12 If the Windows Security Alert dialog box opens, click Unblock.

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www.emachines.com Sending a simple fax

Sending a simple fax


You can use the Send Fax Wizard to send a simple one-page fax to one or more
recipients.

To send a simple fax:


1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, then click
Send a Fax. The Send Fax Wizard opens.
2 On the Welcome to Fax Configuration Wizard screen, click Next. The
Recipient Information screen opens.
3 Type the name and fax number of the recipient of your fax.
4 If you need to use the area code for your recipient, click Use dialing rules
to type the full ten-digit fax number.
5 If you want to send your fax to more than one recipient, click Add and type
the name and fax number of the next recipient.

6 When you have added all your recipients, click Next. The Preparing the
Cover Page screen opens.
7 Click the arrow to open the Cover page template, then click the cover
page template you want to use.
8 Type the subject text in the Subject line area.
9 Type the message text in the Note area, then click Next. The Schedule
screen opens.
10 Select when you want to send the fax and a priority for the fax, then click
Next. The Completing the Send Fax Wizard screen opens.
11 Click Finish.
12 If the Windows Security Alert dialog box opens (see page 66), click
Unblock.

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Setting up your cover page template


You can create your own cover page template that you can use in place of the
cover page templates that Microsoft Fax provides for you. To create a cover page
template, you use the Fax Cover Page Editor. On this template, you insert
information fields that automatically import values you enter in both the Send
Fax Wizard and the Fax Configuration Wizard when you send your fax.

To set up your fax cover page template:


1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, then click
Fax Cover Page Editor. The Cover Page-Fax Cover Page Editor opens. If
the Cover Page Editor Tips dialog box opens, click OK.
■ 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).
■ If you want to include text that always appears on your cover page
(such as a letterhead or address), draw a box using the text box tool,
type your text inside of it, then move the box to the appropriate
place on your template.
■ If you want to include a logo that appears on your cover page, copy
it to the Windows clipboard, then paste it into the Cover Page Editor
and move it to the appropriate place on your template.
2 To save your cover page template, click File, then click Save As. The Save
As dialog box opens with your personal cover pages folder already in the
Save in list.
3 Type the new cover page template name.
4 Click Save.

Faxing from programs


To fax a document directly from most programs:
1 Open your document in the program it was created in.
2 Click File, then click Print. The Print dialog box opens.
3 Click the arrow button to open the Name list, then click the Fax printer.
4 Click Print. The Send Fax Wizard opens.
5 Complete the wizard by following the instructions in “Sending a simple
fax” on page 67.

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www.emachines.com Faxing a scanned document

Faxing a scanned document


To fax a document that you have scanned:
1 Scan the document using the program for your scanner.
2 With the scanned file open, click File, then click Print. The Print dialog box
opens.
3 Click the arrow button to open the Name list, then click the Fax printer.
4 Click Print. The Send Fax Wizard opens.
5 Complete the wizard by following the instructions in “Sending a simple
fax” on page 67.

Receiving and viewing a fax


To receive and view a fax:
1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, then click
Fax Console. The Fax Console opens. When the Fax Console is open, it
detects incoming faxes and stores them in the Inbox.
2 To view a fax, click Inbox, then double-click the fax you want to view. The
fax viewer opens, where you can view and print the fax.

Canceling a fax
You can cancel a fax that you have set up to send at a time in the future.

To cancel a fax that has not been sent:


1 If Fax is not open, click Start, All Programs, Accessories,
Communications, Fax, then click Fax Console. The Fax Console opens.
2 Click Outbox, then right-click the fax you want to cancel.
3 Click Delete to cancel the fax.
4 Click Yes.

Automatically retry sending a fax


You can set up Fax so it continues to try sending your fax if the receiving fax
machine is busy.

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Important
Fax is automatically set up to retry three To automatically retry sending a fax:
times at ten minute intervals.
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
2 If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other
Hardware. Click View installed printers or fax printers. The Printers and
Faxes window opens.
-OR-
If your Control Panel is in Classic View, double-click the Printers and Faxes
icon. The Printers and Faxes window opens.
3 Right-click Fax, then click Properties. The Fax Properties dialog box opens.
4 Click the Devices tab, then click Properties. The Modem dialog box opens.
5 Specify the number of retries and the amount of time between retries.
6 Click OK.

Automatically canceling a fax


If your computer tried to send a fax and failed to connect to a fax machine, you
can automatically cancel the failed fax.

To automatically cancel a failed fax:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.
2 If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other
Hardware. Click View installed printers or fax printers. The Printers and
Faxes window opens.
-OR-
If your Control Panel is in Classic View, double-click the Printers and Faxes
icon. The Printers and Faxes window opens.
3 Right-click Fax, then click Properties. The Fax Properties dialog box opens.
4 Click the Devices tab, then click Properties. The Modem dialog box opens.
5 Click the Cleanup tab.
6 Click to select the Automatically delete failed faxes after check box and
specify the number of days.
7 Click OK.

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CHAPTER 8
Using Drives and Ports

• Using the memory card reader


• Using the CD or DVD drive
• Using a second monitor
• Viewing the display on a television
• Using Windows Media Center
• Using multimedia
• Playing music and movies
• Creating audio files and music
libraries
• Creating and editing videos
• Creating music CDs and video DVDs
• Creating and copying data CDs and
DVDs
• Advanced multimedia software
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CHAPTER 8: Using Drives and Ports www.emachines.com

Using the memory card reader


You can use the optional memory card reader to transfer pictures from a digital
camera to your computer. You can also use the memory card reader to transfer
data between your computer and a device that uses memory cards, such as a
PDA, MP3 player, or cellular telephone.

Activity Memory card reader


indicator slots

Memory card types


The memory card reader supports the following card types:

Card Type Slot Insert


Secure Digital™ left Label facing up
MultiMediaCard™ left Label facing up
SM (SmartMedia™) left Label facing down (gold contact
area facing up)
Memory Stick® left Label facing up
Memory Stick PRO™ left Label facing up
xD (optional) left Label facing up
CompactFlash® right Label facing up
IBM Microdrive™ right Label facing up

Each slot is assigned a different drive letter (for example, the E: and F: drives)
so data can be transferred from one memory card type to another.

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Using a memory card


Caution
To avoid memory card damage or errors To insert a memory card:
while using a memory card, insert only
one memory card in a slot at a time. 1 Insert the memory card into the memory card slot as indicated in the
previous table.
Caution
Do not remove the memory card or turn 2 To access a file on the memory card, click Start, then click My Computer.
off the computer while the memory card Double-click the drive letter (for example, the E: drive), then double-click
reader access indicator is blinking. You
could lose data. Also, remove the the file name.
memory card from the reader before you
turn off the computer.

To remove a memory card:

Important
Do not use the remove ■ Wait for the memory card reader access indicator to stop blinking, then
hardware icon in the taskbar to pull the memory card out of the slot.
remove the memory card.

Using the CD or DVD drive


You can use your computer to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia features.

Identifying drive types


Your computer may contain one of the following drive types. Look on the front
of the drive for one or more of the following logos:

If your drive has this This is your drive Use your drive for...
logo... type...
CD drive Installing programs, playing audio CDs, and accessing
data.

CD-RW drive Installing programs, playing audio CDs, accessing


data, and creating CDs.

DVD/CD-RW drive Installing programs, playing audio CDs, accessing


data, creating CDs, and playing DVDs.

DVD drive Installing programs, playing audio CDs, playing DVDs,


and accessing data.

DVD+RW Installing programs, playing audio CDs, playing DVDs,


accessing data, and recording video and data to
DVD+R or DVD+RW discs.

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If your drive has this This is your drive Use your drive for...
logo... type...
DVD R/RW drive Installing programs, playing audio CDs, playing DVDs,
accessing data, and recording video and data to
DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs.

Double layer Installing programs, playing audio CDs, playing DVDs,


DVD+RW accessing data, and recording video and data to
double layer DVD+R discs.
Note: To use the double layer capability of the double
layer recordable DVD drive, the blank DVDs you
purchase must state Double Layer, Dual Layer, or DL.
Using other types of blank media will result in less
capacity.

DVD-RAM Installing programs, accessing data, and recording


video and data to DVD-RAM discs.

Inserting a CD or DVD

Activity indicator Manual eject hole Eject


(location varies) (location varies) button
Important
Some music CDs have copy protection To insert a CD or DVD:
software. You may not be able to play
these CDs on your computer. 1 Press the eject button on the CD or DVD drive.
2 Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up.
Important
When you place a single-sided disc in the 3 Press the eject button to close the tray.
tray, make sure that the label side is
facing up. If the disc has two playable
sides, place the disc so the name of the
side you want to play is facing up.

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www.emachines.com Using a second monitor

Using a second monitor


If your computer’s video card supports it (it must have two video connections),
you can connect an additional monitor or projector to your computer.
Important
The dialog boxes shown in this section To use a projector or additional monitor:
are examples only and may not represent
the actual screens on your computer. 1 Turn off your computer.
2 Plug the projector or monitor cable into the secondary VGA port on
your computer.
Tips & Tricks
For the location of the VGA port on your 3 Turn on your computer.
computer, see the setup poster or “Back”
on page 10. 4 Plug the projector or monitor power cord into an AC power outlet, then
turn it on. Windows recognizes the new hardware and searches for its
driver. You may need to install the driver from the disc supplied by the
manufacturer or download the driver from the manufacturer’s Web site.
5 After the driver is installed, right-click any empty space on the desktop,
then click Properties. The Display Properties dialog box opens.
6 Click the Settings tab.

7 Right-click the second monitor icon (labeled 2), then click Attached.
8 Click Apply.
9 Adjust properties such as Screen Resolution or Color Quality if
necessary.
10 Click OK.

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Viewing the display on a television


Important
The TV out feature is available only on
computers that have a Video out or
S-Video out jack. computer.

Important
The dialog boxes shown in this section The Video out or S-Video out jack on your computer lets you view your display
are examples only and may not represent on a television screen using a standard RCA or S-Video cable.
the actual screens on your computer.

Important
To turn on external video by default,
connect the television (or other external
video device) before starting your
computer.

Important
Audio is not transmitted through the To view your computer display on a television:
Video out or S-Video out jacks. Use a set
of headphones or external powered 1 With your computer off, connect one end of an appropriate video cable
speakers to hear sound while playing a
DVD. DVD playback to a VCR will be to the Video out or S-Video out jack on your computer.
scrambled by copyright protection
software.

Tips & Tricks


For the location of the video jacks on your 2 Connect the other end of the cable to the Video in jack on your television
computer, see the setup poster or “Back” or VCR.
on page 10.
3 Turn on the television or VCR.
4 Start your computer.
5 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
6 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
opens.
7 Click the Settings tab.

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www.emachines.com Viewing the display on a television

8 Click Advanced. The Multiple Monitors Properties dialog box opens.

Enable TV
TV

9 Click the Displays tab.


10 Click the Enable TV button if it is not already enabled, then click Apply.
Important
If the Enable TV and TV buttons are
grayed out, your computer has not
detected the television. Make sure that
the television is turned on and connected
correctly.

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Modifying television settings


To modify television settings:
1 On the Multiple Monitors Properties dialog box Displays tab, click TV. The
TV Properties dialog box opens.

2 Modify the settings, then click OK.

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www.emachines.com Using Windows Media Center

Using Windows Media Center


If your computer came with Windows Media Center installed and with a Media
Center remote control (optional), you can use the remote control to watch TV,
videos, and DVDs, to listen to music, and to view photos. (The remote control
included with your Media Center may look different.) For detailed setup
information, see your Media Center setup poster.

Shortcut buttons

Power
Start button button

Transport buttons

Audio/Video (A/V) control


buttons Navigation buttons

Numeric
keypad/data
entry buttons

Button(s) Functions
Shortcut buttons Give you direct access to Media Center features.

Start button Opens the Media Center’s main menu.

Audio/Video (A/V) Control volume levels, volume mute, channel selections, and the DVD
control buttons menu.

Numeric keypad/data Lets you enter numbers and characters from the remote control.
entry button

Power button Puts the Media Center computer in Standby mode (reduced power).

Transport buttons Let you replay recorded (buffered) TV and radio programs and play the
CD and DVD player.

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Button(s) Functions
Navigation buttons Let you move the cursor around the Guide and menus, make selections,
navigate back to the previous screen, change the screen display aspect
ratio, and get more information. Press the OK button to make a
selection.

To use the Media Center remote control:


1 Press the Start button on the remote control. The Media Center
software starts.
2 Use the remote control navigation buttons to select a Media Center menu
option, then press OK.

Manually updating the Media Center Program Guide


You can use the Media Center Guide to view TV program schedules, search for
programs by genre, schedule program recordings, and more. When you first use
the Media Center setup wizard, the Program Guide is set up to automatically
download program information from your cable or satellite service provider.
However, on occasion, you may need to update the Program Guide manually.

To manually update the Media Center Program Guide:


1 Before starting Media Center, make sure that you are connected to the
Internet.
Important
Media Center requires Internet access to 2 Press the Start button on the remote control. Media Center starts.
update the Media Center Program Guide.
Make sure that you connect to the 3 Navigate to Settings, then press OK. The Settings menu opens.
Internet before continuing the manual
Program Guide update instructions.
4 Navigate to TV, then press OK.
5 Navigate to Guide, then press OK.
6 Navigate to Get guide data, then press OK. The Guide Data dialog box
opens.
7 Select Yes, then press OK. Media Center downloads the Program Guide
updates.

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www.emachines.com Using multimedia

Using multimedia
Adjusting the volume
You can use the Windows volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the
volume of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume level from Windows:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio
Devices.
2 Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio
Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.
3 Click the Volume tab.

4 Drag the Device Volume slider to change the volume or click to select the
Mute check box, then click OK.

Help and Support


For more information about adjusting To adjust specific volume levels:
the volume, click Start, then click Help
and Support. Type the keyword 1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
adjusting volume in the Search box ,
then click the arrow. your Control Panel is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio
Devices.
2 Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio
Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.

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3 Click the Volume tab.

4 Click Advanced in the Device volume area.

If the device you want to adjust does not appear in the window, click
Options, Properties, the check box next to the audio device you want to
adjust, then click OK.
5 Drag the volume level and balance sliders for the device you want to
adjust. For more information about the volume controls, click Help in the
window.
6 Click × in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

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www.emachines.com Playing music and movies

Playing music and movies


Playing WAV audio files
Sound Recorder is a simple Windows program that lets you record and play WAV
files. WAV is the most common audio file format used for your Windows system
sounds.

To play a WAV audio file with Sound Recorder:


1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Sound
Recorder. The Sound Recorder opens.

Rewind Play Record


Fast Forward Stop

2 Click File, then click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3 Click the file you want to play, then click Open.
4 Play the file by clicking (play), then stop playing the file by
clicking (stop).

Playing audio and video files


Windows Media Player can play several types of audio and video files, including
WAV, MIDI, MP3, AU, AVI, and MPEG formats. For more information about using
Windows Media Player, click Help.

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To play a file using Windows Media Player:


Shortcut 1 Click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Media Player.
Double-click the file in My Computer. Windows Media Player opens.

Video
screen

Play Stop Video file information

2 Click File, then click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3 Click the file you want to play, then click Open.
4 Play the file by clicking (play), then stop playing the file by
clicking (stop).

Playing CDs or DVDs


Important You can play CDs using Windows Media Player, and you can play DVDs using
Some music CDs have copy protection Windows Media Player and CyberLink PowerDVD.
software. You may not be able to play
these CDs on your computer.
A standard Compact Disc (CD) holds an entire album of digital songs, and can
be played on a CD player or your computer’s CD drive.
Important
To watch a DVD you must have a DVD
drive in your computer. If you do not have A Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) is similar to a standard CD but has greater data
a DVD drive and would like to add an capacity. Because of this increased capacity, full-length movies or several
internal or external drive, visit the albums of music can fit on a single disc. DVDs can be played on a DVD player
Accessory Store at
accessories.gateway.com. or a DVD drive-equipped computer.

Help & Support


For more information about playing CDs Playing a CD or DVD using Windows Media Player
or DVDs, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the phrases playing CDs Use Windows Media Player to listen to CDs or watch DVDs. For more information
or playing DVDs in the Search box, then
click the arrow. about using Windows Media Player, click Help.

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www.emachines.com Playing music and movies

To play a CD or DVD:
Shortcut 1 Make sure that the speakers are turned on or headphones are plugged in
Insert a CD or DVD Ö Windows Media and that the volume is turned up.
Player opens and plays the disc
2 Insert a CD or DVD into the CD or DVD drive.
3 If a dialog box opens with a list of CD players or DVD players, click
Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player opens.
- OR -
If a dialog box does not open with a list of CD players or DVD players, click
Start, All Programs, then click Windows Media Player.
Windows Media Player opens.

Play/pause Volume
Stop Mute
Previous Next

4 Click (play). If you do not hear sound or you want to change the volume,
see “Adjusting the volume” on page 81.

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Playing a DVD using CyberLink PowerDVD

To play a DVD using CyberLink PowerDVD:


Help & Support 1 Make sure that the speakers are turned on or headphones are plugged in
For more information about playing and that the volume is turned up.
DVDs using CyberLink PowerDVD, click
Start, All Programs, CyberLink
PowerDVD, then click PowerDVD Help. 2 Click Start, All Programs, CyberLink PowerDVD, then click PowerDVD.
The PowerDVD video screen and control panel open.

