Restoring Software

Using the Restoration CDs

    Use the Gateway Restoration CDs to reinstall device drivers, your operating system, and other programs that were preinstalled at the factory.

    Important

    Before you try to fix a problem by reinstalling software from your Gateway Restoration CDs, make sure that you have tried these steps first:

    • Use the diagnostics and troubleshooting tools found in HelpSpot (click Start, then click Help and Support).
    • Refer to the Troubleshooting section of this guide.


    If these steps do not resolve the problem, use the Gateway Restoration CDs to reinstall device drivers or programs.


    If reinstalling device drivers does not resolve the problem, reinstall Windows.

    Reinstalling device drivers

      Device drivers are programs that control devices such as monitors, CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drives, and modems. Drivers translate information between computer devices and programs.

      Drivers for your original computer hardware are installed at Gateway. If you install a new device, you need to install the drivers provided by the device manufacturer.

      You should reinstall device drivers:

    If directed to do so while troubleshooting
    If you have reinstalled Windows 2000
    If you see a message indicating that there is a problem with a device driver

      If you just reinstalled Windows XP, the device drivers were automatically reinstalled. If you just reinstalled Windows 2000, reinstall the device drivers by following the steps in "To reinstall device drivers:".

      If you need to reinstall device drivers because you are directed to do so while troubleshooting or if a message tells you that there is a problem with a device driver, reinstall the device drivers by following the steps in "To reinstall device drivers:".

      Help and Support

      For more information about reinstalling device drivers in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

        If you are not comfortable with the procedures covered in this section, seek help from a more experienced computer user or a computer service technician.

      To reinstall device drivers:

        1. Insert the red Drivers CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. The System Restoration Kit program starts. Go to Step 5.
          - OR -
          If the program does not start automatically, go to Step 2.

        Important

        If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

          1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box opens.

          2. In the Open text box, type d:\runmenu.exe (where d is the drive letter of your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive).

          3. Click OK. The System Restoration Kit program starts.

          4. If the Welcome to the System Restoration Kit window opens, close it by clicking OK.

          5. Click the Reinstall Drivers and Applications tab.

          6. If there is a Find More button at the bottom of the window, complete the list of available device drivers by clicking the button and following the on-screen instructions.

          7. Click Manual Installation, then select a single device driver to reinstall.
            - OR -
            Click Automatic Installation, then select multiple device drivers to reinstall. (Grayed out devices are not available for Automatic Installation. To select these devices, click Manual Installation.)

          1. Click Install.

          2. Follow any additional on-screen instructions. Depending on the device driver you are reinstalling, you may only need to restart your computer to complete the installation. However, if a setup wizard opens when you restart your computer, follow the on-screen instructions.

        Updating device drivers

          The Restoration CDs contain a device driver update utility that works over the Internet. If you do not have an Internet Service Provider, the update utility works by direct-dialing the device driver update service.

          Help and Support

          For more information about updating device drivers in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

            Important

            If your system came equipped with a wireless device, only use the drivers approved for the country the device will be used in. See the red Drivers CD or the Gateway Technical Support Web site (www.gateway.com/support).

            If your system came equipped with an internal embedded wireless device, see "Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information" for general wireless regulatory and safety guidelines.To find out if your system has an internal wireless device, check the label (see "Identifying your model").

            To update device drivers:

              1. Insert the red Drivers CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. The System Restoration Kit program starts. Go to Step 5.
                - OR -
                If the program does not start automatically, go to Step 2.

              Important

              If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

                1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box opens.

                2. In the Open text box, type d:\runmenu.exe (where d is the drive letter of your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive).

                3. Click OK. The System Restoration Kit program starts.

                4. If the Welcome to the System Restoration Kit window opens, close it by clicking OK.

                5. Click the Update tab.

                6. Click Check Now. The Connect window opens.

                7. Install available updated device drivers by following the on-screen instructions. Depending on the device driver you are updating, you may only need to restart your computer to complete the installation. However, if a setup wizard opens when you restart your computer, follow the on-screen instructions.

              Reinstalling programs

                If you have problems running a program or if you have reinstalled your operating system, you can reinstall programs from the yellow Applications CD and the program CDs. Follow the installation instructions on each CD.

              To reinstall programs from the Applications CD:

                1. Insert a yellow Applications CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. The System Restoration Kit program starts. Go to Step 5.
                  - OR -
                  If the program does not start automatically, go to Step 2.

