Page 1: Table Of Contents
Table of contents Safety Information Maintenance and Care Welcome Section 1 - Your Advent PC Your Advent PC The Mouse The Keyboard Monitors Optical Drives Memory Card Readers Floppy Disk Drive Base Unit Speakers Modem and Network (LAN) Section 2 - Introducing Microsoft Windows XP...
Page 2 Section 5 - Looking after Windows XP Looking after Windows XP Windows Update Windows Service Packs Disk Cleanup Wizard Disk Defragmenter Section 6 - Windows XP Utilities Windows XP Utilities Control Panel Date and Time Accessibility Options Desktop Cleanup Wizard User Accounts and Passwords Section 7 - Troubleshooting and Support System Restore...
Page 3: Safety Information
Advent PC. They are needed to prevent overheating. 4. Do not put your Advent PC in a cupboard, or any other enclosed space, unless there is adequate ventilation. 5. Never push objects through the openings on the case.
Page 4: Maintenance And Care
2. If you spill liquid on, or into any part of your PC. 3. If your PC is exposed to rain, water, or any other liquids. 4. If you drop your PC, or the case is damaged in any way. 5. If your PC exhibits changes in performance that would indicate a need for service.
Page 5 Thank you for purchasing your new Advent personal computer. We at Advent pride ourselves on giving you the very latest technology to meet your needs both now and in the future. This guide will help you make the most of your new Advent and Microsoft®...
Page 6 If you need help or assistance with your Advent computer please visit www.pcservicecall.co.uk Our website contains a wealth of support information on your PC. You will also find helpful advice on a large range of peripherals and software. The “How do I...” section will help you with looking after your PC, protecting against viruses, and show you how to get the most from your PC.
Page 7: Your Advent Pc
Your Advent PC Page 7...
Page 8 Each piece of hardware serves an important function in making your Advent computer work. In order to get the best use from your PC you need to understand some of the most common components that you will use, what they do, and how to look after them.
Page 9: The Mouse
The Mouse The mouse is one of the main tools for working with your computer. It allows you to move the arrow around the screen. You can also use it to open programs and interact with menus and text. A normal mouse has three buttons: •...
Page 10: The Keyboard
Along with the mouse, your keyboard is one of the main tools for interacting with your PC. The keyboard allows you to enter text into the PC, for example, in a letter, or email. A lot of modern keyboards also have customisable “hot keys”.
Page 11: Monitors
There are 2 main types of PC monitor: • CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): these are the most common type of monitor supplied with a PC . Their downside is weight, size, and energy consumption. • TFT (Thin Film Transistor): also referred to as flat panels.
Page 12: Optical Drives
Windows® feature called ‘Auto Play’. Clean my drives? You can purchase special CD/DVD cleaners from PC World, Dixons, and Currys. These gently clean the lens inside the drive which can become covered with dust and affect reading of the disc.
Page 13: Memory Card Readers
You can buy these cards in a variety of sizes from 4 MB to 1 GB and above. Your Advent is supplied with the following readers: Compact Flash (top left), SD™ Card (top right), Smart Media (bottom left), MMC (bottom right).
Page 14: Floppy Disk Drive
Floppy disk drive The humble floppy disk has been an integral part of a personal computer from the very early days of computing. They have been an ideal way of transferring files from one computer to another. However, in the digital age most files are now too big for the 1.44 MB floppy disk and are being replaced with recordable CD/DVD and memory cards.
Page 15 Format a floppy disk? Most disks come pre-formatted when you buy them, however, there may be occasions where you will need to do this manually, for example, when you want to erase the disk. You can do this in Windows® XP by: 1.
Page 16: Base Unit
Base unit The base unit forms the main part of your Advent computer and contains all the components that make it work. Base units come in 2 configurations: • Tower unit • Desktop unit On the front of your base unit you will find the CD and DVD drives, floppy disk drive, power button, memory card readers, and FireWire and USB ports (on some models).
Page 17: Speakers
Speakers normally plug in to the “Line-out” port on the rear of your Advent base unit (Fig.3 ). If your Advent supports 4 or 5.1 surround sound speakers you will need to adjust the speaker configuration in the Windows® Control Panel (methods vary depending on sound card).
Page 18: Modem And Network (Lan)
Modem and network (LAN) There are two ports on the rear of your Advent PC that look very similar. However, they perform different functions. It is important that you know the difference in order to avoid confusion later on. The first of these is the Modem (RJ-11 port).
Page 19: Introducing Windows Xp
Introducing Microsoft® Windows® XP Page 19...
Page 20 Professional Edition All the benefits of Home Edition with extra security and network functions. Tablet PC Edition Professional Edition designed for Tablet PC devices. Includes handwriting input. Media Center Edition The all-in-one home entertainment centre for music, DVD, home movies, games and pictures.
Page 21: The Desktop
The Desktop The Desktop is the first thing you will see when you turn on your Advent computer. It is your main interface with Windows® XP. From here you can access any file, folder, or program installed on your system.
