60 www.gateway.comChapter 6: TroubleshootingSafety guidelinesWhile troubleshooting your computer, follow these safety guidelines:■ Never remove your computer case cover while your computer is turned on and whilethe modem cable and the power cord are connected.■ Make sure that you are correctly grounded before accessing internal components. Formore information about preventing damage from static electricity, see “First steps”on page 60.First stepsIf 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 outletand 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 thatall 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 messagemay help Gateway Customer Care in diagnosing and fixing the problem.■ If you added or removed peripheral devices, review the installation procedures youperformed and make sure that you followed each instruction.■ If an error occurs in a program, see the program’s printed documentation or the onlinehelp.Warning To avoid bodily injury, do not attempt to troubleshoot your computerproblem if:■ Power cords or plugs are damaged■ Liquid has been spilled into your computer■ Your computer was dropped■ The case was damagedInstead, unplug your computer and contact a qualified computertechnician.Help and Support For more information about troubleshooting, click Start, then clickHelp and Support.Type the keyword troubleshooting in the Search box, then click the arrow.
