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Chapter 10: 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 the
original packaging materials.
■ Keep diskettes and your computer away from magnetic fields. Magnetic
fields can erase data on both diskettes and hard drives.
■ 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 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 184
Check for viruses X X page 186
Manage hard drive space X page 189
Clean up hard drives X X page 190
Scan hard drive for errors X X page 191
Defragment hard drive X X page 193
Back up files X X page 195
Clean computer case X page 198
Clean keyboard X page 199