Getting Help

    This chapter tells you about additional information resources available to help you use your computer. It includes the following topics:

HelpSpot™
Online help
Gateway Web site

HelpSpot

    Your computer may include HelpSpot™, an easily accessible collection of help information, troubleshooters, instructional videos, and automated support. Use HelpSpot to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use the many features of your Gateway computer. HelpSpot also has an area called Contact Gateway that helps you find the right resource at Gateway to answer your questions or help solve your problems.

To start HelpSpot:

Click Start, then click Help and Support. HelpSpot opens.
      If this is the first time you have started HelpSpot on your computer, you may experience a brief wait while HelpSpot builds the help database, then HelpSpot will display an introductory video.

       

    You can find help information by clicking a link, performing a search, or browsing the index. To learn about using your Gateway computer, your mouse, and other tasks, click the Using your computer link on the HelpSpot main page.

Searching for a topic

    To search for a topic in HelpSpot, type a word or phrase (keywords) in the Search box located at the top of any HelpSpot screen, then click the arrow button.

    For each search, you receive the following search result types:

Suggested Topics - These topics are located in HelpSpot and are relevant to your search topic.
Full-text Search Matches - These topics are located in HelpSpot and contain the words you entered in the Search box.
Microsoft Knowledge Base - These topics are located on the Microsoft.com Web site (you must be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics) and contain the words you entered in the Search box.
Gateway.com Search - These topics are located on the Gateway.com Web site (you must be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics) and contain the words you entered in the Search box.

    To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results you want to view.

    To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list.

HelpSpot Videos

    HelpSpot contains several short videos to help introduce you to new concepts or show you how to perform various tasks.

To play a HelpSpot video:

To watch a video in HelpSpot, click Video Tutorials on the HelpSpot home page, then click a video title. The video plays.

       

Online help

    Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn how to perform a task while you are using the program. Most online help information can be accessed by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a Help button.

    You can search for information by viewing the help contents, checking the index, searching for a topic or keyword, or browsing through the online help.

Gateway Web site

    Gateway provides a variety of information on its Web site to help you use your computer.

Technical documentation and product guides
Technical tips and support, including online chat services
Hardware drivers
Order status
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)