3 Insert a DVD into the DVD drive, then click (play). The DVD plays.
To control the DVD or adjust the volume, use the controls in PowerDVD.

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www.emachines.com Creating audio files and music libraries

Creating audio files and music libraries


Creating music files
You can create several types of audio files for your listening enjoyment,
including WAV, MP3, and WMA files.

Recording WAV audio files


Sound recorder is a simple Windows program that lets you record and play WAV
files. WAV is the most common audio file format used for your Windows system
sounds. For information about playing WAV files, see “Playing WAV audio files”
on page 83.

To record a WAV audio file:


Help & Support 1 Plug a microphone into one of the Microphone jacks on your computer.
For more information about making or For the location of the Microphone jacks, see your computer’s hardware
playing an audio recording, click Start,
then click Help and Support. Type the reference.
phrases recording audio or playing
audio in the Search box, then click the 2 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Sound
arrow. Recorder. The Sound Recorder opens.

Rewind Play Record


Fast Forward Stop

3 Click (record), then speak into the microphone.


4 When you finish recording, click (stop).
5 Click File, then click Save As. The Save As dialog box opens.
6 Name the recording, specify the location where you want to save the
recording, then click Save. The recording is saved.

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Creating WMA and MP3 music files using Windows Media Player
Important Using Windows Media Player, you can copy the tracks from a music CD to your
Some music CDs have copy protection computer’s hard drive as WMA or MP3 files. WMA and MP3 are methods for
software. You cannot copy tracks from
these CDs. digitally compressing high-fidelity music into compact files without noticeably
sacrificing quality. WMA files end in the file extension WMA, and MP3 files end
in the file extension MP3.

To create WMA or MP3 files:


1 Insert a music CD into your CD or DVD drive.
2 If a dialog box opens with a list of CD players, click
Windows Media Player. The Windows Media Player opens.
- OR -
If a dialog box does not open with a list of CD players, click Start, then
click Windows Media Player. The Windows Media Player opens.

3 Click Tools, Options, then click the Rip Music tab.


4 Click the arrow to open the Format list, then click either mp3 or Windows
Media Audio. For more information on the differences between the two
types of files, click Learn more about MP3 formats.

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www.emachines.com Creating audio files and music libraries

5 Click File, CDs and Devices, Rip Audio CD, then click the drive that
contains the audio CD.

6 Click to clear the check box for any track you do not want to record.
7 Click Rip Music. Windows Media Player records the tracks to your hard
drive as WMA files. A progress bar appears next to each track as it is
recorded.

Building a music library


Use Windows Media Player to build a music library. You can organize your music
tracks (individual MP3 or WMA audio files) by categories, find a track quickly by
sorting, and add information to a music file.
You can add music tracks to your music library by:
■ Creating MP3 or WMA files—When you create MP3 or WMA files from
the tracks on your music CD, Windows Media Player automatically adds
these files to your music library.
■ Dragging and Dropping—Drag and drop files from Windows Explorer or
your desktop to the music library.
Caution ■ Downloading files from the Internet—When you are connected to the
During the download process, WMA and Internet, WMA and MP3 files that you download are automatically added
MP3 files may become corrupt. If you are
having trouble listening to, or working to your music library.
with, a downloaded file, try downloading
the file again.

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Editing track information


After you add a WMA or MP3 file to your music library, you can edit the track’s
information.

To edit track information:


1 Click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Media Player.
Windows Media Player opens.
2 Click the Library tab.
3 Right-click the track you want to edit, then click Advanced Tag Editor. The
Advanced Tag Editor dialog box opens.

4 Enter track information such as Title, Artist, Album, and Genre.


5 Click OK. The new track information appears in the Windows Media Player
library.

Creating and editing videos


If your home video camera supports it, it can be connected to your computer
so that you can download video from the camera as data files. You can also
create video from a Web cam attached to your computer. For instructions on
how to create video, see your camera’s user guide.

Editing videos
Help & Support Windows Movie Maker is a video capture program that lets you capture and edit
For more information about editing full-motion video, single images, and audio through the IEEE 1394 port
videos, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the phrase Windows (optional) on your computer. For more information about using Windows Movie
Movie Maker in the Search box, then Maker, see its online help.
click the arrow.
You may have received additional movie editing software with your computer.
For more information about using this software, including additional features
not available in Windows Movie Maker, see that program’s online help.

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Transferring your video to your computer


To transfer your video to your computer:
1 Connect your video camera to your computer by following the camera
manufacturer’s instructions.
2 If a dialog box opens with a list of video editing programs, click
Windows Movie Maker. Windows Movie Maker opens.
- OR -
If a dialog box does not open with a list of video editing programs, click
Start, All Programs, then click Windows Movie Maker. Windows Movie
Maker opens.

Windows Movie Maker recognizes your camera and the Video Capture
Wizard opens.
3 If the wizard does not open, click Capture From Video Device.

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4 Complete the screens in the Video Capture Wizard, clicking Next after
each one.
Caution When you reach the final screen, Windows Movie Maker rewinds the video
Video files may require a significant tape in your camera and captures it onto your hard drive.
amount of free hard drive space
depending on your settings. A one hour
tape may require more than 10 GB of For information about the settings in the Video Capture Wizard, click
hard drive space for storage with Learn more about video settings in the wizard, or click Help, then click
additional space required for editing.
Help Topics in Windows Movie Maker.

Editing your video


After your video file is captured on your computer, you can edit it. Some of the
edits you can make to your video include:
■ Splitting your video into more than one clip or combining two or more
clips into one clip
■ Trimming unwanted material from the beginning or end of your clip
■ Inserting video transitions between clips
■ Adding video effects
■ Adding narration
■ Adding music
■ Adding titles and credits
For information about the editing your video, click Help, then click Help Topics
in Windows Movie Maker.

Saving your video


After you finish editing your video, you can save it to one of the following places.
Under Movie Tasks:
■ Click Save to My Computer to save your movie to your hard drive.
■ Click Save to CD to save your movie to a recordable CD.
■ Click Send in e-mail to send your video as an e-mail attachment.
■ Click Send to the Web to post or send your video to your Web site so
friends and family can watch your video on the Web.
■ Click Send to DV Camera to play your video back to your video camera
so you can record it on tape and view it on your television.

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Creating music CDs and video DVDs


Important
Some CDs have copy protection software.
You cannot create MP3, WAV, or WMA
files from these CDs and you may not be
able to listen to these CDs on your
computer.

Tips & Tricks


You can also use Windows Media Player
to create music CDs. For more
information, see “Creating a music CD
using Windows Media Player” on
page 93.

Creating a music CD
Important You can create music CDs using Windows Media Player or CyberLink Power2Go.
We recommend that you do not use your
computer for other tasks while creating
CDs or DVDs.

If you record copyrighted material on a


Creating a music CD using Windows Media Player
CD or DVD, you need permission from the
copyright owner. Otherwise, you may be To create a music CD using Windows Media Player:
violating copyright law and be subject to
payment of damages and other
remedies. If you are uncertain about your 1 Click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Media Player.
rights, contact your legal advisor. Windows Media Player opens.
2 Insert a blank, writable CD into your CD or DVD drive.
3 If a dialog box opens, click Take no action, then click OK.
4 Click the Burn tab. The Select files to burn window opens.

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5 Click Edit Playlist. The Edit Playlist dialog box opens.

6 Click songs in the left column to add them to the playlist. After all the
songs are added to your list, click OK.
7 Click Start Burn.

Creating a music CD with CyberLink Power2Go

To create a music CD:


1 Insert a blank, writable CD into your CD or DVD drive.
2 If a dialog box opens, click Take no action, then click OK.

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3 Click Start, All Programs, CyberLink DVD Solution, Power2Go, then


click Power2Go. Power2Go opens along with the Select a Burning Task
dialog box.

4 Click Music Disc in the left-hand column, select your disc type in the
right-hand column, then click OK. The Select a Burning Task dialog box
closes.

5 In the top pane, browse to the folder that contains the files or folders you
want to burn to the CD or DVD. Click to select the file or folder. Press and
hold the CTRL key to select multiple files.

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6 Drag the files or folders into the bottom pane.


7 After you select all your files, click . The Configuration/Information
dialog box opens.

8 If you have one CD or DVD burner, click Burn. The Burning dialog box
opens and Power2Go burns the files to the CD or DVD.
-OR-
If you have more than one CD or DVD burner, select the burner, then click
Burn. The Burning dialog box opens and Power2Go burns the files to the
CD or DVD.

9 When a message tells you that the recording is complete, click OK to start
the LabelPrint program or Cancel to return to Power2Go.

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Creating video DVDs


You can create video DVDs using Windows Media Player or CyberLink
Power2Go.

Creating a video DVD with Windows Media Player

To create a video DVD using Windows Media Center:


Important 1 Insert a blank, writable DVD-R or DVD-RW disc into your recordable DVD
TV programs that have been recorded drive.
with the Media Center can be recorded to
DVD and replayed on another Media
Center computer or on a non-Media 2 Press the Start button on the remote control. Media Center starts.
Center computer that has a DVD player
and DVD decoder software (such as 3 Click More Programs, then click Create CD/DVD.
PowerDVD) installed. The non-Media
Center computer must also have
Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 1 or 2,
Windows Media Player 9 or later, and the
Windows patch Q810243 Update.

We recommend that you do not use your


computer 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. Otherwise, you may be
violating copyright law and be subject to
payment of damages and other
remedies. If you are uncertain about your
rights, contact your legal advisor.

4 Click Video DVD, then click OK.

5 Follow the on-screen prompts to finish burning the DVD. For more
information, click the Media Center’s Help icon.

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Creating a video DVD with CyberLink Power2Go

To create a video DVD:


1 Insert a blank, writable DVD into your DVD drive.
2 If a dialog box opens, click Take no action, then click OK.
3 Click Start, All Programs, CyberLink DVD Solution, Power2Go, then
click Power2Go. Power2Go opens along with the Select a Burning Task
dialog box.

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4 Click Video/Photo Disc in the left-hand column, select your disc type in
the right-hand column, then click OK. The Select a Burning Task dialog box
closes.

5 Click the Add Files button. The Open dialog box opens.
6 Browse to the folder that contains the video files you want to burn to the
DVD. Click to select the file(s). Press and hold the CTRL key to select
multiple files.
7 Click Import. The video files appear in the Video pane.
8 Click the icon next to the Background Image box to select the image that
appears behind your menu.
9 Click the icon next to the Background Music box to select the music that
plays while your menu appears.
10 Type the title you want to appear on your menu in the Menu Caption Text
box.

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11 After you set up your DVD, click . The Configuration/Information dialog


box opens.

12 Click the Video tab, then select the television and audio format for your
DVD.
13 Click the Burner tab.
14 If you have one DVD burner, click Burn. The Burning dialog box opens and
Power2Go burns the files to the DVD.
-OR-
If you have more than one DVD burner, select the burner, then click Burn.
The Burning dialog box opens and Power2Go burns the files to the CD or
DVD.

15 When a message tells you that the recording is complete, click OK to start
the LabelPrint program or Cancel to return to Power2Go.

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Creating and copying data CDs and DVDs


Creating a data CD or DVD with CyberLink Power2Go
You can use CyberLink Power2Go to create data CDs or DVDs.

To create a data CD or DVD:


1 Insert a blank, writable CD or DVD into your CD or DVD drive.
2 If a dialog box opens, click Take no action, then click OK.
3 Click Start, All Programs, CyberLink DVD Solution, Power2Go, then
click Power2Go. Power2Go opens along with the Select a Burning Task
dialog box.

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4 Click Data Disc in the left-hand column, select your disc type in the
right-hand column, then click OK. The Select a Burning Task dialog box
closes.

5 In the top pane, browse to the folder that contains the files or folders you
want to burn to the CD or DVD. Click to select the file or folder. Press and
hold the CTRL key to select multiple files.
6 Drag the files or folders into the bottom pane.
7 After you select all your files, click . The Configuration/Information
dialog box opens.

8 If you have one CD or DVD burner, click Burn. The Burning dialog box
opens and Power2Go burns the files to the CD or DVD.
-OR-

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If you have more than one CD or DVD burner, select the burner, then click
Burn. The Burning dialog box opens and Power2Go burns the files to the
CD or DVD.

9 When a message tells you that the recording is complete, click OK to start
the LabelPrint program or Cancel to return to Power2Go.

Copying a CD or DVD
To copy a CD or DVD with CyberLink Power2Go:
1 Click Start, All Programs, CyberLink DVD Solution, Power2Go, then
click Power2Go. Power2Go opens along with the Select a Burning Task
dialog box.

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2 Click Copy disc in the left-hand column, then click OK. The Copy Disc
dialog box opens.

3 Insert the music CD, data CD, or data DVD you want to copy into your CD
or DVD drive.
4 Click the arrow to open the From list, then click the drive that contains
your source disc.
5 Click the arrow to open the To list, then click your recordable CD or DVD
drive.
6 Click Copy. The Burning dialog box opens.

If you are using one drive, Power2Go copies the tracks or files to your hard
drive. If you are using two drives, Power2Go copies the tracks from the
source disc to the blank, recordable disc.
7 If you are using one drive, a message prompts you to insert a CD or DVD.
Remove the source CD or DVD, insert a blank, writable CD or DVD, then
wait for the message box to close. Power2Go copies the files from your
hard drive to the writable CD or DVD.
8 When a message tells you that the recording is complete, click OK.

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Advanced multimedia software features


Windows Media Player advanced features
You can use Windows Media Player to transfer WMA and MP3 files to your
portable music player, to listen to Internet radio, and to watch Internet TV. For
more information, see the Windows Media Player online help.

Recording audio
Use the following instructions to make an audio recording by speaking into a
microphone.

To make an audio recording:


1 Plug a microphone into one of the Microphone jacks on your computer.
For the location of the Microphone jacks, see your computer’s setup poster
or “Back” on page 10.
2 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Sound
Recorder. The Sound Recorder opens.

Rewind Play Record


Fast Forward Stop
3 Click (record), then speak into the microphone.
4 When you finish recording, click (stop).
5 Click File, then click Save As. The Save As dialog box opens.
6 Name the recording, specify the location where you want to save the
recording, then click Save. The recording is saved.

To play an audio recording in Sound Recorder:


1 Open the Sound Recorder.
2 Click File, then click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3 Click the file you want to play, then click Open.
4 Play the file by clicking (play), then stop playing the file by
clicking (stop).

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106
CHAPTER 9
Customizing Your Computer

• Adjusting the screen and desktop


settings
• Changing the mouse settings
• Changing Power-Saving Settings
• Installing an uninterruptible power
supply
CHAPTER 9: Customizing Your Computer www.emachines.com

Adjusting the screen and desktop settings


Tips & Tricks
If you are using a monitor, you can adjust Adjusting the color depth and screen area are two of the most basic display
the screen settings for brightness, settings you may need to change. You can also adjust settings such as the screen
contrast, and horizontal and vertical
image position using the controls on the background and screen saver.
front of your monitor. For more
information about these adjustments,
see your monitor’s user guide.

Adjusting the color depth


Color depth is the number of colors your screen displays. Various image types
require various color depths for optimum appearance. For example, simple color
drawings may look satisfactory in 256 colors while color photographs need
millions of colors to be displayed with optimum quality.
Windows lets you choose from several color depth settings. We recommend that
you use the 32-bit True Color setting at all times.
If the color in your images seems “false” or “jumpy,” especially after you have
played a game or run a video-intensive program, check the color depth setting
and return it to 32-bit True Color, if necessary.

To change the color depth:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
2 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
opens.
3 Click the Settings tab.

Single-monitor computer Dual-monitor computer

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4 Click the arrow button to open the Color quality list, then click the color
depth you want.
5 Click OK, then click Yes.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
changing display settings in the Search
box, then click the arrow.

Adjusting the screen resolution


You can increase the screen resolution to fit more icons on your desktop, or you
can decrease the resolution to make reading the display easier. The higher the
resolution, the smaller individual components of the screen (such as icons and
menu bars) appear.

To adjust the screen resolution:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
2 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
opens.
3 Click the Settings tab.

Single-monitor computer Dual-monitor computer


4 Drag the Screen resolution slider to the resolution you prefer.
5 Click OK, then click Yes.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
changing screen resolution in the
Search box, then click the arrow.

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Changing the colors on your Windows desktop


You can change the colors of Windows desktop items, such as the background
color and dialog box title bars.

To change desktop colors:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
2 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
opens.
3 Click the Appearance tab.

4 Click the arrow button to open the Color scheme list, click the color
scheme you want, then click OK. The new colors appear on your desktop.
- OR -
If you want to create a new color scheme as part of a desktop theme, see
the following procedure.

To create a new color scheme as part of a desktop theme:


1 Click Advanced. The Advanced Appearance dialog box opens.
2 Click the arrow button to open the Item list, then click the item you want
to change.
3 Change the color or font settings for the item.
4 Click OK, then click the Themes tab.
5 Click Save As, type a name for the new theme, then click OK twice. The
new colors appear on your desktop.

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www.emachines.com Adjusting the screen and desktop settings

Changing the desktop background


You can change the Windows desktop background picture. Windows provides
several backgrounds, or you can use pictures that you have created or retrieved
from other sources.

