Gateway E-475m Manual
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www.gateway.com 73 Radio frequency wireless connections •Every country has different restrictions on the use of wireless devices. If your notebook is equipped with a wireless device, check with the local radio approval authorities prior to your trip for any restrictions on the use of a wireless device in the destination country. •Wireless communication can interfere with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth communication devices are examples of devices which use wireless to communicate. Files •Copy your working files from your desktop computer to your notebook before you travel. •If you need to access your desktop computer files from your notebook while traveling, set up your desktop computer for remote access. Contact your network administrator for more information about remote access. •Take extra recordable media for transferring files between computers and backing up files. Important If your notebook came equipped with an internal embedded wireless device, see “Legal Information” on page 123 for general wireless regulatory guidelines. TipFor more information about turning your wireless device on or off, see “Turning your wireless radio on or off” on page 39.
CHAPTER6: Traveling with Your Notebook 74 Security •Get a locking cable for your notebook so you can attach a cable lock and leave your notebook in your hotel room while you are away. •Always keep your notebook with you while waiting in airports, train stations, or bus terminals. Be ready to claim your notebook as soon as it passes through the X-ray machine in security checkpoints. •Write down your notebook model number and serial number (located on the bottom of your notebook) in case of theft or loss, and keep the information in a safe place. Also, tape your business card or an address label to your notebook and accessories. •Whoever sits next to you or behind you can see your notebook display. Avoid working with confidential files until you can be sure of privacy. •Use a startup password to restrict access to your notebook. The startup password is set using the BIOS utility. To create a startup password: 1Restart your notebook. As soon as you see a startup screen, press F2. The BIOS Setup utility opens. 2Open the Security menu, highlight Set Supervisor Password, then press E NTER and follow the instructions. You must set the supervisor password in order to set the user (startup) password. 3Highlight Set User Password, then press ENTER and follow the instructions. This is the password you need to enter at startup.Caution Use a password that you can remember, but that is difficult for someone else to guess. The password feature is very secure, with no easy way to recover a forgotten password. If you forget your password, you must return your notebook to Gateway for service. ImportantYou must enter the Supervisor Password each time you use the BIOS Setup utility. ImportantYou must enter the User Password each time you turn on your notebook if it was turned off or put in hibernate mode. You do not need to enter the User Password if your notebook was put in Standby mode.
www.gateway.com 75 4Highlight Password on boot, then press ENTER. 5Highlight Enabled, then press ENTER. 6Open the Exit menu, highlight Exit Saving Changes, then press E NTER. 7When you start your computer, you are prompted to enter the user password you set in Step 3. •Review the information in “Protecting your notebook” in your online User Guide. Power •Take your AC power adapter to recharge the battery. If you are traveling internationally, take power plug adapters. •Take a portable surge protector to protect your notebook from power surges. •To get the best performance from your notebook, avoid using the battery whenever possible, monitor the battery charge, and use the most efficient power management settings. For information on conserving battery power, using alternate power sources, and monitoring the battery charge, see “Managing Power” on page 57. Additional tips •If you plan to use several USB peripheral devices, take a portable USB hub to provide additional USB ports. •Take a network cable if you need to connect to a network. Some hotels provide Internet connectivity only through their networks. •If your notebook has been exposed to cold temperatures, let it warm to room temperature before turning it on. •Carry proof of ownership or a merchandise passport when traveling internationally.
CHAPTER6: Traveling with Your Notebook 76 •Consult your insurance company and credit card company to learn about emergency travel assistance if your notebook is lost or damaged. •Take your recovery discs in case you need to install an additional driver or software.
