Gateway Profile 6 Service Manual

							CHAPTER5
55
Maintaining Your
Computer
•Setting up a maintenance schedule
•Caring for your computer
•Cleaning your computer
•Updating Windows
•Using BigFix
•Managing hard drive space
•Scheduling maintenance tasks
•Moving from your old computer
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Setting up a maintenance 
schedule
Use the following table to set up a regular maintenance 
schedule.
Caring for your computer
To extend the life of your computer:
•Be careful not to bump or drop your computer, and do 
not put any objects on top of it. The case, although 
strong, is not made to support extra weight.
•When transporting your computer, we recommend that 
you put it in the original packaging materials.
•Keep your computer away from magnetic fields. 
Magnetic fields can erase data on hard drives.
•Never turn off your computer when the drive indicator 
is on because data on the hard drive could be lost or 
corrupted.
Maintenance taskWeeklyMonthlyWhen 
needed
Check for virusesXXX
Run Windows Update X X
Manage hard drive spaceX
Clean up hard drives X X
Scan hard drive for errorsXX
Defragment hard drive X X
Back up filesXXX
Clean computer case and 
peripheral devicesX
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•Avoid subjecting your computer to extreme 
temperature changes. The case 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 computer is safest at temperatures that are 
comfortable for you.
•Keep all liquids away from your computer. When spilled 
onto computer 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 computer.
•Do not block the ventilation fan slots. If these slots are 
blocked, your computer may overheat, resulting in 
unexpected shutdown or permanent damage to the 
computer.
•When storing your computer for an extended period of 
time, unplug AC power.
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
•An optical disc drive cleaning kit
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Cleaning the exterior
•Always turn off your computer and other peripheral 
devices before cleaning any components.
•Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your computer and 
other parts of your system. Do not use household 
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.
Cleaning the keyboard
You should occasionally clean the keyboard to remove dust 
and lint trapped under the keys.
To clean the keyboard:  
1Use an aerosol can of air with a narrow, straw-like 
extension to remove dust and lint trapped under the 
keys.
2If 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 monitor 
To clean the screen:  
•To clean the screen, use a soft cloth and water to clean 
the screen. Dampen the cloth (never apply liquid 
directly to the screen), then wipe the screen with the 
cloth. War ning
When you shut down your computer, the power turns off, but some 
electrical current still flows through it. To avoid possible injury from electrical 
shock, unplug the power cord, modem cable, and network cable from the wall 
outlets.
CautionA flat-panel display is made of specially coated glass and can be 
scratched or damaged by abrasive or ammonia-based glass cleaners.
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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 the mouse:  
•Wipe the bottom of the mouse with a damp, lint-free 
cloth.
Cleaning optical discs
Optical discs (CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs) get dirty from 
frequent handling.
To clean an optical disc:  
•Wipe from the center to the edge, not around in a circle, 
using a product made especially for the purpose.
Updating Windows
Windows Update helps you 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.
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For information on running Windows Update, see “Windows 
Update” in the online User Guide. Windows Update can also 
be controlled through the Windows Security Center. For more 
information, see “Protecting Your Computer” in the online 
User Guide. 
Using 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.
To start BigFix:  
1Click  (Start), All Programs, Accessories, System 
Tools, then click BigFix.
2To learn more about BigFix, click Help, then click 
Tutorial. Help
For more information about Windows Update, click Start, then click Help 
and Support. Type windows update in the Search Help box, then 
press E
NTER.
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Managing hard drive space
Windows provides several utilities you can use to check hard 
drive space, delete unnecessary files, defragment files, and 
back up files.
Checking hard drive space
To check hard drive space:  
1Click  (Start) then click Computer. The Computer 
window opens.Shortcut
StartÖ ComputerÖ right-click driveÖProperties
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2Right-click the drive that you want to check for available 
file space, then click Properties. Drive space 
information appears.
Deleting unnecessary files
Delete unnecessary files, such as temporary files and files in 
the Recycle Bin, to free hard drive space.
To delete unnecessary files:  
1Click  (Start), All Programs, Accessories, System 
Tools, then click Disk Cleanup. The Disk Cleanup dialog 
box opens.Shortcut
StartÖ ComputerÖ right-click driveÖ PropertiesÖ 
Disk Cleanup
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2Click one of the options:
•My files only cleans only the folders for the 
currently logged in user.
•Files from all users on this computer cleans all 
folders.
The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens.
3Click to select the types of files you want to delete, then 
click OK. The types of files you indicated are deleted.
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:  
1Click  (Start) then click Computer. The Computer 
window opens.
2Right-click the drive that you want to check for errors, 
click Properties, then click the Too ls tab. Help
For more information about keeping the hard drive free of 
unnecessary files, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type disk 
cleanup in the Search Help box, then press E
NTER.
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3Click Check Now, then click Start. Your drive is checked 
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.
4Correct any problems that are found by following the 
on-screen instructions.
5Click OK.
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.
Disk Defragmenter 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 Disk Defragmenter 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.Important
Error checking cannot scan a drive while the drive is being used, 
so if you try to check your hard drive for errors, you see a prompt asking 
you if you want to scan the hard drive later (the next time you restart 
your computer). If you see this prompt, click Schedule disc check, then 
restart your computer.
HelpFor more information about checking the hard drive for errors, 
click Start, then click Help and Support. Type checking for disk 
errors in the Search Help box, then press E
NTER.
TipBecause defragmenting a drive may take hours to complete (depending 
on the size of the drive being defragmented), consider starting the process 
when you will not need the computer for several hours.
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