User ManualTable of ContentsContents3About This Reference7About this guide8For more information8Accessing the online User Guide8To access your User Guide:8eMachines contact information9Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity9Checking Out Your Computer11Front12Back14Setting Up and Getting Started17Working safely and comfortably18Reducing eye strain19Setting up your computer desk and chair19Sitting at your computer20Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain20Preparing power connections20Protecting from power source problems20Checking the voltage selection21To set the voltage selection switch:21Connecting to a broadband modem or network21To connect to a broadband modem or to an Ethernet network:21Connecting a dial-up modem22To connect the modem:22Starting your computer22To start your computer:22Waking up your computer23Turning off your computer23To put your computer to sleep:24To turn off your computer:24Restarting (rebooting) your computer25To restart your computer:25Using the keyboard26Using the mouse27Using optical drives29Features29Loading an optical disc29To insert an optical disc:29Identifying optical drive types29Playing discs31Playing a CD31Playing a DVD31Playing a Blu-ray Disc31Creating discs32Recording to optical discs32Creating audio and video files32Copying optical discs32Using the memory card reader32Memory card types33Using a memory card33To insert a memory card:33To remove a memory card:33Adjusting the volume33To adjust the overall volume using hardware controls:34To adjust the volume from Windows:34Configuring the audio jacks35To configure the audio jacks:35Installing a printer, scanner, or other device36Upgrading Your Computer37Preventing static electricity discharge38Opening the case38Removing the side panel39To remove the side panel:39Removing the front bezel39To remove the front bezel:39Closing the case41Replacing the front bezel41To replace the front bezel:41Replacing the side panel42To replace the side panel:42Replacing the color panel42To replace the color panel on the front bezel:42Installing memory44To install or replace DIMM memory:44Adding or replacing an optical disc drive46To add replace an optical drive:46Replacing the media panel48To replace the media panel:48Adding or replacing a hard drive51To add or replace a hard drive:51Replacing the heat sink and processor53To replace the heat sink and processor:53Adding or replacing an expansion card56To add or replace an expansion card:56Replacing the system battery57To replace the battery:57Replacing the system board58To replace the system board:58Maintaining Your Computer61Setting up a maintenance schedule62Caring for your computer63Cleaning your computer64Cleaning the exterior64Cleaning the keyboard65To clean the keyboard:65Cleaning the monitor65To clean the monitor:65Cleaning the mouse65To clean the mouse:65Cleaning optical discs66To clean an optical disc:66Updating Windows66Using BigFix67To start BigFix:67Managing hard drive space67Checking hard drive space68To check hard drive space:68Deleting unnecessary files69To delete unnecessary files:69Checking the hard drive for errors69To check the hard drive for errors:70Defragmenting the hard drive70To defragment the hard drive:71Backing up files71To back up files:72Scheduling maintenance tasks72To start the Task Scheduler:73Moving from your old computer73Transferring files and settings automatically73To move files and settings from your old computer:74Transferring files and settings manually74Finding your documents74To find files in the documents folder:74Finding other files75To find files using Find or Search:75Troubleshooting77Safety guidelines78Try these steps first78Error messages79Internet and networking80Internet80You cannot connect to the Internet80You see an “Unable to locate host” message and are unable to browse the Internet80People are sending you e-mails, but you have not received them81E-mails you send are returned as undeliverable81Modem (cable or DSL)81My computer cannot connect to the Internet.81Modem (dial-up)82Your modem does not dial or does not connect82To check the dialing properties:82You cannot connect to the Internet83Your 56K modem does not connect at 56K83The modem is not recognized by your computer83To run modem diagnostics:83The modem is noisy when it dials and connects83To turn down the modem volume:83Networking84You cannot see the other computers on your network84Your wired network is running slower than you expect84Power85Your computer will not turn on85Display85The screen resolution is not correct85The computer is on, but there is no picture85The color is not uniform86The text on the display is dim or difficult to read86Printing86The printer will not turn on86The printer is on but will not print86To set a default printer:86Optical discs87The computer does not recognize a disc or the disc drive87An audio disc does not produce sound87A movie disc will not play87Memory card reader88Drive letters for the memory card slots do not appear in the Computer window88Mouse88The mouse does not work88The mouse works erratically88Keyboard89The keyboard does not work89Liquid spilled in the keyboard89Files89You get an “Insufficient disk space” error message89A file was accidentally deleted90To restore deleted files:90You get a “Data error” message90The hard drive cannot be accessed, or you see a “General failure reading drive C” error message90You get an “Operating system not found” error message90You need to restore your computer to a working condition90Checking the hard drive for errors91To check the hard drive for errors:91Memory91You see a “Memory error” message91You see a “Not enough memory” error message92Audio92You are not getting sound from the speakers92Passwords92Your computer does not accept your password92Expansion cards93The computer does not recognize an expansion card93Media Center93The Media Center video display looks bad on your TV93You want to change monitor settings to get better TV or DVD image quality94You need to burn programs that were recorded with your computer to a DVD using Media Center94You want to play recorded programs on other computers94You get a “Download Error” message when Media Center tries to update the Program Guide94Checking for device problems95To check for device problems:95Recovering your system96To recover your system:96Creating recovery discs97To create recovery discs:97Recovering pre-installed software and drivers99To recover your pre-installed software and drivers:99Returning to a previous system condition100To return to a restore point:100Returning your system to its factory condition101Recovering from within Windows Vista102To reinstall Windows Vista and all pre-installed software and drivers:102Recovering from the hard drive during startup103To reinstall Windows Vista and all pre-installed software and drivers:103Recovering from your recovery discs103To reinstall Windows Vista and all pre-installed software and drivers:103Technical support104Before calling Customer Care104Calling Customer Care104Legal Notices105If your computer has a DVD-compatible drive and an analog TV Out port, the following paragraph applies:113A115B115C115D116E117F117H117I118J118K118L118M118N119O119P120R120S121T121U122V122W122X122Z122Index115Size: 6.13 MBPages: 124Language: EnglishOpen manual