To change the desktop background:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
2 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
opens.
3 Click the Desktop tab.

4 Click a background picture in the Background list.


- OR -
Click Browse to select a background picture from another location.
5 If you want the picture you chose to cover the entire screen, click the arrow
button to open the Position list, then click Stretch or Tile.
If the picture you chose does not cover the entire screen and you did not
choose to stretch or tile the picture, you can change the solid color behind
the picture by clicking the arrow button to open the Color list, then
clicking a color.
6 Click OK.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
changing desktop background in the
Search box, then click the arrow.

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Selecting a screen saver


You can use a screen saver to keep others from viewing your screen while you
are away from your computer. Windows supplies a variety of screen savers that
you can choose from, and many more are available from the Internet and as
commercial products.
Caution
If you are using a monitor (not a To select a screen saver:
flat-panel display), an image may get
burned in on your monitor screen if you 1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
leave your computer on for long periods
of time without using it. You should use a your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
screen saver which constantly changes
its image to avoid this damage. Flat 2 Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box
panel displays cannot be damaged with opens.
image burn-in.
3 Click the Screen Saver tab.

4 Click the arrow button to open the Screen Saver list, then click the screen
saver you want. Windows previews the screen saver.
■If you want to customize the screen saver, click Settings, then make
your changes. If the Settings button is not available, you cannot
customize the screen saver you selected.
■ If you want to display the Welcome (Login) screen whenever you
exit the screen saver, click the On resume, display Welcome
screen check box.
■ If you want to change the time before the screen saver is activated,
click the up or down arrows next to the Wait box.
5 Click OK.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
screen savers in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

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www.emachines.com Adjusting the screen and desktop settings

Using an extended desktop


If your computer supports dual monitors (it must have multiple monitor ports),
you can use a second monitor to roughly double the size of your Windows
desktop. You can use the additional desktop space to accommodate additional
windows.

To turn on extended desktop:


1 Right-click any empty space on the desktop, then click Properties. The
Display Properties dialog box opens.
2 Click the Settings tab.

3 Click the second monitor icon (labeled 2), then click Extend my Windows
desktop onto this monitor.
4 Click Apply.
5 You can open windows in your desktop and drag them over to the second
monitor.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
multiple monitors in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

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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 click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other
Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box
opens.

3 Click one of the tabs to change your mouse settings.


4 Click OK to save changes.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
mouse settings in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

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www.emachines.com Changing Power-Saving Settings

Changing Power-Saving Settings


Changing the power scheme
Power schemes (groups of power settings) let you change power saving options,
such as when the monitor or hard drive is automatically turned off. You can
select one of the defined power schemes or create a custom power scheme.

To change the power scheme:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance.
2 Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties
dialog box opens.

3 Click the arrow button to open the Power Schemes list, then click the
power scheme you want.
- OR -
Click an arrow button for the System standby, Turn off monitor, or Turn
off hard disks timer, then click the time you want. To save your custom
power scheme, click Save As and type a name for the scheme.
4 Click OK.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
power scheme in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

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Changing advanced power settings


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

To change advanced power management settings:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance.
2 Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties
dialog box opens.
3 Click the Advanced tab.

4 Click the arrow button to open a Power buttons list, then click the power
setting mode you want to use.
5 Click OK.

Help and Support


For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
power management in the Search box,
then click the arrow.

Activating and using Hibernate mode


Hibernate (also called save to disk) writes all current memory (RAM) information
to the hard drive, then turns your computer completely off. The next time you
turn on your computer, it reads the memory information from the hard drive
and opens the programs and documents that were open when you activated
Hibernate mode.

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www.emachines.com Changing Power-Saving Settings

To activate Hibernate mode:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance.
2 Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties
dialog box opens.
3 Click the Hibernate tab.

4 Click the Enable hibernation check box, then click Apply. Hibernate
mode is now an option you can select in the Power Schemes and
Advanced tabs and in the Shut Down Windows dialog box.
5 Click OK.

To use Hibernate mode:


■ As an automatic power savings mode:
Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the Power
Schemes tab. Click the arrow button to open a System hibernates
list, then click the time you want to use.
-OR-
Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the
Advanced tab. Hibernate is now an option in the Power buttons
lists.
■ As a manually-selected power savings mode:
Click Start, then click Shut Down. Press and hold SHIFT, then click
Hibernate.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
hibernate in the Search box, then click
the arrow.

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Installing an uninterruptible power supply


To install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS):
1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and
Maintenance.
2 Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties
dialog box opens.
3 Click the UPS tab.

4 Click Select. The UPS Selection dialog box opens.


5 Click the manufacturer and model of the UPS device, then click the serial
port where the UPS device is attached.
6 Click Finish, then click OK.
Help and Support
For more information about changing
the power scheme, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
uninterruptible power supply in the
Search box, then click the arrow.

118
CHAPTER 10
Protecting Your Computer

• Hardware security
• Data security
• Security updates
CHAPTER 10: Protecting Your Computer www.emachines.com

Hardware security
Although you may be able to replace your computer with a call to your
insurance agent, you cannot replace the information stored on your computer.
Take steps to prevent theft of your computer.

Kensington lock slot


The first step in computer security is preventing your computer from being
stolen.
Attach a cable lock to the Kensington lock slot on the back of your computer,
then wrap the cable lock to a solid object like a desk or table. You can buy a
cable lock at most electronics stores and many department stores.
For the location of the Kensington lock slot, see your hardware reference.

Data security
The second step in computer security is keeping your data safe and secure.

About startup and hard drive passwords


Tips & Tricks Use a startup and hard drive password to keep other people from using your
Make sure that you use a password you computer. You have to enter your password when you turn on your computer
can remember. The password feature is
very secure, and you cannot bypass it. If or access your files.
you forget your password, you will have
to return your computer to eMachines so These passwords are set in your computer’s BIOS Setup utility. Use a password
we can reset it.
that you can remember but that would be hard for someone else to guess.

About Windows XP user accounts


Windows lets you set up a user account for each person who uses your
computer. When you set up user accounts, Windows sets up a My Documents
folder for each account. You can assign a password to each account so only the
account owner can access files in the My Documents folder.

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Help & Support When you set up a user account, you can also limit the programs that a user
For more information about Windows XP can install or run.
user accounts, click Start, then click Help
and Support. Type the phrase user
accounts in the Search box, then click
the arrow.

Protecting your computer from viruses


A virus is a program that attaches itself to a file on a computer, then spreads
from one computer to another. Viruses can damage data or cause your
computer to malfunction. Some viruses go undetected for a period of time
because they are activated on a certain date.
Help & Support Protect your computer from a virus by:
For more information about protecting
your computer against viruses, click ■ Using the McAfee VirusScan program to check files and programs that are
Start, then click Help and Support. Type
the keyword viruses in the Search box , attached to e-mail messages or downloaded from the Internet.
then click the arrow.
■ Checking all programs for viruses before installing them.
■ Disabling macros on suspicious Microsoft Word and Excel files. These
programs will warn you if a document that you are opening contains a
macro that might have a virus.
■ Periodically updating the McAfee VirusScan program to protect against
the latest viruses.
■ Making sure the Windows Security Center is configured to provide you
with the highest level of protection.
For more information about modifying security settings, see “Modifying security
settings” on page 125.

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Your new eMachines computer has McAfee SecurityCenter installed. McAfee


SecurityCenter includes the following components:
■ McAfee VirusScan is an anti-virus subscription service. You can use
VirusScan to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses,
and hybrid attacks.
■ McAfee Personal Firewall Plus blocks unwanted inbound and outbound
Internet traffic to prevent hacker attacks.
■ McAfee Privacy Service protects against online identity theft by blocking
the transmission of personally identifiable information. This service also
filters offensive online content (including pop-ups, ads, and web-bugs)
and monitors, controls, and logs where children surf.
■ McAfee Spamkiller prevents identified spam from reaching your e-mail
inbox and protects you against known Phishing scams.

Using McAfee SecurityCenter


You received your computer with McAfee VirusScan, McAfee Personal Firewall,
and McAfee Spamkiller turned on and McAfee Privacy Service turned off. To turn
on the Privacy Service as well as keep the other services turned on, you must
connect to the Internet and register McAfee SecurityCenter when prompted.

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www.emachines.com Data security

Starting McAfee SecurityCenter

To start McAfee SecurityCenter:


■ Click Start, All Programs, McAfee, then click McAfee Security Center.
McAfee SecurityCenter opens.

Scanning for and removing viruses

To scan for viruses:


1 Start McAfee SecurityCenter.
2 Click virusscan.

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3 Click Scan My Computer for Viruses.

4 Click the location you want to scan, then select your scan options.
5 Click Scan.

To remove a virus:
1 If McAfee SecurityCenter finds a virus, follow all on-screen instructions to
remove the virus.
2 Turn off your computer and leave it off for at least 30 seconds.
3 Turn on your computer and rescan for the virus.

Updating your virus definitions


Important You should update your virus definitions regularly to protect your computer
To update McAfee SecurityCenter after from the latest viruses.
the subscription period expires, you must
extend your subscription.
To update your virus definitions:
1 Make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
2 Start McAfee SecurityCenter.
3 Click Update. The McAfee SecurityCenter Updates wizard opens.
4 Click Check Now.
5 If it is time to extend your subscription, an alert appears on your screen.
Click Renew my subscription to extend your subscription and continue
updating McAfee SecurityCenter.

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Using Windows XP Security Center


Windows Security Center helps protect your computer through:
■ a firewall
■ automatic Windows updates
■ third party virus protection software
■ security options in Internet Explorer

Modifying security settings

To modify security settings:


1 Click Start, Control Panel, then double-click Security Center. The
Windows Security Center dialog box opens.

2 Click Internet Options or Windows Firewall.


3 For more information about the Windows Security Center, click Get help
about Security Center.

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Security updates
To keep your computer secure, you need to keep Windows XP and your
computer’s system software up to date.

Windows Update
If a hacker finds a way to bypass the security features built into Windows XP,
Microsoft creates a high-priority Windows update to fix the problem. You should
update Windows regularly to keep your computer secure.

■ Express—Click Express to download high-priority updates. These updates


include security updates.
■ Custom—Click Custom to download high-priority, Windows software,
and hardware driver updates. These updates include security updates.

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www.emachines.com Security updates

Windows XP Security Center


Use the Windows XP Security Center to schedule automatic updates. Windows
can routinely check for the latest important updates for your computer and
install them automatically.

To schedule automatic updates:


1 Click Start, Control Panel, then double-click Security Center.

2 Click Automatic Updates. The Automatic Updates dialog box opens.

3 Make your changes to the schedule settings, then click OK.

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BigFix
Your computer may include BigFix. BigFix monitors your computer for problems
and conflicts. It automatically gathers information about the latest bugs,
security alerts, and updates from BigFix sites on the Internet. Whenever BigFix
detects a problem, it alerts you by flashing the blue taskbar icon. To fix the
problem, click on that icon to open BigFix.

128
CHAPTER 11
Protecting and Recovering
Your Files and Software

• System recovery options


• Copying driver and application
recovery files
• Recovering your system
CHAPTER 11: Protecting and Recovering Your Files and Software www.emachines.com

System recovery options


Most computer problems can be solved by following the information in
“Troubleshooting” on page 175 or at eMachines.com. Problem-solving may also
involve re-installing some or all of the computer’s software (also called
recovering or restoring your system). eMachines provides everything you need
to recover your system under most conditions. A backup copy of your operating
system is provided on a CD or DVD, and a backup copy of your factory-installed
drivers and applications is saved on a hidden area of your hard drive.
We recommend that you make a backup of your factory-installed software as
soon as you get your new eMachines system.
■ “Copying driver and application recovery files” on page 130 tells you how
to record (“burn”) the Drivers and Applications Recovery discs. Using a
recovery disc that you have recorded is only one of several ways you can
restore your system to working order. Recovery discs let you recover your
device drivers and software that came pre-installed on your computer.
If you are still having problems even after you follow troubleshooting steps, you
can use Microsoft System Restore to roll back your system to a previous
condition when drivers and programs worked correctly.
■ “Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore” on page 136
describes how to return your system to a previous working condition.
If you are still experiencing problems, you may need to reinstall specific
software, such as a device driver.
■ “Recovering specific files and software” on page 135 describes how to
install specific, factory-installed software and device drivers.
Finally, in order to recover your system you may need to reinstall everything,
including the operating system, so your computer has its original factory
settings.
■ “Recovering your system from the hard drive” on page 137 tells how to
completely reinstall the original factory software.

Copying driver and application recovery files


Your computer’s hard drive contains everything you need to completely restore
your system, including Windows XP, device drivers, and other programs. You can
also restore device drivers or programs by using Drivers and Applications
Recovery discs, which you create. You can immediately create the recovery discs
(recommended), or you can wait until later.
For more information on creating recovery discs, see “Creating recovery discs”
on page 131.
For more information on using your network to store and create recovery discs,
see:
■ “Copying driver and application recovery files to a network” on page 132
■ “Creating discs from recovery files on a network” on page 133

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Creating recovery discs


You can use driver and application recovery discs to restore device drivers or
programs. You can create an unlimited number of driver and application
recovery disc sets. Before you continue, make sure that your computer has a
recordable drive. If your computer does not have a recordable drive, see
“Copying driver and application recovery files to a network” on page 132.

To record a set of driver and application recovery discs:


1 Make sure that you have blank discs ready. Depending on the type of
recordable drive your computer has, you need either several CD-R discs
or one DVD-R or DVD+R disc.
Important
If you are recording to CDs, make sure 2 Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, then click Create My
that they are CD-R and not CD-RW discs. Drivers-Applications CD(s). A message asks you if you want to “Burn ISO”
If you are recording to a DVD, make sure
that it is a DVD-R or DVD+R disc, not (record recovery discs) or “Create ISO” (copy the files to a drive).
DVD-RW or DVD+RW discs.

3 Click Burn ISO. The Recovery CD/DVD Creator dialog box opens.

4 Click Start Creation. A message tells you the number of blank discs that
are required for the recovery disc set.

5 Click the type of recordable disc you want to use.

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6 Make sure you have the appropriate number and type of blank discs, then
insert a blank disc into the recordable drive.
7 Click OK. The program prepares the recovery files, then records the
recovery files to the blank disc(s).

8 If a message tells you to insert another blank disc, remove the completed
disc, then insert a blank disc.
Important
Use a permanent marker to label each 9 When you see the message “The Recovery ISO Image has been created
disc “eMachines Driver and Application successfully,” remove the last disc from the drive, then click OK.
Recovery.” As you remove each disc from
the drive, use the marker to label each
disc 1 of x, 2 of x, 3 of x, and so on. 10 Store the discs in a safe place for future use. You are done.

Copying driver and application recovery files to a network


You can copy driver and application recovery files to a network location, so you
can burn unlimited sets of driver and application recovery discs from a different
computer that has a recordable drive.

To copy driver and application recovery files to a network:


1 Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, then click Create My
Drivers-Applications CD(s). A message asks you if you want to “Burn ISO”
(record recovery discs) or “Create ISO” (copy the files to a drive).

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2 Click Create ISO, then find the network location you want to save the
driver and application recovery files to.

3 Click OK. The program prepares the recovery files, then copies them to the
location you specified.

4 When you see the message “The Recovery ISO Image has been created
successfully,” click OK. You are done.
Tips & Tricks
Store your recovery (ISO) images in a To create discs from the files you just copied, see “Creating discs from
folder that indicates which computer the recovery files on a network” on page 133.
files are for. For example, store the files for
an eMachines T2862 in a folder named
eM T2862 Apps Recovery.

Creating discs from recovery files on a network


Important
If you are recording to CDs, make sure Before you continue, make sure that your computer has a recordable drive.
that they are CD-R and not CD-RW discs.
If you are recording to DVDs, make sure
that they are DVD-R or DVD+R discs, not To create recovery discs from recovery files stored on a network:
DVD-RW or DVD+RW discs.
1 Make sure that you have blank discs ready. If the ISO filenames start with
CD, you will need blank CDs. If the ISO filenames start with DVD, you will
need blank DVDs.
2 Insert a blank disc into the recordable drive of any networked computer.
You need one blank disc for each recovery (ISO) file.

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Important
Use the correct type of blank disc for the 3 Click Start, then click My Computer.
recovery (ISO) file. For example, if the
recovery (ISO) file was created for a DVD, 4 Open the network location of the recovery files.
make sure you use a blank DVD+R or
DVD-R disc.

5 Double-click the file for the first disc. Your media burning software opens.
6 Follow the on-screen instructions of your media burning software to
complete the burning of the recovery disc(s).
7 When the disc is complete, remove that disc and insert another.
Important
Use a permanent marker to label each 8 Repeat steps 5-7 for each recovery file until each file is recorded onto a
disc “eMachines Driver and Application disc. When this is completed, you are done.
Recovery.” As you remove each disc from
the drive, use the marker to label each
disc 1 of x, 2 of x, 3 of x, and so on.

