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Chapter 13: Maintaining Your Computer
www.gateway.com
Caring for your computer
To extend the life of your system:
■ 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 a
carrying case.
■ Keep diskettes, modular drives, and your computer away from magnetic
fields. Magnetic fields can erase data on both diskettes and hard drives.
■ Never turn off your computer when the hard drive light is on because data
on the hard drive could be lost or corrupted.
■ Avoid subjecting your computer 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 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 extremely expensive repairs
that are not covered under your warranty.
■ Avoid dusty or dirty work environments. Dust and dirt can clog the
internal mechanisms.
Use the following table to set up a regular maintenance schedule.
Maintenance task Immediately
after purchase
Monthly When needed See...
Create an emergency diskette X page 214
Check for viruses X X page 216
Manage hard drive space X page 219
Clean up hard drives X X page 220
Scan hard drive for errors X X page 221
Defragment hard drive X X page 223
Back up files X X page 225