                Important

                If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

                  1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box opens.

                  2. In the Open text box, type d:\runmenu.exe (where d is the drive letter of your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive).

                  3. Click OK. The System Restoration Kit program starts.

                  4. If the Welcome to the System Restoration Kit window opens, close it by clicking OK.

                  5. Click the Reinstall Drivers and Applications tab.

                  6. If you do not see the program you want to reinstall, eject the CD and insert the other yellow Applications CD to complete the list of available programs.

                  7. Click Manual Installation, then select a single program to reinstall.
                    - OR -
                    Click Automatic Installation, then select multiple programs to reinstall. (Grayed out programs are not available for Automatic Installation. To select these programs, click Manual Installation.)

                  1. Click Install.

                  2. Follow any additional on-screen instructions. Depending on the programs you are reinstalling, you may only need to restart your computer to complete the installation. However, if a setup wizard opens when you restart your computer, follow the on-screen instructions.

                To reinstall Works Suite (including Word), games, or other programs from a CD:

                  1. If you just reinstalled Windows, go to Step 5. Otherwise, go to the next step.

                  2. Uninstall the program you want to reinstall by clicking Start, then click Control Panel.

                  3. Click/Double-click Add or Remove Programs.

                  4. In the Currently Installed Programs list, click the program you want to uninstall, then click Change/Remove and follow the on-screen instructions.

                  5. Insert the program CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive.

                  6. Complete the program reinstallation by following the instructions included with the program CD.

                Reinstalling Windows

                  If your computer is not working properly, try the following options to correct the problem:

                Troubleshooting. For more information, see "Troubleshooting".
                Reinstalling device drivers. For more information, see Reinstalling device drivers.

                  If the options above do not correct the problem, you can use the Restoration CDs to reinstall Windows and other software.

                  The Restoration CDs step you through reinstalling Windows 2000 or Windows XP. If you are reinstalling Windows XP, the Restoration CDs automatically reinstall the hardware device drivers and some programs as well. If you are reinstalling Windows 2000, you need to install the hardware device drivers and your programs. To reinstall the device drivers, follow the instructions in "Reinstalling device drivers".

                  To reinstall your programs, follow the instructions in "Reinstalling programs". You can install any remaining programs by using the program CDs that came with your computer.

                To reinstall Windows XP and the device drivers:

                  1. Insert the red Drivers CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive.

                  Important

                  If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

                    1. Restart the computer.

                    2. Select Option 2. Boot from CD-ROM.

                    3. Select Option 1. Delete all files.

                    Warning

                    Back up your personal files before you use this option.


                    All files on your computer will be deleted!

                      1. Select Option 1. Continue deleting all files and restart.

                      2. When prompted, press any key to continue.

                      3. Select Option 2. Boot from CD-ROM.

                      4. Select Option 2. Automatic installation of Windows XP.

                      5. Remove the red Drivers CD and insert the blue Operating System CD into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, then press any key to continue.

                      6. Wait while the setup program copies files to your hard drive. When the computer restarts, do NOT press any key to boot from CD.

                      7. When prompted, accept the License Agreement by clicking I accept the agreement, then click Next to continue.

                      8. When prompted, insert the red Drivers CD(s), then click Continue.

                      9. When prompted, insert the yellow Applications CD(s), then click Continue.

                      10. The Gateway Application Loader automatically installs your drivers and programs. The computer restarts several times during this process. Do not press any keys or buttons during this process unless prompted to do so.

                      11. When the Gateway Application Loader has finished, go to the Windows desktop by clicking OK.

                      12. Install additional programs by following the instructions in "To reinstall programs from the Applications CD:".

                      13. Install other software, such as Microsoft Works Suite and gaming software, by following the instructions in "To reinstall Works Suite (including Word), games, or other programs from a CD:".

                    To reinstall Windows 2000 and the device drivers:

                      1. Insert the red Drivers CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. If you have an additional recordable/rewritable CD drive, make sure you do not insert the red Drivers CD into it.

                      Important

                      A CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive is a module that is used in either of the modular bays. If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

                        1. Restart the computer.

                        2. Select Option 2. Boot from CD-ROM.

                        3. Follow the on-screen instructions. The on-screen instructions step you through the operating system installation.

                        4. Reinstall your device drivers by following the instructions in "Reinstalling device drivers".