Recovering your system


Important
If your hard drive has failed and you
cannot restore the software from the
hard drive, contact eMachines Customer If you have problems with your computer and you need to recover your system,
Care for help. For a fee, Customer Care you can restore specific drivers and programs from a set of recovery discs, roll
may be able to provide a set of recovery back your system to a previous condition when drivers and programs were
discs to restore your computer.
For more help, you can find the working correctly, or reinstall everything from the computer’s hard drive.
eMachines Customer Care contact
information on the label located on the ■ To selectively restore device drivers or programs, see “Recovering specific
front or side of your computer.
files and software” on page 135.
- OR -
■ To recover your system to a previous condition when software and device
drivers were working correctly, see “Recovering your system using
Microsoft System Restore” on page 136.
- OR -
■ To reinstall everything, see “Recovering your system from the hard drive”
on page 137.

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Recovering specific files and software


You can perform a partial recovery by recovering specific files, such as device
drivers and most pre-installed software. If you need to recover software that did
not come pre-installed on your system, you need to follow the software’s own
instructions for installation.
You can recover specific files using either the Start menu or a driver and
application recovery disc that you have created.

To restore your system from the driver and application recovery discs:
1 Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, then click Application &
Driver Recovery.
- OR -
Turn on your computer, then insert the driver and application recovery
disc #1 (if available) into the CD or DVD drive. The Application Recovery
program opens.

2 Click the driver or application you want to install. To select multiple items,
press and hold CTRL while clicking each item.
3 Click Next. The items you selected are installed. When the installation is
finished, a message asks you if you want to install more drivers or
applications.
4 Click Yes to install more drivers or applications, or click Quit to exit.
5 Store the discs in a safe place for future use. You are done.
6 If your system still has problems, follow the directions in “Recovering your
system using Microsoft System Restore” on page 136.

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Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore


Before using eMachines System Recovery, you should try Microsoft System
Restore to determine whether you can restore your system to a previous
condition.
Every time you install new device drivers or software, and every 24 hours (while
your computer is turned on), Microsoft System Restore takes a “snapshot” of
your system settings and saves it as a restore point. In most cases of
hard-to-resolve software problems, you can return to one of these restore points
to get your system running again.

To restore using Microsoft System Restore:


1 Press F1. The Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center opens.

2 Click Undo changes to your computer with System Restore. The


Welcome to System Restore dialog box opens.

3 Click Restore my computer to an earlier time, then click Next. The Select
a Restore Point dialog box opens.

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4 Click a bold date on the calendar (Step 1 on the screen), then click a restore
point in the list (Step 2 on the screen).

5 Click Next. The Confirm Restore Point Selection dialog box opens.

6 Make sure that you want to use the restore point you selected, and read
all notices on the screen.
7 Click Next, then follow the on-screen instructions to finish the restoration.
If completing Microsoft System Restore does not solve your problem,
restart eMachines System Recovery. See “Recovering your system from the
hard drive” on page 137 for instructions.

Recovering your system from the hard drive


Caution
Because of virus and spyware activity on To recover your system from the hard drive:
the Internet, you should disconnect all
Internet connections before recovering 1 Remove all CDs and DVDs from the disc drives, disconnect all USB devices
your system. After you recover your
system, you can reinstall antivirus and except the keyboard and mouse, then disconnect your Internet cable.
firewall software, then re-enable the
Internet connection to update antivirus
definitions and install Windows Updates.

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2 If you can still run Windows, click Start, All Programs, System Recovery,
System Recovery, then click Yes. Your computer restarts, then the System
Recovery program starts.

- OR -
Turn on or restart your computer and press F11 while your computer is
starting.
3 Insert the Operating System Recovery CD/DVD when prompted. The System
Recovery program starts.
4 Click a system recovery option:

■ Full System Restore (Destructive) reformats the hard drive and


restores the system software as it was when you purchased your
computer. This process deletes your data files.
Caution
The Full System Restore option deletes all ■ Full System Restore (with Backup) (recommended) moves the
files on your hard drive except the restore contents of the hard drive to the C:\My Backup folder and installs
files. Make sure that you back up all
personal data files before continuing this a new copy of Windows XP. This option saves your existing data
process. files, but all programs must be reinstalled and the program settings
reconfigured. You need at least 4 GB of hard drive space to use this
restore option.
5 Click Next. The System Restore - Format and Recover dialog box opens.
6 Click Yes. Files are restored to your hard drive. When file recovery has
finished, the System Restore dialog box opens.
Important
After you restore your system, it will 7 Click Restart. Your computer restarts, and Windows finishes its setup and
appear with the same files and programs installation.
it had when it shipped from the factory.
You still need to download Windows
updates and antivirus updates to bring 8 Reconnect your Internet cable and all USB peripheral devices. You are
your computer’s software up to date. done.

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CHAPTER 12
Maintaining Your Computer

• Caring for your computer


• Updating Windows
• BigFix
• Managing hard drive space
• Moving from your old computer
CHAPTER 12: Maintaining Your Computer www.emachines.com

Caring for your computer


To extend the life of your computer:
■ When transporting your computer, we recommend that you put it in the
original packaging materials.
■ Keep diskettes and your computer away from magnetic fields. Magnetic
fields can erase data on both diskettes and hard drives.
■ Avoid subjecting your computer to extreme temperature changes.
■ Keep all liquids away from your computer. When spilled onto computer
components, almost any liquid can result in extremely expensive repairs
that are not covered under your warranty.
■ Avoid dusty or dirty work environments. Dust and dirt can clog the internal
mechanisms.
■ Do not block the ventilation fan.
■ When storing your computer for an extended period of time, unplug
AC power.

Setting up a maintenance schedule


Use the following table to set up a regular maintenance schedule.

Maintenance task Monthl When See...


y needed
Check for viruses X X page 121

Update Windows XP X X page 126 and page 142

Manage hard drive space X page 140

Clean up hard drives X X page 143

Scan hard drive for errors X X page 144

Defragment hard drive X X page 145

Back up files X X page 146

Clean computer case and peripheral devices X page 140

Cleaning your computer


Keeping your computer clean and the vents free from dust helps keep your
computer performing at its best. You may want to gather these items and put
together a computer cleaning kit:
■ A soft, lint-free cloth
■ An aerosol can of air that has a narrow, straw-like extension
■ Cotton swabs
■ A CD or DVD drive cleaning kit

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Cleaning the exterior


Warning
When you shut down your computer, the Always turn off your computer and other peripherals before cleaning any
power turns off, but some electrical components.
current still flows through your computer.
To avoid possible injury from electrical
shock, unplug the power cord and Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your computer and other parts of your
modem cable from the wall outlets. system. Do not use abrasive or solvent cleaners because they can damage the
finish on components.
Your computer is cooled by air circulated through the vents on the case, so keep
the vents free of dust. With your computer turned off and unplugged, brush the
dust away from the vents with a damp cloth. Be careful not to drip any water
into the vents. Do not attempt to clean dust from the inside of your computer.

Cleaning the keyboard


You should clean the keyboard occasionally by using an aerosol can of air with
a narrow, straw-like extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the keys.
If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your computer and turn the keyboard
upside down. Let the liquid drain, then let the keyboard dry before trying to
use it again. If the keyboard does not work after it dries, you may need to
replace it.

Cleaning the computer display


To clean a computer LCD screen or flat panel display, use a soft cloth and water
to clean the LCD screen. Squirt a little water on the cloth (never directly on the
screen), and wipe the screen with the cloth.
Caution
A flat panel display or computer LCD To clean a CRT monitor, use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to clean the monitor
screen is made of specially coated glass screen. Squirt a little cleaner on the cloth (never directly on the screen), and
and can be scratched or damaged by
abrasive or ammonia-based glass wipe the screen with the cloth.
cleaners.

Cleaning the mouse


If the mouse pointer begins moving erratically across the computer screen or
becomes difficult to control precisely, cleaning the mouse will likely improve its
accuracy.

To clean your mouse:


■ Wipe the bottom of the mouse with a damp lint-free cloth

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Cleaning CDs or DVDs


Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a circle, using a product made
especially for the purpose.

Updating Windows
Windows Update is the online extension of Windows that helps you to keep your
computer up-to-date. Use Windows Update to choose updates for your
computer’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 computer and keep it running smoothly. Windows Update scans
your computer and provides you with a tailored selection of updates that apply
only to the software and hardware on your computer. For additional information
on Windows Update, see “Security updates” on page 126.

To run Windows Update:


1 Connect to the Internet.

2 Click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Update.

3 Follow the on-screen instructions.

Help and Support


For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword Windows
Update in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

BigFix
BigFix* monitors your computer for problems and conflicts. It automatically
gathers information about the latest bugs, security alerts, and updates from
BigFix sites on the Internet. Whenever BigFix detects a problem, it alerts you by
flashing the blue taskbar icon. To fix the problem, click on that icon to open
BigFix.
* Program availability varies by country or region.

To start BigFix:
■ Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click BigFix.

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To learn more about using BigFix:


■ From the BigFix program, click Help, then click Tutorial.

Managing hard drive space


Windows provides several utilities you can use to manage your hard drive.

Checking hard drive space


To check hard drive space:
1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2 Right-click the drive that you want to check for available file space, then
click Properties. Drive space information appears.

Using Disk Cleanup


Delete unnecessary files, such as temporary Windows files, to free hard drive
space.

To use the Windows Disk Cleanup program:


1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.

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2 Right-click the hard drive that you want to delete files from, for example
Local Disk (C:), then click Properties. The Properties dialog box opens at
the General tab.

3 Click Disk Cleanup. The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens.


4 Make sure that the check box beside each file type you want to delete is
selected. For more information about file types you can delete, read the
descriptions in the Disk Cleanup dialog box.
5 Click OK, then click Yes.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword disk cleanup
in the Search box, then click the arrow.

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 computer several hours every day, you probably want to run
Error-checking once a week. If you use your computer less frequently, once a
month may be adequate. Also use Error-checking if you encounter hard drive
problems.

To check the hard drive for errors:


1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2 Right-click the hard drive that you want to check for errors, for example
Local Disk (C:), then click Properties. The Properties dialog box opens.

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3 Click the Tools tab.

4 Click Check Now.


5 Click the options you want to use, then click Start. For help, press F1.
Windows checks the drive for errors. This process may take several
minutes. After Windows has finished checking the drive for errors, it
provides a summary of the problems that it found.
6 Correct any problems that are found by following the on-screen
instructions.
7 Click OK.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword checking for
disk errors in the Search box, then click
the arrow.

Defragmenting the hard drive


When working with files, sometimes Windows divides the file information into
pieces and stores them in different places on the hard drive. This is called
fragmentation, and it is normal. In order for your computer to use a file, Windows
must search for the pieces of the file and put them back together. This process
slows the hard drive performance.
The Disk Defragmenter program organizes the data on the drive so each file is
stored as one unit rather than as multiple pieces scattered across different areas
of the drive. Defragmenting the information stored on the drive can improve
hard drive performance.
While the Disk Defragmenter program is running, do not use your keyboard or
mouse because using them may continuously stop and restart the
defragmenting process. Also, if you are connected to a network, log off before
starting Disk Defragmenter. Network communication may stop the
defragmentation process and cause it to start over.

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To defragment the hard drive:


1 Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2 Right-click the hard drive that you want to defragment, for example Local
Disk (C:), then click Properties. The Properties dialog box opens.
3 Click the Tools tab.

4 Click Defragment Now.


5 If Disk Defragmenter does not start automatically, click Defragment.
Disk Defragmenter shows its progress on the computer display. When
finished, Disk Defragmenter asks if you want to quit the program.
6 Click Close, then click the X in the top-right corner to close the Disk
Defragmenter window.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword
defragmenting in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

Backing up files
Backing up files and removing them from the hard drive frees space for new
files on the hard drive. It also protects you from losing important information
if the hard drive fails or you accidentally delete files.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows You should back up your files regularly to a writable CD or DVD (if you have a
Update, click Start, then click Help and recordable drive) or to diskettes (if you have a diskette drive). Use a backup
Support. Type the keyword saving files
in the Search box, then click the arrow. device, such as a recordable drive or Zip drive, to do a complete hard drive
backup. For more information, see “Advanced multimedia software features” on
page 105.

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Using the Scheduled Task Wizard


The Scheduled Task Wizard lets you schedule maintenance tasks such as
running Disk Defragmenter and Error-checking.

To start the Scheduled Task Wizard:


1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click
Scheduled Tasks. The Scheduled Tasks window opens.
2 Double-click the Add Scheduled Task icon. The Scheduled Task Wizard
opens.
Important
Your computer must be on during
scheduled tasks. If your computer is off,
scheduled tasks will not run.

Help and Support


For more information about Windows 3 Click Next, then click the task or program you want to schedule and follow
Update, click Start, then click Help and the on-screen instructions to customize the task.
Support. Type the keyword Scheduled
Task Wizard in the Search box, then click
the arrow.

Moving from your old computer


Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
You can move your data files and personal settings, such as display, Internet,
and e-mail settings, from your old computer to your new one by using the Files
and Settings Transfer Wizard. The wizard also moves specific files or entire
folders, such as My Documents, My Pictures, and Favorites.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows To open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard:
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword using ■ Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then click Files and
transfer wizard in the Search box, then
click the arrow. Settings Transfer Wizard.

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Transferring files
You can manually transfer your personal data files by copying them to
removable media, such as a diskette, writable CD or DVD, USB flash drive, or Zip
disk, or by using a home network. For more information, see “Advanced
multimedia software features” on page 105 or “Using the network” on page 60.

Finding your files


Many programs automatically save your personal data files in the
My Documents folder. Look in your old computer’s My Documents folder for
personal data files. Use Windows Find or Search to locate other personal data
files. For more information, see “To find files using Find or Search:” on page 149,
or “Searching for files” on page 33.

To find files in the My Documents folder:


1 In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Documents. The My Documents
window opens and displays many of your saved personal data files. Go to
Step 4.
- OR -
In Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000, double-click the
My Computer icon on the desktop. Go to the next step.
2 Double-click the C:\ drive icon.
3 Double-click the My Documents folder. The My Documents window opens
and displays many of your saved personal data files.
4 Copy your personal data files to removable media or to another computer
on your network.

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.

File type File 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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To find files using Find or Search:


1 In 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.
2 Use Windows Find or Search to locate data files by file name or file type.
For help on finding files, click Help, then click Help and Support Center
or Help Topics. For more information, see “Searching for files” on page 33.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword searching
for files in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

Transferring Internet settings


You can use different methods to transfer your Internet account from your old
computer to your new one.

Setting up your ISP


■ If your current Internet service provider (ISP) software came pre-installed
on your new computer, run that setup program. If it asks to set up a new
account or an existing one, choose to set up an existing account.
■ If your current ISP software is not pre-installed on your new computer,
locate the original Internet setup program provided by your local ISP, or
contact your ISP to see if they have an updated version of their software,
and install it on your new computer.
■ If you use MSN as your ISP, or if you know your ISP settings, use the
Windows Internet Connection Wizard.

To use the Internet Connection Wizard:


1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, then click New
Connection Wizard. The New Connection wizard opens.
2 Configure your Internet settings by following the on-screen instructions.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword Internet
connection in the Search box, then click
the arrow.
Transferring your e-mail and address book
See your old e-mail program’s online help for information on exporting and
importing e-mail messages and the address book. You can often export all of
your old e-mail messages or address book to recordable media, then import
them into your new computer’s e-mail program. You may also want to consider
printing the old information or using your old computer to send the e-mail
messages to yourself, then using your new computer to retrieve the e-mail
messages.

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Transferring your Internet shortcuts


You can export and import your old Netscape Navigator bookmarks or Microsoft
Internet Explorer favorites. For more information, see your Internet browser
program’s online help.

Installing your old printer or scanner


Windows may have built-in support for older printers, scanners, or other
peripheral devices. This means you do not need any additional software. Newer
devices, however, usually require your original software installation discs or
diskettes.
If you have trouble after you install the software for your old devices, you can
use System Restore to restore your computer’s previous settings.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows Installing a USB printer or scanner
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword System USB devices may have special installation instructions. See your USB device’s
Restore in the Search box, then click the
arrow. installation guide.

Installing a parallel port printer


You can usually install parallel port printers by following these steps.

To install your old printer:


1 Shut down and turn off your computer.
2 Connect your parallel port printer.
3 Turn on your printer, then turn on your computer.
4 If Windows detects your printer, install your printer by following the
on-screen instructions. You are finished.
- OR -
If Windows does not detect the printer, go to the next step.
5 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If
your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and Other
Hardware.
6 Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes, then click Add Printer. The
Add Printer wizard opens.
7 Install your printer by following the on-screen instructions.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows
Update, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type the keyword installing a
printer in the Search box, then click the See your peripheral device’s user guide for installation information and tips.
arrow. Because most installation software is periodically updated, you should also
check the manufacturer’s Web site for software updates.

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Installing your old programs


You probably use some programs that did not come installed on your new
computer, such as personal finance software, graphics programs, or games.
Tips & Tricks
If your new computer comes with a newer Spend some time going through your old computer’s Start and Programs
version of a program, it is usually better menus, making note of any programs you want to install on your new computer.
to use the newer version than to reinstall
the old one. Locate your original program installation discs and installation guides. Your
original discs and guides should contain any serial numbers or product ID keys
that may be required for program installation and registration. Remember to
check the publisher’s Web site for important program updates.
Help and Support
For more information about Windows If you have trouble after installing your old programs, you can restore your
Update, click Start, then click Help and computer’s previous settings using System Restore.
Support. Type the keyword System
Restore in the Search box, then click the
arrow.