CHAPTER7 77 Maintaining Your Notebook •Caring for your notebook •Cleaning your notebook •Maintaining the battery(ies) •Cleaning CDs or DVDs
CHAPTER7: Maintaining Your Notebook 78 Caring for your notebook To extend the life of your notebook: •Be careful not to bump or drop your notebook, and do not put any objects on top of it. The case, although strong, is not made to support extra weight. •When transporting your notebook, we recommend that you put it in a carrying case. •Keep your notebook away from magnetic fields. Magnetic fields can erase data on hard drives. •Never turn off your notebook when the drive indicator is on because data on the hard drive could be lost or corrupted. •Avoid subjecting your notebook to extreme temperature changes. The case (and LCD panel) can become brittle and easy to break in cold temperatures and can melt or warp in high temperatures. Damage due to either extreme is not covered by your warranty. As a general rule, your notebook is safest at temperatures that are comfortable for you. •Keep all liquids away from your notebook. When spilled onto notebook components, almost any liquid can result in expensive repairs that are not covered under a standard warranty. •Avoid dusty or dirty work environments. Dust and dirt can clog the internal mechanisms and can lead to permanent damage to the notebook. •Do not block the ventilation fan slots. If these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook. •When storing your notebook for an extended period of time, unplug AC power and remove the battery(ies) after discharging them partway.
www.gateway.com 79 Cleaning your notebook Keeping your notebook clean and the vents free from dust helps keep your notebook performing at its best. You may want to gather these items and put together a notebook cleaning kit: •A soft, lint-free cloth •An aerosol can of air that has a narrow, straw-like extension •Cotton swabs •A DVD drive cleaning kit Cleaning the exterior Always turn off your notebook and other peripherals before cleaning any components. Also, remove the main and optional secondary battery before cleaning any components. Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your notebook and other parts of your system. Do not use household abrasive or solvent cleaners because they can damage the finish on components. Your notebook is cooled by air circulated through the vents on the case, so keep the vents free of dust. With your notebook 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 notebook with the exception of the memory bay. 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.War ning When you shut down your notebook, the power turns off, but some electrical current still flows through your notebook. To avoid possible injury from electrical shock, unplug the power cord, modem cable, and network cable from the wall outlets and remove the main and optional secondary battery. TipYou may want to occasionally open the memory bay door and remove dust and lint using an aerosol can of air.
CHAPTER7: Maintaining Your Notebook 80 If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your notebook and turn the notebook 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. A replacement keyboard may not be covered by your warranty. Cleaning the notebook screen 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. Maintaining the battery(ies) The life span of a notebook battery is about 1.5 to 3 years, under normal conditions. As the battery begins to die, you will have to recharge the battery more frequently because it cannot hold a full charge. Do not expose the battery to high heat or freezing temperatures. Hot batteries discharge very quickly, and cold ones cannot create as much power. Short battery life is more likely to be caused by heat than by charge/discharge patterns. Keep your lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car, for example. Charge often, but do not try to fully discharge the battery frequently. This only adds strain. Several partial discharges (regular use), with frequent recharges, are better for lithium-ion than one total discharge. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion battery does not cause any harm because it has no “memory.” Batteries with fuel gauges (notebooks) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the battery down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge becomes increasingly less accurate and in some cases will cut off the device prematurely. Using the right charger is important. By now you probably know that each kind of battery has its own technology, its own rate of charge, and so on. Charging lithium batteries correctly is one way to extend their life and to avoid damage. Caution A notebook LCD screen is made of specially coated glass and can be scratched or damaged by abrasive or ammonia-based glass cleaners.
www.gateway.com 81 Storing batteries Do not charge up the battery, then store it away. A stored battery should be used every three to four weeks. Let the battery fully discharge, then recharge to 40% if you plan to store it again. If you store a battery for longer than three to four weeks, the battery could fully discharge because the battery circuitry itself consumes power. If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one exclusively and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Make sure that it is wrapped protectively and that nothing will be dropped on it. Do not freeze the battery. Do not use old batteries. Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries and storing them for later use. Do not buy old stock, even if it is sold at clearance prices. While it makes sense to have 2 or 3 extra batteries, so that you always have a fresh one charged up and ready to go, if you buy batteries and store them for years, they may not work when you decide to use them. Consider removing the battery from your notebook when running on fixed power. However, remember that when you have removed the battery from your notebook while using it with an electrical outlet, the automatic battery charger no longer keeps the battery charged. Cleaning CDs or DVDs Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a circle, using a product made especially for the purpose.Caution When the battery is in the notebook and the notebook is running on AC power, the battery constantly charges, even though it has a full charge. This reduces the life of the battery. If the battery is fully charged and you want to run on AC power, remove the battery.