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Chapter 13: Maintaining Your Notebook
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 very 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.
■ Set up a regular maintenance schedule according to the following table
to keep your computer running at its best.
Maintenance task Immediately
after purchase
Monthly When needed See...
Create an emergency diskette X page 224
Check for viruses X X page 226
Manage hard drive space X page 229
Clean up hard drives X X page 230
Scan hard drive for errors X X page 231
Defragment hard drive X X page 233