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152
CHAPTER 13
Adding and Replacing
Components

• Preventing static electricity


discharge
• Opening the case
• Closing the case
• Installing memory
• Replacing the system battery
• Adding or replacing a CD or DVD
drive
• Replacing the memory card reader
• Adding or replacing a hard drive
• Replacing the rear fan
• Replacing the power supply
• Replacing the heat sink
• Replacing the front I/O panel
• Adding or replacing an expansion
card
• Replacing the system board
CHAPTER 13: Adding and Replacing Components www.emachines.com

Preventing static electricity discharge


Warning
To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical The components inside your computer are extremely sensitive to static
voltages and moving parts, turn off your electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD).
computer and unplug the power cord
and modem and network cables before
opening the case.

Caution
ESD can permanently damage Before opening the computer case, follow these guidelines:
electrostatic discharge-sensitive
components in your computer. Prevent ■ Turn off your computer.
ESD damage by following ESD guidelines
every time you open the computer case. ■ Wear a grounding wrist strap (available at most electronics stores) and
attach it to a bare metal part of your computer.
Warning
To prevent risk of electric shock, do not ■ Touch a bare metal surface on the back of the computer.
insert any object into the vent holes of the
power supply. ■ Unplug the power cord and the modem and network cables.

Before working with computer components, follow these guidelines:


■ Avoid static-causing surfaces such as carpeted floors, plastic, and packing
foam.
■ Remove components from their antistatic bags only when you are ready
to use them. Do not lay components on the outside of antistatic bags
because only the inside of the bags provide electrostatic protection.
■ Always hold expansion cards by their edges or their metal mounting
brackets. Avoid touching the edge connectors and components on the
cards. Never slide expansion cards or components over any surface.

Opening the case


Your computer case provides easy access to internal components.
Warning
To avoid exposure to dangerous electrical
voltages and moving parts, turn off your
computer, then unplug the power cord
and modem cable before opening the
case..

Removing the side panel


To remove the side panel:
1 Follow the instructions in “Preventing static electricity discharge” on
page 154.
2 Shut down your computer, then disconnect the power cord and modem,
network, and all peripheral device cables.
3 Press the power button to drain any residual power from your computer.

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www.emachines.com Opening the case

4 Remove the two thumbscrews from the side panel cover, slide the side
panel cover toward the back of the computer, then lift the panel away from
the computer.

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Removing the front bezel


Caution
There are cables connected to the back of
the bezel. When the bezel is loose from
the case:
Carefully set the bezel to the side of the
case with the cables attached.
- OR -
Disconnect the cables from the system To remove the front bezel:
board so you can remove the front bezel
and cables from the computer. ■ Position the computer where you can grasp the top front edge of the
bezel, then pull the bezel away from the case. Continue to loosen the bezel
until you can remove it from the front of the case.

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www.emachines.com Closing the case

Closing the case


Replacing the front bezel
To replace the front bezel:
1 If you disconnected the bezel cables when you removed the bezel,
reconnect them to the system board.
2 Align the latch pins on the bezel with the computer latch holes.

3 Press the bezel firmly into place.

Replacing the side panel


To replace the side panel:
1 Make sure that all of the internal cables are arranged inside the case so
they will not be pinched when you close the case.
2 Align the side panel, then slide the side panel toward the front of the
computer to secure it into place.
3 Replace the side panel thumbscrews.
4 Reconnect the cables and power cord.

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Installing memory
When you upgrade the computer memory, make sure that you install the correct
type of memory module for your computer. Your computer uses DIMM memory.

To install or replace DIMM memory:


1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 For more stability, place your computer on its side. To avoid scratching the
case, place it on a towel or other non-abrasive surface.
3 Find the memory module banks on your system board.
Important
Your computer’s memory location may
vary from the illustration below.

4 If you are removing a DIMM from the memory module bank, gently pull
the plastic tabs away from the sides of the memory module and remove it.
- OR -
If you are adding a DIMM to an empty memory module bank, gently pull
the plastic tabs away from the sides of the memory module bank.

5 Align the notches on the new DIMM with the notches on the memory
module bank and press the module firmly into the bank. The tabs on the
sides of the memory module bank should snap in and secure the memory
module automatically.

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www.emachines.com Replacing the system battery

6 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.
7 Return your computer to its upright position.
8 Turn on your computer. Windows starts and the Windows desktop
appears.
9 Click Start, Control Panel, then click Performance and Maintenance (if in
Category view). Click/Double-click System. The amount of memory in your
computer is shown at the bottom of the System Properties dialog box in
the General tab.

Replacing the system battery


If the computer clock does not keep time or the settings in the BIOS Setup utility
are not saved when you turn off your computer, replace the system battery. Use
a battery of the same size and voltage as the original battery in your computer.
Warning
There is a danger of explosion if the
battery is incorrectly replaced.
Replace the battery only with the same or To replace the battery:
equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries 1 Restart your computer.
following the manufacturer’s
instructions. 2 During the restart, press and hold the F1 key. The main menu of the
BIOS Setup utility opens.
3 Write down all the values in the menus and submenus, then exit from the
utility.
4 Shut down your computer.
5 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
6 For more stability, place your computer on its side. To avoid scratching the
case, place it on a towel or other non-abrasive surface.
7 Locate the old battery on the system board and note its orientation. You
will need to install the new battery the same way.
8 Push the battery release tab. The battery pops out of the socket.

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Important
Your computer’s battery location may
vary from the illustration below.

9 Make sure that the positive (+) side of the new battery is facing up, then
press the battery into the socket until it snaps into place.
10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.
11 Turn on your computer.
12 Open the BIOS Setup utility and restore any settings that you wrote down
in Step 3.
13 Save your settings and exit the BIOS Setup utility.

Adding or replacing a CD or DVD drive


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To add replace a CD or DVD drive:
replace a CD or DVD drive.

Important
The color and shape of your 1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
replacement component's front panel” on page 154.
cover may vary from your original
component.
2 Remove the front bezel by following the instructions in “Removing the
front bezel” on page 156.
3 If you are replacing an existing drive, remove the two screws that secure
the drive to the drive bay. If you are adding a new drive, go to Step 6.

Screws

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www.emachines.com Adding or replacing a CD or DVD drive

4 Disconnect the power, data, and sound (if attached) cables from the back
of the drive.

5 Slide the drive out of the case toward the front.


6 Slide the new drive into the drive bay from the front of the case.
7 Connect the power, data, and sound cables (if necessary) to the back of
the drive.
8 Use the two screws you removed previously to secure the drive to the drive
bay.
9 Replace the front bezel by following the instructions in “Replacing the
front bezel” on page 157.
10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

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Replacing the memory card reader


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To replace the memory card reader:
replace a CD or DVD drive.
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
Important
The color and shape of your replacement 2 Remove the front bezel by following the instructions in “Removing the
component's front cover may vary from front bezel” on page 156, but leave its wires connected to the system
your original component.
board. There should be enough slack in the cables to allow you to lay the
bezel on its side in front of the case.

3 Remove the single screw holding the card reader in the drive bay.

Screw
4 Disconnect the card reader’s USB cable from the system board.

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www.emachines.com Adding or replacing a hard drive

5 Slide the card reader out of the case.

6 Slide the new card reader into the bay from the front of the case.
7 Connect the new card reader’s USB cable to the system board.
8 Use the screw you removed previously to secure the card reader to the bay.
9 Replace the front bezel by following the instructions in “Replacing the
front bezel” on page 157.
10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Adding or replacing a hard drive


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To add or replace a hard drive:
replace a hard drive.
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 If you are adding a new drive, go to Step 4. If you are replacing an existing
drive, go to the next step.
3 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the hard drive.

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4 Remove the screw that secures the hard drive bay to the case.

Screw

5 Slide the hard drive bay away from the system board and toward the open
side of the case, then remove the hard drive bay from the case.

6 If you are adding a new drive, go to Step 9. If you are replacing an existing
drive, go to the next step.
7 Remove the four screws that secure the hard drive to the drive bay. (Only
the two screws on one side of the bay are shown below.)

Screws

8 Slide the old drive out of the bay.


9 Slide the new drive into the drive bay.
10 Use the four screws you removed previously to secure the hard drive to
the hard drive bay.

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www.emachines.com Replacing the rear fan

11 Slide the hard drive bay back into position, then secure it to the case using
the screw you removed previously.
12 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Replacing the rear fan


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To replace the rear fan:
replace a rear fan.
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 Disconnect the fan power cable from the system board.

3 Remove the four screws that secure the rear cooling fan to the case.

Screws

4 Remove the fan from the case.

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5 Use the four screws you removed previously to secure the new rear cooling
fan to the case. The arrows on the new fan must be pointed toward the
back of the case for correct air flow.
6 Connect the new fan’s power cable to the system board.
7 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Replacing the power supply


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To replace the power supply:
replace the power supply.
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 Disconnect all power supply cables from the system board and drives.
3 Remove the four screws that secure the power supply to the case.

Screws
4 Slide the power supply forward about one inch.

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www.emachines.com Replacing the heat sink

Tips & Tricks


On some models, you may first need to 5 Pull down on the side of the power supply nearest you, then remove the
remove the heat sink fan. power supply from the bay.

6 Slide the new power supply into the power supply bay until its back is flush
with the back of the case.
7 Use the four screws you removed previously to secure the new power
supply to the case.
8 Reconnect the power supply cables to the system board and to the drives.
9 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Replacing the heat sink


Tips & Tricks
You need a Phillips screwdriver to add or To replace the heat sink:
replace the heat sink.
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 Place the computer case on its side.
3 Disconnect the heat sink fan’s power connector from the system board.

Connector

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4 Loosen the four captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system
board. (Two screws on the far side of the heat sink are not visible in the
following photograph.)

Screws
5 Remove the heat sink. If the heatsink sticks to the processor, rotate the
heatsink slightly to loosen it.
Caution
The heat sink has Thermal Interface 6 Place the heat sink over the processor, lining up the four captive screws
Material (TIM) on the bottom. Be careful with the four posts surrounding the processor.
not to damage this material when you
remove the heat sink from the processor.
If removing the heat sink also pulls the
processor out of the processor socket, the
processor could be damaged.

Caution
The heat sink has Thermal Interface 7 Loosely screw in the captive screws on the corners of the heat sink, gently
Material (TIM) located on the bottom of tightening diagonal screws (screw in one screw, then the screw located
it. Use caution when you unpack the heat
sink so you do not damage the TIM. diagonally to the first screw). Do not fully tighten one screw before
tightening another.
8 Gradually and equally tighten each captive screw until each is firmly
tightened. Do not over-tighten the screws.
9 Connect the new heat sink fan’s power connector to the system board.
10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Replacing the front I/O panel


Important
The color and shape of your replacement To replace the front I/O panel:
component's front cover may vary from
your original component. 1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
Tips & Tricks
To make it easier to reconnect the cables 2 Disconnect the front bezel’s power and LED cables from the system board.
to the system board later, make note of
each connector’s location as you
disconnect it.

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www.emachines.com Replacing the front I/O panel

3 Pry the front bezel away from the front of the case.

4 Slide the front bezel’s power and LED cables through the hole in the front
of the case, then remove the bezel completely.

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5 Disconnect the front I/O panel cables from the system board.

6 Remove the single screw that secures the front I/O panel to the case.

Screw

7 Rotate the I/O panel down until it faces the tabletop, then pull the I/O
panel and its cables away from the case. Note the location of the hole
through which the cables are threaded.
8 Thread the new I/O panel’s cables through the hole in the case, then insert
the tabs in the bottom of the I/O panel into the slots in the front of the case.
9 Rotate the I/O panel up until its screw hole aligns with the screw hole in
the front of the case, then secure it to the case with the screw.
10 Reconnect the I/O panel’s cables to the appropriate connectors on the
system board.

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www.emachines.com Adding or replacing an expansion card

11 Insert the front bezel’s cables through the hole in the case behind the
bezel, then snap the bezel back into place.
12 Reconnect the front bezel’s power and LED cables to the appropriate
connectors on the system board.
13 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Adding or replacing an expansion card


To add or replace an expansion card:
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 If you are adding a new expansion card, go to the next step. If you are
replacing an expansion card, go to Step 4.
3 Remove the screw that secures the expansion card slot cover to the case,
then go to Step 7.

Screw

4 Disconnect any external cables that are attached to the expansion card
you are removing.
5 Remove the screw that secures the expansion card to the case.

Screw

6 Remove the PCI expansion card and place it in a static-free bag for storage.
You can gently rock the card end-to-end to loosen and remove the card
(do not bend the card sideways).

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Caution
Do not touch the contacts on the bottom
part of the expansion card. Touching the
contacts can cause electrostatic damage
to the card.

7 Slide the PCI expansion card into the card slot, pressing on it with firm,
even pressure until it seats completely. Make sure that the bracket inserts
into the matching slot.
8 Secure the card to the case with the screw you removed previously.
9 Attach the external cable to the card’s external ports, if any.
10 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

Replacing the system board


To replace the system board:
1 Remove the side panel by following the instructions in “Removing the side
panel” on page 154.
2 Place the computer case on its side.
3 Remove each screw that secures an expansion card to the case, then
remove each expansion card and place them in static-free bags for
storage.
4 Disconnect each drive data cable from the system board.
Tips & Tricks
To make it easier to reconnect the cables 5 Disconnect the card reader cable from the system board.
to the new system board later, make note
of each cable’s location as you remove it
from the old system board.

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www.emachines.com Replacing the system board

6 Disconnect the heat sink fan power connector from the system board.

Connector

7 Loosen the four captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system
board. (Two screws on the far side of the heat sink are not visible in the
following photograph.)

Screws
8 Remove the heat sink. If the heatsink sticks to the processor, rotate the
heatsink slightly to loosen it.
Caution
The heat sink has Thermal Interface 9 Lift the processor retention lever, then swing the processor retention
Material (TIM) on the bottom. Be careful bracket out of the way.
not to damage this material when you
remove the heat sink from the processor.
If removing the heat sink also pulls the
processor out of the processor socket, the
processor could be damaged.

10 Lift the processor out of the socket and place it in a static-free bag for
storage.

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11 Remove the memory from the memory slots and place it in a static-free
bag for storage.

12 Disconnect each remaining cable from the system board, including the
front I/O panel connectors and the rear fan connector.
13 Remove the seven screws that secure the system board to the case.
Three screws are aligned top-to-bottom on the left side of the system
board, three are aligned top-to-bottom near the center of the system
board, and one screw is located near the middle of the right side of the
system board.
14 Lift the system board away from the case by raising the right side of the
system board about one inch.
15 Slide the system board about one inch to the right (toward the front of
the case), then lift it out and away from the case.
16 Slide the new system board into the case. Make sure that the ports align
with the port openings in the back of the case and that the seven screw
holes match the screw holes in the case.
17 Replace each of the seven system board screws you removed previously.
18 Attach all cables to the new system board.
19 Place the processor into the processor socket. Make sure that the
processor is aligned correctly by matching the small triangle on the corner
of the processor with the small triangle on the corner of the processor
socket.
20 Swing the processor retention bracket down onto the processor, then
press the processor retention lever back into place.
Caution
The heat sink has Thermal Interface 21 Place the heat sink over the processor, lining up the four captive screws
Material (TIM) located on the bottom of with the four posts surrounding the processor.
it. Use caution when you unpack the heat
sink so you do not damage the TIM.
22 Loosely screw in the captive screws on the corners of the heat sink, gently
tightening diagonal screws (screw in one screw, then the screw located
diagonally to the first screw). Do not fully tighten one screw before
tightening another.
23 Gradually and equally tighten each captive screw until each is firmly
tightened. Do not over-tighten the screws.
24 Connect the heat sink fan’s power connector to the system board.
25 Reinstall each expansion card.
26 Replace the side panel by following the instructions in “Replacing the side
panel” on page 157.

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CHAPTER 14
Troubleshooting

• Safety guidelines
• First steps
• Troubleshooting
• Telephone support
CHAPTER 14: Troubleshooting www.emachines.com

Safety guidelines
Warning
To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to
troubleshoot your computer problem if
power cords or plugs are damaged, if While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines:
liquid has been spilled into your
computer, if your computer was dropped, ■ Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is turned
or if the case was damaged
Instead, unplug your computer and
on and while the modem cable, network cable, and power cord are
contact a qualified computer technician. connected.
■ Make 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 154.

First steps
If you have problems with your computer, try these things first:
■ Make sure that the AC power adapter is connected to your computer and
an AC outlet and that the AC outlet is supplying power.
■ If you use a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on.
■ If a peripheral device (such as a keyboard or mouse) 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 eMachines 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.
Help and Support
For more information about
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
troubleshooting in the Search box, then
click the arrow.

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www.emachines.com Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting topics are listed in alphabetical order.

Add-in cards
The computer does not recognize an add-in 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 add-in card.

Audio
See “Sound” on page 191.

Battery
See “Power” on page 189.

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, 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 drive types” on page 73.
■ 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 CDs or DVDs” on
page 142.
■ Restart your computer, then enter the BIOS Setup utility by pressing and
holding F1 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.

Audio CD does not produce sound


■ Make sure that the disc label is facing up, then try again.

■ Some music CDs have copy protection software. You may not be able to
play these CDs on your computer.

