Gateway E-100M Product manual

NOTEBOOK
DE
E-100M
Technical Reference Manual

i
Chapter 1: About This Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MPC contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
MPC model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
For more information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2: Checking Out Your Notebook . . . . . . 3
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Keyboard area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 3: Setting Up and Getting Started . . . . 11
Working safely and comfortably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Sitting at your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . 13
Connecting the AC adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting to a broadband modem or network . . . . . . . . . . 17
Starting your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Waking up your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Using the status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Key types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
System key combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Using the EZ Pad touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Adjusting brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Turning your wireless radio on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
IEEE 802.11 wireless network radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Bluetooth radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Contents

Contents
ii
Chapter 4: Using Drives and Accessories . . . . . . 29
Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Inserting a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Removing a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Adding and removing a PC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Installing a printer or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Connecting a USB device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Connecting an IEEE 1394 device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Viewing the display on a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . 35
Ordering accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Chapter 5: Managing Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Recalibrating the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Getting the most from your battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Maximizing battery performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Conserving battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using alternate power sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Chapter 6: Traveling with Your Notebook . . . . . 45
Packing your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Traveling by air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Radio frequency wireless connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Additional tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Chapter 7: Maintaining Your Notebook . . . . . . . 51
Caring for your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Cleaning your notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Cleaning the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Cleaning the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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Cleaning the notebook screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintaining the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Storing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Cleaning CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Chapter 8: Upgrading Your Notebook . . . . . . . . 59
Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Adding or replacing memory modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Replacing the hard drive kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Chapter 9: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
CD drives (external) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Diskette drive (external) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
DVD drives (external) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Media Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Networks (wired) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Networks (wireless) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
PC Cards 88

Contents
iv
Pointing device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Touchpad or pointing device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Before calling MPC Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Appendix A: Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
EMA001127-00

CHAPTER1
1
About This Reference
•MPC contact information
•Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity
•For more information

CHAPTER 1: About This Reference
2
MPC contact information
MPC model and serial number
The label on the bottom of your notebook contains information
that identifies your notebook model and its features. MPC
Customer Care will need this information if you call for
assistance.
Microsoft Certificate of
Authenticity
The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the
bottom of your notebook includes the product key code for your
operating system.
For more information
For more information about your notebook, visit MPC’s
Support page at www.mpccorp.com or the Web address shown
on your notebook’s label. The Support page also has links to
additional MPC documentation and detailed specifications.
Important
The labels shown in this section are for informational purposes only.
Label information varies by model, features ordered, and location.

CHAPTER2
3
Checking Out Your Notebook
•Front
•Left
•Right
•Bottom
•Keyboard area

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook
4
Front
Component Icon Description
Power indicator nLED on - Notebook is on.
nLED blinking - Notebook is in Sleep or
Hybrid Sleep mode.
nLED off - Notebook is off.
Battery charge
indicator
nLED blue - Battery is fully charged.
nLED purple - Battery is charging.
nLED blinking red - Battery charge is very low.
nLED solid red - Battery is malfunctioning.
Important: This LED only lights up when your
notebook is connected to AC power or the battery
charge is very low.
Battery charge
indicator
Power indicator

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5
Left
Component Icon Description
Power connector Plug the AC adapter cable into this connector.
Monitor port Plug an analog VGA monitor or projector into
this port. For more information, see “Viewing the
display on a projector or monitor” on page 35.
Docking port Connect the optional port replicator to this port.
Warning: Power is passed through this port.
This docking connection is certified to UL 1950
for use only with port replicators designed for
your MPC notebook.
Ventilation fan Helps cool internal components.
Warning: Do not work with the notebook
resting on your lap. If the air vents are blocked,
the notebook may become hot enough to harm
your skin.
Caution: Do not block or insert objects into
these slots. If these slots are blocked, your
notebook may overheat resulting in unexpected
shutdown or permanent damage to the notebook.
Caution: Provide adequate space around your
notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not
use the notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other
similar surface.
PC Card slot Insert one Type II PC Card into this slot. For
more information, see “Adding and removing a
PC Card” on page 31.
Memory card
reader
Insert a memory card from a digital camera, MP3
player, PDA, or cellular telephone into the
memory card reader. For more information, see
“Using the memory card reader” on page 30. The
memory card reader supports Memory Stick®,
Memory Stick Pro®, Mini Secure Digital®,
MultiMediaCard™, RS-MultiMediaCard™, and
Secure Digital™ cards.
Ventilation fan
Monitor port
Power connector
Docking port PC Card slot
Memory card reader

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook
6
Right
Component Icon Description
USB ports Plug USB devices (such as a CD or DVD drive,
diskette drive, flash drive, printer, scanner,
camera, keyboard, or mouse) into these ports.
Ethernet jack Plug an Ethernet network cable into this jack.
The other end of the cable can be plugged into
a cable modem, DSL modem, or an Ethernet
network jack. For more information, see
“Connecting to a broadband modem or network”
on page 17.
Modem jack Plug a dial-up modem cable into this jack. For
more information, see “Connecting the dial-up
modem” on page 16.
IEEE 1394 port Plug an IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire®or
i.Link®) device (such as a digital camcorder or
MP3 player) into this 4-pin IEEE 1394 port.
Headphone jack Plug amplified speakers or headphones into this
jack. The built-in speakers are turned off when
speakers or headphones are plugged into this
jack.
Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack.
Kensington™
lock slot
Secure your notebook to an object by connecting
a Kensington cable lock to this slot.
IEEE 1394 port
Modem
jack
Ethernet
jack
USB ports Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Kensington lock slot

