68
www.gateway.com
Safety guidelines
While troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines:
■ Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is turned on and while
the modem cable and the power cord are 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 53.
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 Gateway 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.
Warning To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to troubleshoot your computer
problem if:
■
Power cords or plugs are damaged
■
Liquid has been spilled into your computer
■
Your computer was dropped
■
The case was damaged
Instead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computer
technician.