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■ Make sure that the volume controls are turned up. For more information,
see “Adjusting the volume” on page 23.
■ Make sure that the mute controls are turned off. For more information, see
“Adjusting the volume” on page 23.
■ Make sure that the speaker cables are connected correctly and securely.
■ Shut down and restart your computer.
■ Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning CDs or DVDs” on
page 142.
■ Reinstall the audio device drivers.

A DVD movie will not play


■ Make sure that you have a DVD drive. To identify your drive type, see
“Identifying drive types” on page 73.
■ Make sure that the disc label is facing up, then try again.

■ Try a different disc. Occasionally discs are flawed or become scratched and
cannot be read by the DVD drive.
■ Shut down and restart your computer.

■ Clean the disc. For more information, see “Cleaning CDs or DVDs” on
page 142.
■ Reinstall the device driver.

■ 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.

Computer
The computer will not start
■ Make sure that the power cord is connected to an AC power source and
your computer is turned on.

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).
■ Delete unnecessary files on the diskette and try again.

■ Make sure that the diskette you are using is IBM-compatible.

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www.emachines.com Troubleshooting

■ 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 144.
If errors are detected and corrected, try using the diskette again.

You see a “Access Denied” or “Write protect” error message


■ Move the write-protection tab in the upper-right corner of the diskette
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 144.

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.

The diskette drive LED is lit continuously


■ Remove the diskette from the drive. If the light stays on, try restarting your
computer.

DVD drives
See “CD or DVD drives” on page 177.

File management
A file was accidentally deleted
If a file was deleted at a DOS prompt or in Windows while holding down the
SHIFT key, the file cannot be restored.

To restore deleted files:


1 Double-click the Recycle Bin icon.
Help and Support
For more information about 2 Right-click the file you want to restore, then click Restore. The file
troubleshooting, click Start, then click is restored to the place where it was originally deleted from.
Help and Support. Type the keyword
System Restore in the Search box, then
click the arrow. If the Recycle Bin was emptied before you try to restore a file, the
file cannot be restored.

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Hard drive
You see an “Insufficient disk space” error message
■ Delete unnecessary files from the hard drive using Disk Cleanup. For
instructions on deleting unnecessary files, see “Using Disk Cleanup” on
page 143.
Caution
All deleted files will be lost when you ■ Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon, then clicking
empty the Recycle Bin. Empty Recycle Bin.
■ Save your files to another drive. If the hard drive is full, copy any files not
regularly used to backup media, then delete them from the hard drive.
Help and Support
For more information about You see a “Data error” message
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword file This may be the result of a defective area on the hard drive. To fix hard drive
management in the Search box, then problems, run the Error checking program. For instructions on fixing hard drive
click the arrow. problems, see “Checking the hard drive for errors” on page 144.

The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading
drive C” error message
■ If a diskette is in the diskette drive, eject it and restart your computer.

■ Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart your computer.

■ If your computer has been subjected to static electricity or physical shock,


you may need to reinstall the operating system.

You see a “Non-system disk” or “disk error” error message


■ Eject the diskette from the diskette drive, then press ENTER.

Internet
See also “Modem (dial-up)” on page 184.

You cannot connect to the Internet


■ If you are using a dial-up modem, make sure that the modem cable is
plugged into the modem jack and not the Ethernet network jack. See
“Connecting the dial-up modem” on page 11 or your setup poster to make
sure that the connections have been made correctly.
- OR -
If you are using a cable or DSL modem, make sure that the modem cable
is plugged into the Ethernet network jack and not the modem jack. See
“Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to a wired Ethernet network” on
page 12 or your setup poster to make sure that the connections have been
made correctly.
■ Make sure that your account with your Internet service provider (ISP) is set
up correctly. Contact your ISP technical support for help.
■ Make sure that you do not have a problem with your modem. For more
information, “Modem (dial-up)” on page 184.

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Help and Support


For more information about You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword Internet
troubleshooting connections in the This problem can occur when you have typed a URL (Web address) incorrectly,
Search box, then click the arrow.
you have lost your Internet connection, or your ISP is having technical
difficulties.
Double-check the URL or try a different URL. If the error message still appears,
disconnect from the ISP connection and close your browser, then reconnect and
open the browser. If you still get the error, your ISP may be having technical
difficulties.

Connecting to a Web site takes too long


Many factors can affect Internet performance:
■ The condition of the telephone lines in your residence or at your local
telephone service
■ The condition of the Internet computers to which you connect and
the number of users accessing those computers
■ The complexity of graphics and multimedia on Web pages
■ Having multiple Web browsers open, performing multiple downloads, and
having multiple programs open on your computer

People are sending you e-mail messages, but you have not received any
mail
■ Click the receive button in your e-mail program.

■ Make sure that your account with your Internet service provider (ISP) is set
up correctly. Contact your ISP for technical support.

Keyboard
The keyboard does not work
■ Make sure that the keyboard cable is plugged in correctly. For more
information, see the poster that came with your computer.
■ Remove all extension cables and switch boxes.

■ Clean the keyboard by using an aerosol can of air with a narrow, straw-like
extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the keys.
■ Try a keyboard that you know works to make sure that the keyboard port
works.
■ Reinstall the keyboard device driver.

A keyboard character keeps repeating or you see a “keyboard stuck” or


“key failure” error message
■ Make sure that nothing is resting on the keyboard.

■ Make sure that a key is not stuck. Press each key to loosen a key that might
be stuck, then restart your computer.

Liquid spilled in the keyboard


If you spilled liquid in the keyboard, turn off your computer and unplug the
keyboard. Clean the keyboard and turn it upside down to drain it. Let the
keyboard dry before using it again. If the keyboard does not work after it dries,
you may need to replace it.
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Media Center
The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV
■ Many factors, such as the display type, quality of the video source, type
of connection used, quality of video cables, display device screen
resolution, size of TV, age of the TV, or the type of TV (interlaced or
progressive scan), can affect the video quality significantly:
■ Display type—The Media Center is best viewed on display devices
that were offered with the Media Center computer when you
purchased it from eMachines. Other types of display devices,
including retail TVs, may provide lower quality video. If you did not
order a display device when you purchased your Media Center
computer, a progressive scan display device with a VGA input is the
best choice.
■ Quality of video source—The quality of the video signal coming
into the Media Center computer has an affect on the video quality.
The video displayed from the Media Center is only as good as the
source video signal. Cable, digital cable, and satellite usually
provide better quality than an antenna.
■ Type of connection used—You can connect the Media Center
computer video output to a TV. However, the connection type has
an affect on the video quality. The Media Center has two video
outputs:
VGA—If your TV includes a VGA port, connect the VGA cable from
the Media Center computer’s VGA (monitor) port to the TV’s VGA
In port for the best quality. Many TVs do not have a VGA port.
S-Video—If your TV does not have a VGA port, but includes an
S-Video port, connect the S-Video cable from the Media Center
computer’s S-Video Out port to the TV’s S-Video In port. S-Video
display quality is usually good for TV images. The display quality
for the Media Center computer functions, however, is not as good
as VGA output. S-Video display output is not optimized for
computer video display.
■ Quality of video cables—Poor quality or the incorrect type of video
cables can cause problems and affect the video quality. Cable
connections must be made correctly for optimal video quality. A
poor cable connection can lower video quality.
■ Screen resolution—By default, if your display device was
purchased with the Media Center computer, the computer uses a
screen resolution of 1024 × 768 for computer monitors. Many TVs
cannot display this high a resolution and may shift, scramble, or
scroll the picture. For a better picture on a TV display, you may need
to lower the Media Center screen resolution to 800 × 600 or
640 × 480. See Windows Help & Support for more information
about changing the screen resolution.
■ Size of display device—Small computer monitors for standard
computer applications are generally not optimized for motion
video playback. Although they offer excellent resolutions and
refresh rates, they are designed to make static white backgrounds
with black text look readable. Some small display devices do not
make colorful motion video look its best. Generally, video will look
better on a larger display device.

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■ Age of the TV—Newer TVs usually have more advanced features,


produce a better quality picture, and support higher screen
resolutions. The Media Center video display will likely be better on
a newer model TV.
■ Type of TV (interlaced or progressive scan)
Many TVs use interlaced video. Interlaced video displays a video
frame with two passes of alternating scan lines. The TV screen first
displays the video image odd lines one at a time, sequentially from
top to bottom, then it fills in the other half of the video image with
the even lines. Because most TVs use this interlaced method to
display the picture on the screen, a standard interlaced analog TV
will most likely flicker when displaying thin lines and small text. An
interlaced video display device will produce a lower quality display,
especially when viewing and using the Media Center computer
functions.
Progressive scan video displays a video frame with one pass of
sequential scan lines. A progressive scan TV displays the entire
picture, drawn sequentially from top to bottom, without the
odd/even interlacing. This results in a fuller, sharper picture and
better display quality for viewing and using the Media Center
computer functions. The progressive scan picture is also brighter
and easier on your eyes.

You need to configure your Media Center to output to a TV


■ Your Media Center computer detects whether you are using a VGA or an
S-Video display device and automatically changes the display settings for
the type of display device you are using.

You want to change display settings to get better TV or DVD image quality
■ Adjust the display device brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation.

You want to know whether you can burn programs that were recorded
with your Media Center computer to a DVD
■ Yes, you can. The Media Center saves recorded programs in the.DVR-MS
format. You can burn a DVR-MS file to a DVD with DVD recording (burning)
software, such as CyberLink Power2Go, and with the Media Center itself.

You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on other
computers
■ Yes, you can. A DVR-MS file recorded to DVD can be replayed on another
Media Center computer or on a non-Media Center computer that has a
DVD player and DVD decoder software (such as WinDVD). The non-Media
Center computer must also have Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 1 or
2, Windows Media Player 9 or later, and the Windows patch Q810243
Update.

You want to know whether you can play recorded programs on your home
DVD player
■ Yes, you can. DVDs recorded with the Media Center can be played on a
home DVD player. DVDs recorded with CyberLink Power2Go cannot be
played on a home DVD player.

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You get the following “Download Error” message when the Media Center
tries to update the Program Guide:

■ You must be connected to the Internet to update the Program Guide.


Make sure that your Internet account is set up and connected to the Media
Center computer. For information about manually updating the Program
Guide, see “Manually updating the Media Center Program Guide” on page
19.

Memory
You see a “Memory error” message
Help and Support
For more information about ■ Use a third-party diagnostic program to help determine if a memory
troubleshooting, click Start, then click module is failing.
Help and Support. Type the keyword
memory error in the Search box, then
click the arrow.
You see a “Not enough memory” error message
Close all programs, then restart your computer.

Memory card reader


Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the My Computer
window
■ Reboot your computer.

Modem (dial-up)
See also “Internet” on page 180.

Your modem does not dial or does not connect


■ Make sure that the modem cable is plugged into the modem jack and not
the Ethernet network jack. See “Connecting the dial-up modem” on
page 11 or your setup poster to make sure that the connections have been
made correctly.
■ Make sure that your computer is connected to the telephone line and the
telephone line has a dial tone.
■ Make sure that the modem cable is less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

■ Remove any line splitters or surge protectors from your telephone line,
then check for a dial tone by plugging a working telephone into the
telephone wall jack.
■ If you have additional telephone services such as call waiting, call
messaging, or voice mail, make sure that all messages are cleared and call
waiting is disabled before using the modem. Contact your telephone
service to get the correct code to temporarily disable the service. Also
make sure that the modem dialing properties are set correctly.
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To check the dialing properties:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window
opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and
Other Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem Options icon, then click
the Dialing Rules tab.
3 Click the location from which you are dialing, then click Edit.
4 Make sure that all settings are correct.
Help and Support
For more information about
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
dialing in the Search box, then click the ■ Disconnect any answering machine, fax machine, or printer that is on the
arrow. same line as the modem. Do not connect these devices to the same
telephone line as the modem.
■ Make sure that you are not using a digital, rollover, or PBX line. These lines
do not work with your modem.
■ Check for line noise (scratchy, crackling, or popping sounds). Line noise is
a common problem that can cause the modem to connect at a slower rate,
abort downloads, or even disconnect. The faster the modem, the less line
noise it can tolerate and still work correctly.
Listen to the line using your telephone. Dial a single number (such as 1).
When the dial tone stops, listen for line noise. Wiggle the modem cable
to see if that makes a difference. Make sure that the connectors are free
from corrosion and all screws in the wall or telephone wall jack are secure.
You can also call your telephone service and have the telephone line
checked for noise or low line levels.
■ Try another telephone line (either a different telephone number in your
house or a telephone line at a different location). If you can connect on
this line, call your telephone service.
■ Try connecting with the modem at a lower connection speed. If reducing
the connect speed lets you connect, call your telephone service. The
telephone line may be too noisy.

You cannot connect to the Internet


■ The ISP may be having technical difficulties. Contact your ISP for technical
support.
■ See if the modem works with a different communications program. The
problem may be with just one program.
■ Review the troubleshooting information under “Internet” on page 180.

Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K


Current FCC regulations restrict actual data transfer rates over public telephone
lines to 53K. Other factors, such as line noise, telephone service provider
equipment, or ISP limitations, may lower the speed even further.
If your computer has a v.90 modem, the speed at which you can upload (send)
data is limited to 33.6K. If your computer has a v.92 modem, the speed at which
you can upload data is limited to 48K. Your ISP may not support 48K uploads.

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Your fax communications program only sends and receives faxes at


14,400 bps when you have a 56K modem
Current fax technology only supports a maximum send and receive rate of
14,400 bps.

The modem is not recognized by your computer


■ Make sure that the line connected to the modem is working and plugged
into the appropriate port on your computer. See your “Connecting the
dial-up modem” on page 11 or your setup poster to make sure that the
connections have been made correctly.
■ If the modem shares the telephone line with another device, make sure
that the telephone line is not in use (for example, someone is on the
telephone, or another modem is in use).
■ Use the modem cable that came with your computer. Some telephone
cables do not meet required cable standards and may cause problems
with the modem connection.
■ Shut down and restart your computer.

■ Run Windows modem diagnostics.

To run modem diagnostics:


1 Close all open programs.
2 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window
opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and
Other Hardware.
3 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem Options icon, then click
the Modems tab.
4 Click your modem, then click Properties. The Modem Properties
dialog box opens.
Help and Support
For more information about 5 Click the Diagnostic tab, then click Query Modem. If information
troubleshooting, click Start, then click about the modem appears, the modem passed diagnostics. If no
Help and Support. Type the keyword
troubleshooting in the Search box, then modem information is available, a white screen appears with no
click the arrow. data, or if you get an error such as port already open or the modem
has failed to respond, the modem did not pass diagnostics.

The modem is noisy when it dials and connects


When your modem tries to connect to another modem, it begins handshaking.
Handshaking is a digital “getting acquainted” conversation between the two
modems that establishes connection speeds and communication protocols.
You may hear unusual handshaking sounds when the modems first connect. If
the handshaking sounds are too loud, you can turn down the modem volume.

To turn down the modem volume:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window
opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and
Other Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Phone and Modem Options icon, then click
the Modems tab.
3 Click the modem you want to adjust, then click Properties.

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4 Click the Modem tab, then adjust the Speaker volume control.
5 Click OK twice to close the Phone and Modem Options dialog box.

Monitor
The screen resolution is not correct
Tips & Tricks
For more information, see “Adjusting the
color depth” on page 108.
Change the screen resolution from the Display Properties dialog box.
Help and Support
For more information about The computer is running but there is no picture
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword ■ Make sure that the monitor is plugged in and turned on. If the monitor is
screen resolution in the Search box, turned on, the power LED should be lit.
then click the arrow.
■ Adjust the brightness and contrast controls to the center position.

■ Make sure that the monitor cable is connected to the video port on the
back of your computer.
■ Check the cable for bent or damaged pins.

■ Reinstall the device driver.

■ Connect a monitor that you know works to your computer.

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.
Make sure that:
■ Non-shielded speakers are not placed too close to the monitor.
■ The monitor is not positioned too close to another monitor, electric fan,
fluorescent light, metal shelf, or laser printer.
■ You demagnetize the screen using the monitor’s degauss feature. For
more information on degauss, see your monitor’s documentation.

Why is there a horizontal line or wire visible across the monitor screen?
Your monitor may use a thin damper wire, located approximately 1/3 of the way
down from the upper screen edge and 1/3 of the way up from the lower screen
edge, to stabilize the internal aperture grille. These wires are most obvious when
the monitor displays a white background. The aperture grille allows more light
to pass through the screen for brighter colors and greater luminescence. The
damper wire is a critical part of the overall monitor design and does not
negatively affect the monitor's function.

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The text on the display is dim or difficult to read


■ Adjust the brightness and contrast controls.

■ Use the monitor degauss feature (see your monitor documentation) or


turn off your computer and monitor, leave them off for at least a half hour,
then restart your computer.
■ Change the display settings.

Tips & Tricks


For more information, see ■ Move the monitor away from sources of electrical interference, such as
“Adjusting the screen and televisions, unshielded speakers, microwaves, fluorescent lights, and
desktop settings” on page 108.
metal beams or shelves.
For more information about display types, see your monitor and video card
documentation.

Mouse
The mouse does not work
■ Make sure that the mouse cable is plugged in correctly.

■ Shut down and restart your computer.

■ Remove all extension cables and switch boxes.

■ Try a mouse you know is working to make sure that the mouse port works.