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Bottom
Component Icon Description
Hard drive
bay
The hard drive is located in this bay. For more
information, see “Replacing the hard drive kit” on
page 64.
Speakers Provide audio output when headphones or amplified
speakers are not plugged in.
Memory bay Install a memory module into this bay. For more
information, see “Adding or replacing memory
modules” on page 61.
Battery latch Slide to release the battery. For more information, see
“Changing the battery” on page 40.
Battery Provides power when the notebook is not plugged into
AC power.
Memory bay Battery latch
Hard
drive
bay
Battery
Customer
care label
Speaker
Speaker
Ventilation fan

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook
8
Ventilation
fan
Helps cool internal components.
Warning: Do not work with the notebook resting on
your lap. If the air vents are blocked, the notebook may
become hot enough to harm your skin.
Caution: Do not block or insert objects into these slots.
If these slots are blocked, your notebook may overheat
resulting in unexpected shutdown or permanent
damage to the notebook.
Caution: Provide adequate space around your
notebook so air vents are not obstructed. Do not use the
notebook on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.
Customer
Care label
Includes the Customer Care information. For more
information, go to:
http://support.mpccorp.com/index.html
Component Icon Description

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9
Keyboard area
Component Icon Description
Power button Press to turn the power on or off. You can also configure
the power button for Sleep/Resume mode.
Keyboard Provides all the features of a full-sized, computer
keyboard. For more information, see “Using the
keyboard” on page 20.
Touchpad Provides all the functionality of a mouse. For more
information, see “Using the EZ Pad touchpad” on
page 25.
Status
indicators
Inform you when a drive is in use or when a button has
been pressed that affects how the keyboard is used. For
more information, see “Using the status indicators” on
page 19.
Status indicators
Power
button
Keyboard
Touchpad

CHAPTER 2: Checking Out Your Notebook
10

CHAPTER3
11
Setting Up and Getting Started
•Working safely and comfortably
•Connecting the AC adapter
•Connecting the dial-up modem
•Connecting to a broadband modem or
network
•Starting your notebook
•Using the status indicators
•Using the keyboard
•Using the EZ Pad touchpad
•Turning your wireless radio on or off

CHAPTER 3: Setting Up and Getting Started
12
Working safely and
comfortably
Before using your notebook, follow these general guidelines for
setting up a safe and comfortable work area and avoiding
discomfort and strain:
•Keep hands and arms parallel to the floor.
•Adjust the screen so it is perpendicular to your line of
sight.
•Place your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
•Although notebooks are sometimes called “laptops,” do
not use your notebook while it rests on your unprotected
lap. Notebook operating temperatures can become quite
high, increasing the risk of burns to your legs. Instead,
use a laptop desk to protect your legs.
•Do not use the notebook on any soft, conforming surface,
such as your lap, a blanket, carpet, or a sofa. Soft surfaces
can block your notebook’s ventilation openings, leading
to overheating, permanent damage to your notebook, and
fire danger. Instead, place your notebook on a rigid, hard
surface, and make sure that you keep the ventilation
openings on the sides clear.
Reducing eye strain
Sunlight or bright indoor lighting should not reflect on the
screen or shine directly into your eyes.
•Position the computer desk and screen 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.
•Use soft, indirect lighting in your work area. Do not use
your notebook in a dark room.
•Avoid focusing your eyes on your screen for long periods
of time. Every 10 or 15 minutes, look around the room,
and try to focus on distant objects.
•Where feasible, keep your head vertical while looking at
the screen. If you use an external keyboard, raise the
notebook so the top of its screen is no higher than eye
level.
Warning
Do not use your notebook on a soft surface, such as your lap, a
blanket, carpet, or a sofa. You must keep your notebook’s ventilation
openings clear of obstructions, or your notebook may overheat,
increasing the risk of fire and personal injury.

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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 touchpad. If the desk is not adjustable or
is too tall, consider using an adjustable chair to control
your arm’s height above the keyboard.
•Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes
your weight evenly, and keeps your body relaxed.
•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.
Sitting at your notebook
•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.

CHAPTER 3: Setting Up and Getting Started
14
Connecting the AC adapter
You can run your notebook using an AC adapter or your
notebook’s battery. The battery was shipped to you partially
charged. You should use the AC adapter right away to fully
charge the battery. Allow three hours for the battery to fully
charge.
To connect the AC adapter:
1Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.
Warning
Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The AC adapter has no
user-replaceable or user-serviceable parts inside. The AC adapter has dangerous
voltages that can cause serious injury or death. Contact MPC about returning
defective AC adapters.
Caution
Make sure that you use the AC adapter that came with your notebook
or one of the same type purchased from MPC. Replace the power cord if it
becomes damaged. The replacement cord must be of the same type and voltage
rating as the original cord or your notebook may be damaged.
Important
If the battery is not fully charged before you use your notebook on battery
power for the first time, the battery life may be much shorter than you expect.
If the battery life seems short even after being charged for three hours, the
battery may need to be recalibrated. For information on recalibrating the battery,
see “Recalibrating the battery” on page 41.