The mouse works erratically


If the mouse pointer begins moving erratically across the computer display or
becomes difficult to control precisely, cleaning the mouse will likely improve its
accuracy.
Clean the mouse by wiping the bottom with a clean, damp cloth. Make sure that
the optical sensor is clean and free of debris.

Networks
You cannot connect to your company network
Every network is unique. Contact your company computer department or
network administrator for help. For more information about setting up a
network in your home, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 49.

You cannot see the other computers on your network


Help and Support
For more information about ■ Make sure that your Ethernet cable is plugged into the Ethernet jack on
troubleshooting, click Start, then click your computer. Make sure that the other end is plugged into a router.
Help and Support. Type the keyword
network troubleshooting in the Search ■ Make sure that all computers are plugged into a powered electrical outlet
box, then click the arrow.
and turned on.
■ Make sure that the router 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.
■ Make sure that all computers on your network have the same workgroup
name.

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www.emachines.com Troubleshooting

■ 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 add-in Ethernet 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 opening your computer case,
see “Opening the case” on page 154. For more information about your
Ethernet card, see the documentation that came with your Ethernet card.

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.

Passwords
Your computer does not accept your password
Make sure that CAPS LOCK is turned off, then retype the password.

Power
Your computer will not turn on
■ Make sure that your power cord is connected correctly to your computer.

■ If your computer is plugged into a surge protector, make sure that the
surge protector is connected securely to an electrical outlet, turned on,
and working correctly. To test the outlet, plug a working device, such as
a lamp, into the outlet and turn it on.
■ Make sure that the power cord is free from cuts or damage. Replace any
damaged cables.

Printer
The printer will not turn on
■ Make sure that the printer is online. Many printers have an online/offline
button that you may need to press.
■ Make sure that the power cable is plugged into an AC power source.

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The printer is on but will not print


■ Check the cable between the printer and your computer. Make sure that
it is connected to the correct port.
■ Make sure that the printer is online. Many printers have an online/offline
button that you may need to press so the printer can start printing. Press
the button to put the printer online.
■ Check the cable for bent or broken pins.

■ If the printer you want to print to is not the default printer, make sure that
you have selected it in the printer setup.

To set a default printer:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window
opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers and
Other Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes icon. The Printers and
Faxes window opens.
3 Right-click the name of the printer you want to be the default
printer, then click Set as Default Printer.

■ Reinstall the printer driver. See the guide that came with your printer for
instructions on installing the printer driver.

You see a “Printer queue is full” error message


■ Make sure that the printer is not set to work offline.

To make sure that the printer is not set to work offline:


1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window
opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Printers
and Other Hardware.
2 Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes icon. The Printers and
Faxes window opens.

3 Right-click the name of the printer you want to use. If the menu
shows a check mark next to Use Printer Offline, click Use
Printer Offline to clear the check mark.
Help and Support
For more information about
troubleshooting, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
printer troubleshooter in the Search ■ Wait until files have been printed before sending additional files to the
box, then click the arrow. printer.
■ If you print large files or many files at one time, you may want to add
additional memory to the printer. See the printer documentation for
instructions for adding additional memory.

You see a “Printer is out of paper” error message


After adding paper, make sure that the printer is online. Most printers have an
online/offline button that you need to press after adding paper.

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www.emachines.com Telephone support

Sound
You are not getting sound from the speakers
■ Make sure that the speakers are turned on.

■ Make sure that the volume controls are turned up. For more information,
see “Adjusting the volume” on page 23.
■ Make sure that mute controls are turned off. For more information, see
“Adjusting the volume” on page 23.
■ If you are using external speakers, see the speaker setup poster to check
your speaker connections.
Help and Support
For more information about ■ Make sure that the universal jacks are configured correctly. For more
troubleshooting, click Start, then click information, see “Configuring the audio jacks” on page 13.
Help and Support. Type the keyword
sound troubleshooter in the Search
box, then click the arrow.

Telephone support
Before calling eMachines Customer Care
Warning
To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to
troubleshoot your computer problem if
power cords or plugs are damaged, if
liquid has been spilled into your
computer, if your computer was dropped,
or if the case was damaged.
Instead, unplug your computer and If you have a technical problem with your computer, follow these
contact a qualified computer technician. recommendations before contacting eMachines Customer Care:
■ Make sure that your computer is connected correctly to a grounded
AC outlet that is supplying power. If you use a surge protector, make sure
that it is turned on.
■ If a peripheral device, such as a keyboard or mouse, does not appear to
work, make sure that all cables are plugged in securely.
■ If you have recently installed hardware or software, make sure that you
have installed it according to the instructions provided with it. If you did
not purchase the hardware or software from eMachines, see the
manufacturer’s documentation and technical support resources.
■ If you have “how to” questions about using a program, see:
■ Online Help

■ Printed documentation

■ The Microsoft Windows documentation

■ The software publisher’s Web site

■ See the troubleshooting section of this chapter.


■ Have your customer ID, serial number, and order number available, along
with a detailed description of your problem, including the exact text of
any error messages, and the steps you have taken.
■ Make sure that your computer is nearby at the time of your call. The
technician may have you follow troubleshooting steps.

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Telephone numbers
You can access technical support through your telephone to get answers to your
questions:

Resource Service description How to reach


eMachines Talk to a eMachines Customer Care representative eMachines Customer Care telephone
Customer Care about a non-tutorial technical support question. numbers vary by country or region. See the
(See “Before calling eMachines Customer Care” on label on the front or side of your computer.
page 191 before calling)

Self-help
If you have how-to questions about using your eMachines-supplied hardware
or software, see the following resources:
Help and Support
For more information about ■ The printed or online documentation that came with your hardware or
troubleshooting, click Start, then click software. In many cases, additional product information and online
Help and Support. Type the keyword
practice in the Search box, then click the documentation for eMachines-supplied hardware can be found in our
arrow. Web site's Documentation Library.
■ This user guide.
■ The software publisher's Web site.

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APPENDIX A
Safety, Regulatory, and Legal
Information

• Important safety information


• Regulatory compliance statements
• Environmental information
• Notices
APPENDIX A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information www.emachines.com

Important safety information


Your eMachines system is designed and tested to meet the latest standards for safety of information technology equipment. However, to
ensure safe use of this product, it is important that the safety instructions marked on the product and in the documentation are followed.
Warning
Always follow these instructions to help Setting up your system
guard against personal injury and

damage to your eMachines system. Read and follow all instructions marked on the product and in the documentation before you operate your system. Retain all safety and
operating instructions for future use.

Do not use this product near water or a heat source such as a radiator.
■ Set up the system on a stable work surface.

The product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the rating label.

If your computer has a voltage selector switch, make sure that the switch is in the proper position for your area. The voltage selector
switch is set at the factory to the correct voltage.

Openings in the computer case are provided for ventilation. Do not block or cover these openings. Make sure you provide adequate space,
at least 6 inches (15 cm), around the system for ventilation when you set up your work area. Never insert objects of any kind into the
computer ventilation openings.

Some products are equipped with a three-wire power cord to make sure that the product is properly grounded when in use. The plug on
this cord will fit only into a grounding-type outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into an outlet, contact an
electrician to install the appropriate outlet.

If you use an extension cord with this system, make sure that the total ampere rating on the products plugged into the extension cord
does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating.

If your system is fitted with a TV Tuner, cable, or satellite receiver card, make sure that the antenna or cable system is electrically
grounded to provide some protection against voltage surges and buildup of static charges.

Care during use



Do not walk on the power cord or allow anything to rest on it.
■ Do not spill anything on the system. The best way to avoid spills is to avoid eating and drinking near your system.

Some products have a replaceable CMOS battery on the system board. There is a danger of explosion if the CMOS battery is replaced
incorrectly. Replace the battery with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of batteries according to
the manufacturer’s instructions.
■ When the computer is turned off, a small amount of electrical current still flows through the computer. To avoid electrical shock, always
unplug all power cables and modem cables from the wall outlets before cleaning the system.
■ Unplug the system from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified personnel if:

The power cord or plug is damaged.

Liquid has been spilled into the system.
■ The system does not operate properly when the operating instructions are followed.

The system was dropped or the cabinet is damaged.

The system performance changes.

Replacement parts and accessories


Use only replacement parts and accessories recommended by eMachines.
Warning
Do not use eMachines products in areas
classified as hazardous locations. Such
areas include patient care areas of
medical and dental facilities,
oxygen-laden environments, or
industrial facilities.

Warning
To reduce the risk of fire, use only
No. 26 AWG or larger
telecommunications line cord.

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www.emachines.com

Regulatory compliance statements


United States of America

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Unintentional emitter per FCC Part 15


This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
■ Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

Connect the equipment to an outlet on a different circuit from that to which the receiver is connected
■ Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Compliance Accessories: The accessories associated with this equipment are: shielded video cable when an external monitor is
connected. These accessories are required to be used in order to ensure compliance with FCC rules.

FCC declaration of conformity


Responsible party:
Gateway, Inc.
7565 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618 USA
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation of this device is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Caution
Changes or modifications not expressly California Proposition 65 Warning
approved by eMachines could void the
FCC compliance and negate your
authority to operate the product.
Warning
This product contains chemicals, Telecommunications per Part 68 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 47)
including lead, known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects (applicable to products fitted with USA modems)
or reproductive harm. Your modem complies with Part 68 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 47) rules. On the computer or modem card is a label that
contains the FCC registration number and Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) for this device. If requested, this information must be provided
to the telephone company.
A telephone line cord with a modular plug is required for use with this device. The modem is designed to be connected to the telephone
network or premises wiring using a compatible modular jack which is Part 68-compliant. See installation instructions for details.
The Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) is used to determine the number of devices which may be connected to the telephone line. Excessive
RENs on a telephone line may result in the devices not ringing in response to an incoming call. In most areas, the sum of RENs should not
exceed five (5.0). To be certain of the number of devices that may be connected to a line, as determined by the total RENs, contact the local
telephone company.
If this device causes harm to the telephone network, the telephone company will notify you in advance that temporary discontinuance of
service may be required. The telephone company may request that you disconnect the equipment until the problem is resolved.
The telephone company may make changes in its facilities, equipment, operations, or procedures that could affect the operation of this
equipment. If this happens, the telephone company will provide advance notice in order for you to make necessary modifications to
maintain uninterrupted service.
This equipment cannot be used on telephone company-provided coin service. Connection to party line service is subject to state tariffs.
Contact the state public utility commission or public service commission for information.
When programming or making test calls to emergency numbers:

Remain on the line and briefly explain to the dispatcher the reason for the call.

Perform such activities in the off-peak hours such as early morning or late evenings.
The United States Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 makes it unlawful for any person to use a computer or other electronic device
to send any message via a telephone fax machine unless such message clearly contains, in a margin at the top or bottom of each
transmitted page or on the first page of the transmission, the date and time it is sent, an identification of the business, other entity, or other
individual sending the message, and the telephone number of the sending machine or such business, other entity, or individual. Refer to
your fax communication software documentation for details on how to comply with the fax-branding requirement.

195
APPENDIX A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information www.emachines.com

Canada

Industry Canada (IC) Unintentional emitter per ICES-003


This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference
regulations of Industry Canada.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B
prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par Industrie Canada.

Telecommunications per Industry Canada CS-03 (for products fitted with an


IC-compliant modem)
The Industry Canada label identifies certified equipment. This certification means that the equipment meets certain telecommunications
network protective, operation, and safety requirements. The Department does not guarantee the equipment will operate to the users’
satisfaction.
Before installing this equipment, users should make sure that it is permissible to be connected to the facilities of the local
telecommunications company. The equipment must also be installed using an acceptable method of connection. In some cases, the inside
wiring associated with a single-line individual service may be extended by means of a certified connector assembly. The customer should be
aware that compliance with the above conditions may not prevent degradation of service in some situations.
Repairs to certified equipment should be made by an authorized Canadian maintenance facility designated by the supplier. Any repairs or
alterations made by the user to this equipment, or equipment malfunctions, may give the telecommunications company cause to request
the user to disconnect the equipment.
Users should make sure, for their own protection, that the electrical ground connections of the power utility, telephone lines, and internal
metallic water pipe system, if present, are connected together. This precaution may be particularly important in rural areas.
Warning
To avoid electrical shock or equipment The Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) assigned to each terminal device provides an indication of the maximum number of terminals
malfunction do not attempt to make allowed to be connected to a telephone interface. The termination on an interface may consist of any combination of devices subject only to
electrical ground connections by yourself. the requirement that the sum of the Ringer Equivalence Numbers of all the devices does not exceed 5.
Contact the appropriate inspection
authority or an electrician, as
appropriate.

Laser safety statement


All eMachines systems equipped with CD and DVD drives comply with the appropriate safety standards, including IEC 825. The laser devices
in these components are classified as “Class 1 Laser Products” under a US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Radiation
Performance Standard. Should the unit ever need servicing, contact an authorized service location.
Warning
Use of controls or adjustments or
performance of procedures other than
those specified in this manual may result
in hazardous radiation exposure. To
prevent exposure to laser beams, do not
try to open the enclosure of a CD or DVD
drive.

Television antenna connectors protection (for systems fitted with TV/cable TV tuner cards)

External television antenna grounding


If an outside antenna or cable system is to be connected to your eMachines PC, make sure that the antenna or cable system is electrically
grounded to provide some protection against voltage surges and static charges.
Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPSA 70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna
discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.

Lightning protection
For added protection of any eMachines product during a lightning storm or when it is left unattended or unused for long periods of time,
unplug the product from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system.

196
www.emachines.com

Power lines
Do not locate the antenna near overhead light or power circuits, or where it could fall into such power lines or circuits.
Warning
When installing or realigning an outside
antenna system, extreme care should be
taken to keep from touching such power
lines or circuits. Contact with them could
be fatal.
7

5
4

1 2
Antenna and satellite grounding

Reference Grounding component


1 Electric service equipment

2 Power service grounding electrode system (NEC Art 250, Part H)


3 Ground clamps

4 Grounding conductors (NEC Section 810-21)

5 Antenna discharge unit (NEC Section 810-20)

6 Ground clamp

7 Antenna lead-in wire

Environmental information
The product you have purchased contains extracted natural resources that have been used in the manufacturing process. This product may
contain substances known to be hazardous to the environment or to human health.
To prevent releases of harmful substances into the environment and to maximize the use of our natural resources, eMachines provides the
following information on how you can responsibly recycle or reuse most of the materials in your “end of life” product.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (commonly known as WEEE) should never be disposed of in the municipal waste
stream (residential garbage collection). The “Crossed-Out Waste Bin” label affixed to this product is your reminder to dispose
of your “end of life” product properly.
Substances such as glass, plastics, and certain chemical compounds are highly recoverable, recyclable, and reusable. You can
do your part for the environment by following these simple steps:

When your electrical or electronic equipment is no longer useful to you, “take it back” to your local or regional waste collection
administration for recycling.

In some cases, your “end of life” product may be “traded in” for credit towards the purchase of new eMachines equipment. Call
eMachines to see if this program is available in your area.

If you need further assistance in recycling, reusing, or trading in your “end of life” product, you may contact us at the Customer Care
number listed in your product’s user guide and we will be glad to help you with your effort.
Finally, we suggest that you practice other environmentally friendly actions by understanding and using the energy-saving features of this
product (where applicable), recycling the inner and outer packaging (including shipping containers) this product was delivered in, and by
disposing of or recycling used batteries properly.
With your help, we can reduce the amount of natural resources needed to produce electrical and electronic equipment, minimize the use of
landfills for the disposal of “end of life” products, and generally improve our quality of life by ensuring that potentially hazardous
substances are not released into the environment and are disposed of properly.

197
APPENDIX A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information www.emachines.com

Notices
Copyright © 2006 Gateway, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
7565 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618 USA

All Rights Reserved


This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted by any means or in any
form, without prior consent in writing from Gateway.
The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate. However, changes are made periodically. These
changes are incorporated in newer publication editions. 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.
In the interest of continued product development, Gateway reserves the right to make improvements in this manual and the products it
describes at any time, without notices or obligation.

Trademark Acknowledgments
Gateway and the Black-and-White Spot Design are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
SpotShop, Spotshop.com, and Your:)Ware are trademarks of Gateway, Inc. Intel, Intel Inside logo, and Pentium are registered trademarks
and MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS, and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. All other product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only, and may be the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.

Macrovision statement

If your computer has a DVD drive and an analog TV Out port, the following
paragraph applies:
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual
property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized
by Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision
Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

198
www.emachines.com Index

Index
A browser cleaning
AC power connector 10 Web 42, 43 audio CD 142
browsing for files and folders 34 case 141
accessing CD 142
shared drives 60 buttons
See keys and buttons computer exterior 140
shared files 61 computer screen 141
shared folders 60 DVD 142
accessories C
keyboard 141
safety precautions 194 cable modem 12, 43, 51, 55 LCD panel 141
accounts connecting 11 mouse 141
Internet 43 Caps Lock indicator 21 screen 141
ISP 43 capturing video to computer 91 clicking 23
activity indicators cards clipboard 31
See indicators adding expansion 171 close button 29
adding inserting memory card 73 closing
icons to desktop 28 installing memory card 73 computer case 157
address removing memory card 73 front bezel 157
e-mail 46 replacing expansion 171 program 29, 39
Web 44 slots 72 unresponsive program 20
application key 21 troubleshooting add-in card window 29, 39
177
arrow keys 21 troubleshooting memory card color
AU file 83 184 changing depth 108
audio types of memory cards changing number of 108
audio in jack 11 supported 72 changing scheme 110
configuring jacks 13 case computers
headphone jack 11 closing 157 naming 52
line in jack 11 opening 154 configuring
line out jack 11 CD audio jacks 13
microphone jack 9, 11 adding tracks to your library 89 router 57
muting 23, 81 cleaning 142 speakers 13
playing 83, 105 copying 103 TCP/IP protocol 53
recording 105 copying data 101 connecting
audio CD copying with Cyberlink external monitor 75
adding tracks to library 89 Power2Go 101 modem 11, 12
editing track information 90 creating audio 93 projector 75
playing 84 creating data 93, 101 PS/2 keyboard 10
See CD creating music 93 PS/2 mouse 10
audio in jack 11 creating with Cyberlink television 76
audio playback buttons 21 Power2Go 101 to Ethernet 11
editing track information 90 to Ethernet network 12
AVI file 83 to Internet 11, 12, 43
inserting 74
playing music 84 to network 11, 12
B to Web site 44
troubleshooting 177
background 111 CD drive connections
backing up files 146 adding 160 audio in 11
battery identifying 73 digital camera 8, 10, 11, 13
replacing 159 locating drive 8 digital video camera 9, 11, 13,
bezel replacing 160 90
removing 156 troubleshooting 177 Ethernet 11, 12
replacing 157 using 73 external audio 11
broadband connection 12, 52 cellular phone external speakers 11
connecting 11 memory cards 72 Firewire 9, 11, 13, 90
headphone 11
broadband Internet connection 42 Certificate of Authenticity 6 i.Link 9, 11, 13, 90

199
Index www.emachines.com

IEEE 1394 9, 11, 13, 90 adding shortcuts 28 sharing 58


keyboard 8, 10, 11 adjusting settings 108 troubleshooting 177, 178, 179,
line in 11 changing background 111 180
line out 11 changing color depth 108 types 73
memory card reader 9 changing color scheme 110 un-sharing 59
microphone 9, 11 changing number of colors 108 viewing contents 29
modem 11 extended 113 viewing files and folders 29
monitor 11 selecting screen saver 112 DSL modem 12, 43, 51, 55
monitor (VGA) 75 using 26 connecting 11
mouse 8, 10, 11 using Start menu 27 DVD
network 11, 12 DHCP 53 cleaning 142
parallel 10 digital camera copying 103
power 10 serial port 10 copying data 101
power cord 10 USB port 8, 11 copying with Cyberlink
printer 8, 10, 11 Power2Go 101
projector 75 digital video camera
IEEE 1394 port 9, 11 creating data 93, 101
PS/2 keyboard 10 creating video 97
PS/2 mouse 10 DIMM
See memory creating with Cyberlink
scanner 8, 11 Power2Go 101
serial 10 directional keys 21 drive 73, 74
S-Video out 76 disconnecting from Internet 43 inserting 74
telephone 11 Disk Cleanup 143 playing 76, 84, 86
television 76 Disk Defragmenter 145 troubleshooting 177, 179
universal 13, 191
USB 8, 11 diskette DVD drive
VGA 75 troubleshooting 178 adding 160
video camera 9, 11, 90 diskette drive identifying 73, 74
Zip drive 8, 11 troubleshooting 178 locating drive 8
display replacing 160
copying troubleshooting 177, 179
data CD 103 changing resolution 109
properties 75, 113 using 73
data DVD 103
files across network 61 troubleshooting 179 Dynamic Host Configuration
files and folders 31, 39 using screen saver 112 Protocol 53
music CD 103 documentation
text and graphics 39 eMachines Web site 2 E
creating help 3 editing
desktop icons 28 Help and Support 3 music track information 90
desktop shortcuts 28 online help 4 video 92
documents 36 documents editing buttons 21
folders 30 creating 36 editing video 90
music CD 93 opening 37 electrostatic discharge (ESD) 154
music files 88 printing 38 eMachines
video DVD 97 saving 37 Web address 2
WMA files 88 domain name 57 Web site 2
customizing 107 double-clicking 23 e-mail
cutting downloading files 45 address 46
files and folders 31, 39 dragging 23 checking for messages 47
text and graphics 39 sending 46
drives
CyberLink PowerDVD 86 backing up files 146 transferring settings from old
CD 8, 73 computer 149
D checking for errors 144 using 42, 46
default printer 190 checking for free space 143 entering
defragmenting hard drive 145 defragmenting 145 IP address 53
deleting files and folders 26, 31, 32, DVD 8, 73 subnet mask 53
39, 143 identifying drive types 73 ergonomics 16
mapping network 60 Error-checking 144
desktop recordable CD 8, 73
adding icons 28 recordable DVD 8, 73, 74
Ethernet
connecting 12
200
www.emachines.com Index

equipment needed 51 folders Num Lock 21


example 51 copying 31, 39 numeric keypad 21
installing cards 52 creating 30 power 9
installing drivers 52 cutting 31, 39 Scroll Lock 21
jack 11, 12 deleting 26, 31, 39 installing
Ethernet network finding 33, 34 battery 159
creating 52 moving 31 devices 13
expansion card opening 23, 29 digital camera 13
adding 171 pasting 31, 39 digital video camera 13
replacing 171 recovering 31 Fax 64
renaming 39 front bezel 156
extended desktop 113 searching for 33, 34 memory 158
external audio jack 11 sharing 58 peripheral devices 13, 150
un-sharing 59 printer 13, 150
F viewing list 29 programs 151
fan fragmentation 145 scanner 13, 150
replacing 165 front bezel side panel 154
Fast Ethernet 50 removing 157 system battery 159
faxes replacing 157 Internet
automatically canceling 70 front I/O panel account 43
canceling 69 replacing 168 broadband connection 12
configuring Fax 65 function keys 21 buttons 21
installing Fax 64 connecting to 43
receiving and viewing 63, 69 G downloading files 45
retrying 69 listening to radio 105
sending 63, 67 Gigabit Ethernet 50 requirements to access 42
sending from program 68 transferring settings from old
sending scanned image 69 H computer 149
setting up cover page template hard drive troubleshooting 180, 185
68 adding 163 using 42
troubleshooting 186 backing up files 146 watching television 105
files checking for errors 144 Internet service provider (ISP) 42
backing up 146 checking for free space 143 connecting to 43
copying 31, 39 defragmenting 145 disconnecting from 43
cutting 31, 39 deleting files and folders 143 setting up account 43
deleting 26, 31, 39, 143 indicator 8 transferring settings from old
downloading 45 replacing 163 computer 149
finding 33, 34 scanning for errors 144 IP address
moving 31 troubleshooting 180 entering 53
opening 23, 27 headphone jack 9, 11 LAN 57
opening shared 61 heat sink WAN 57
pasting 31, 39 replacing 167 ISP
recovering 31 help See Internet service provider
renaming 39 online 4
searching for 33, 34, 148 using 3 J
sharing 58
transferring 148 Help and Support 3 jacks
troubleshooting 179 searching 3 See connections
types 148 starting 3
un-sharing 59 Hibernate mode 9, 116 K
viewing list 29 hyperlinks 43 keyboard
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard buttons 20
147 I cleaning 141
finding i.Link port 9, 11, 13, 90 features 20
Help and Support topics 3 IEEE 1394 port 9, 11, 13, 90 PS/2 port 10
troubleshooting 181
finding files and folders 33, 34, 148 indicators USB port 8, 11
firewall 125 Caps Lock 21
hard drive 8 keyboard shortcuts 39
Firewire port 9, 11, 13, 90
201
Index www.emachines.com

keys and buttons memory opening files, folders, and


application 21 adding 158 programs 23
arrow 21 installing 158 pointer 22
audio playback 21 replacing 158 PS/2 port 10
directional 21 troubleshooting 184 right-clicking 23
editing 21 memory card reader scroll wheel 22
function 21 locating drive 9 selecting screen objects 23
Internet 21 memory card types supported troubleshooting 188
mouse 22 72 USB port 8, 11
navigation 21 replacing 162 moving
numeric 21 using 72 files 31
power 9 menu bar 29 files from old computer 147,
Windows 21 148
messages
checking e-mail 47 folders 31
L Internet settings from old
sending e-mail 46
label computer 149
microphone jack 9, 11 pointer 23
Microsoft Certificate of
Authenticity 6 Microsoft screen objects 23
serial number 9 Fax 63 settings from old computer 147
system identification 9 Internet Explorer 42 MP3 file
Outlook 42 creating 88
LAN IP Address 57 Outlook Express 42
LCD panel editing track information 90
Windows Media Player 83 playing 83
changing resolution 109 Windows Movie Maker 90
cleaning 141 Wordpad 36 MP3 player
troubleshooting 179, 187 memory cards 72
Microsoft Certificate of
using screen saver 112 Authenticity 6 MPEG file
lights playing 83
MIDI file 83
See indicators multimedia
minimize button 28 adjusting volume 23, 81
line in jack 11
modem playing audio CD 84
line out jack 11 cable 12, 43, 51, 55 playing DVD 84, 86
links 43 connecting 11, 12 recording audio 87, 105
dial-up 42 using DVD drive 73
M DSL 12, 43, 51, 55 using Windows Media Player
maintenance jack 11 83
backing up files 146 protecting from power surge multiple monitors 113
checking for drive errors 144 18
troubleshooting 184 music library
checking hard drive space 143 building 89
cleaning case 140 monitor
cleaning component exteriors adding external 75 music tracks
141 changing resolution 109 copying 88
cleaning computer display 141 cleaning 141 muting sound 23, 81
cleaning computer screen 141 color quality 75
cleaning keyboard 141 controls 108 N
cleaning mouse 141 display properties 75, 113 name
defragmenting 145 multiple 113 computer 52
deleting files 143 port 11 domain 57
protecting from viruses 121 screen resolution 75 router 57
suggested schedule 140 troubleshooting 187 workgroup 52
using Scheduled Task Wizard using screen saver 112 naming
147 mouse computers 52
mapping network drives 60 buttons 22 workgroup 52
maximize button 29 changing settings 114 navigation keys 21
McAfee SecurityCenter 121, 122 cleaning 141
clicking 23 network
scanning for viruses 123 jack 11, 12
updating definitions 124 double-clicking 23
moving pointer 22, 23 testing 57
Media Player 83 moving screen objects 23 troubleshooting 188

202
www.emachines.com Index

using 60 turning on computer 19 removing files and folders 26, 31,


NTSC/PAL jack 76 using UPS 118 32, 39, 143
numeric keypad 21 power button 9 renaming files and folders 39
indicator 21 power supply resetting computer 20
replacing 166 resolution
O uninterruptible 118 changing 109
online help 3, 4 printer restarting computer 20
opening default 190 restoring files and folders 31
computer case 154 installing 13, 150
parallel port 10 Resume mode 9
documents 37 right-clicking 23
files 23, 27 sharing 59
files across network 61 troubleshooting 189 router
folders 23, 29 USB port 8, 11 configuring 57
front bezel 156 printing name 57
programs 23, 27 documents 38
shortcut menu 23 files across network 61 S
programs safety
P closing 39 avoiding repetitive strain 17
Pad Lock indicator 21 closing unresponsive 20 caring for computer 140
opening 23, 27 general precautions 194
parallel port 10 reinstalling 151 guidelines for troubleshooting
password 189 projector 176
pasting adding 75 posture 17
files and folders 31, 39 color quality 75 reducing eye strain 16
text and graphics 39 display properties 75, 113 setting up computer 16
PDA screen resolution 75 static electricity 154
memory cards 72 PS/2 port saving
peripheral devices 13 keyboard 10 documents 37
playing mouse 10 video 92
audio CD 84 scanner
audio file 83, 105 R installing 13, 150
DVD 86 radio Scheduled Tasks Wizard 147
Media Player file 83 listening with Windows Media screen
multimedia files 83 Player 105 adjusting settings 108
music CD 84 RAM changing color depth 108
Windows Media Player file 83 See memory changing number of colors 108
Plug and Play devices rebooting computer 20 changing resolution 109
IEEE 1394 support for 13 cleaning 141
USB support for 13 recordable drive 8 resolution 75
identifying 73 saver 112
pointer 22 locating drive 8
moving 23 troubleshooting 187
troubleshooting 177
ports screen objects
recording getting information 23
See connections audio file 87, 105
power moving 23
CD tracks 88, 103 selecting 23
advanced settings 116 recovering files and folders 31
button 9 Scroll Lock indicator 21
changing advanced settings Recycle Bin 26 scroll wheel 22
116 deleting files and folders 31
emptying 32 Search utility 33
changing schemes 115 searching
connector 10 recovering files and folders 31
re-dialing telephone 69 in Help and Support 3
Hibernate mode 9, 116
indicator 9 reinstalling searching for files and folders 33,
34, 148
schemes 115 peripheral devices 150
source problems 18 printer 150 Security Center
Standby/Resume 9 programs 151 Windows XP 125
troubleshooting 189 scanner 150 security settings
turning off computer 19 software 151 modifying 125

203
Index www.emachines.com

serial number 9 jack 76 DVD drive 177, 179


serial port 10 switch DVD/CD drive 177, 179
setting up voltage selection 10 faxes 186
safety precautions 194 system battery files 179
replacing 159 general guidelines 176
sharing hard drive 180
drives 58 system board Internet connection 180, 185
folders 58 replacing 172 keyboard 181
printer 59 system identification label 9 LCD panel 179, 187
shortcut menus memory 184
accessing 23 T memory card reader 184
shortcuts taskbar 26 modem 184
adding to desktop 28 TCP/IP protocol monitor 187
closing programs 39 configuring 53 mouse 188
closing windows 39 network 188
copying 39 technical support
Technical Support 192 passwords 189
cutting 39 power 189
deleting files and folders 39 tips before contacting 191
printer 189
keyboard 39 telephone safety guidelines 176
opening menu 23 automatically canceling fax 70 screen 179, 187
pasting 39 canceling fax 69 screen area 187
renaming files and folders 39 configuring Fax 65 screen resolution 187
selecting adjacent items in list installing Fax 64 technical support 191
39 receiving and viewing faxes 69 telephone support 191
selecting items in list 39 retrying fax 69 Web site connection speed 181
switching between files, folders, sending fax 67
or programs 39 sending faxes from program 68 turning off computer 9, 19, 20
shutting down computer 19, 20 sending scanned image fax 69 turning on computer 9, 19
setting up fax cover page tutoring
side panel template 68 fee-based 192
removing 154 using Fax 63
replacing 154 U
telephone jack 11
software
See programs telephone support 191 uninterruptible power supply
television (UPS) 18, 118
sound
adjusting 23, 81 playing DVD on 76 un-sharing
TV out jack 76 drives 59
controls 23, 81 folders 59
muting 23, 81 viewing display on 76
watching with Windows Media updates
Sound Recorder Player 105 security 126
making audio recordings 105 virus definitions 124
playing file 83, 105 testing network 57
recording audio 87 title bar 28 updating
transferring virus definitions 124
speaker jack 11
files from Internet 45 updating Windows 142
speakers
configuring 13 files from old computer 147, UPS 18, 118
148 USB port 8, 11, 13
Standby mode 9 Internet settings from old
Start button 26 computer 149 V
Start menu 27 settings from old computer 147
video to computer 91 VGA port 75
starting
computer 9, 19 troubleshooting video
programs 23 add-in cards 177 capturing to computer 91
cards 177 creating 90
starting programs 27 editing 90, 92
static electricity 154 CD drive 177
cleaning CD 142 playing 83, 86
subnet mask cleaning DVD 142 saving 92
entering 53 computer startup 178 transferring to computer 91
surge protector 18 diskette drive 178 Video Capture Wizard 92
S-Video (TV) out display 179 video DVD

204
www.emachines.com Index

creating 98 editing video 90, 92


viewing saving video 92
shared drives 60 transferring video to computer
shared folders 60 91
virus Video Capture Wizard 92
protecting against 121, 125 Windows Security Alert
removing with Norton Internet dialog box 66, 67
Security 121 Windows Security Center
viruses icon 26
scanning for 123 using 121, 125
updating definitions for 124 Windows Update 125, 142
voltage selection switch 10 wired Ethernet
volume troubleshooting 188
adjusting 23, 81 WMA file
adjusting modem 186 creating 88
controls 23, 81 editing track information 90
muting 23, 81 playing 83
troubleshooting 191 Wordpad 36
workgroup
W naming 52
WAN IP Address 57 working safely 16
WAV file 83 World Wide Web (WWW) 43
Web browser 42, 43 downloading files 45
Web page 43
Web site 43 Z
connecting to 44 Zip drive 146
downloading files 45 port 11
eMachines 2
window 28
close button 29
closing 29, 39
maximize button 29
menu bar 29
minimize button 28
title bar 28
Windows
clipboard 31
Files and Settings Transfer
Wizard 147
Product Key Code 6
Search utility 33
Security Center 125
Windows key 21
Windows Media Player
building music library 89
creating music files 88
creating WMA files 88
editing tack information 90
listening to Internet radio 105
playing audio CD 84
playing audio file 83
viewing video file 83
watching Internet TV 105
Windows Movie Maker
capturing video to computer
91

205
Index www.emachines.com

206
MAN EM NG3 DT USR / HW REF R1 01/06

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