Page 22: The Taskbar
My Documents, My Videos, My Music, E-mail, the Internet, and Control Panel. As you use your Advent computer Windows® XP will learn what your favourite programs are and display them on the Start menu for quick access.
Page 23: Notification Area
The notification area Fig. 9 Notification area The notification area replaces the ‘System Tray’ of previous versions of Windows®. From here you can see the time. Hold the mouse point over the clock to see the date. You will also see icons for running programs, for example, Windows® Messenger.
Page 24: Help And Support Center
Windows® XP Help and Support Center. From here you can read Microsoft® help files, as well as specific help and advice, plus PC tutorials for your Advent PC. The Help and Support Center can also link you straight to the latest support and information on the Internet.
Page 25: How Do I
How do I... Change my Desktop picture? 1. Right-click the Desktop and select “Properties” from the menu. 2. Click the Desktop tab (see Fig. 12 ). 3. You can select a picture from the “Background” list, or click the Browse button to choose your own picture. 4.
Page 26 Customise my Start menu? 1. Right-click the Start button and select “Properties” from the menu. 2. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties screen is displayed. Click the Start Menu tab. 3. You now have a choice. You can use the Windows® XP Start menu by selecting “Start menu”, or you can use a Windows®...
Page 27 Set up a screen saver? 1. Right-click the Desktop and choose “Properties” from the menu. 2. Click on the Screen Saver tab at the top of the “Display Properties” box (Fig. 14 ). 3. Use the drop-down list in the Screen saver section to choose from the available screen savers.
Page 28 Change my Windows® sounds? 1. Click Start > Control Panel. Select Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices. 2. On the next screen select Change the sound scheme under Pick a task… 3. The Sound and Audio Device Properties box is now displayed.
Page 29 Create a shortcut? 1. Right-click the Desktop and select New > Shortcut from the menu. 2. The Create Shortcut wizard will now open. Click the Browse button to locate the file, folder, or program you want to create a shortcut to, then click OK. 3.
Page 30 Retrieve a file from the Recycle Bin? 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop to open it. 2. Locate the file you want to restore and click it once with the left mouse button to highlight it. 3. On the left hand side under Recycle Bin Tasks click Restore this item.
Page 31 Empty my Recycle Bin? 1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop. 2. Select Empty Recycle Bin from the menu. 3. You will see a short animation of files being deleted. 4. Your Recycle Bin is now empty. Note: once you have emptied your Recycle Bin you will not be able to retrieve your files.
Page 32: Windows Xp Entertainment
Windows® XP Entertainment Page 32...
Page 33 Windows® XP also includes support for a wide range of third party applications, games, and hardware. There are a variety of ‘Wizards’ to help you get the most from your Advent computer. Wizards are step by step guides that help you to perform various tasks.
Page 34: Media Player 10
Windows® Media Player 10 Fig. 19 Windows® Media Player 10 Your Advent computer comes supplied with Windows® Media Player 10, the latest version of the popular multimedia file player. Media Player allows you to listen to music CDs, music files such as MP3 and WMA, watch DVD movies (providing a third party DVD program is installed), and watch video files such as MPEG and AVI.
Page 35 How do I… Play a music CD? 1. Insert a music CD into the CD or DVD drive and close the tray. 2. Media Player will open after a few seconds and begin to play your CD using Windows AutoPlay technology. 3.
Page 36 Copy a CD to your hard drive? Fig. 20 Copying your CD to hard drive 1. Click the “Copy from CD” button down the left side of Media Player. 2. You will see the tracks listed (with titles if Media Player was able to download information from the Internet).
Page 37 Copy music files to a CD? Fig. 21 Copying music 1. Click the “Copy to CD or Device” button on the left side of Media Player. 2. You will see a screen split into 2 sections (Fig. 21 ). On the left are the files you want to copy.
Page 38 8. Insert a blank CD into your CD Writer, wait a few seconds until you see “Ready to copy” next to each track. 9. Click the red “Copy” button at the top of the screen. 10. Media Player will now convert and then create your music CD Fig.
Page 39: Windows® Movie Maker 2
Windows® Movie Maker 2 Fig. 23 Windows® movie Maker 2 Windows® Movie Maker 2 is a fun and easy to use program that allows you to create your own home movies without the need for expensive software. You can capture video and audio from a variety of sources including: •...
Page 40 How do I... Create a basic movie? Open Movie Maker 2 so that you see the screen in Fig. 23 . There are 3 steps to making your movie. Step one – Capture video You need to decide what you want to add to your movie. In section 1 Capture video on the screen you have 4 choices (Fig.
Page 41 Step two – Editing your movie Now that you have added your video, pictures, and music to the story board you can edit them and add special effects and text. Move to section 2 Edit Movie (Fig. 26 ) on your screen. Fig.
Page 42 Windows® Media Player. Save to CD: you can save your movie to a recordable CD (providing your Advent has a CD or DVD writer fitted). Movie Maker 2 will create the CD using Microsoft’s HighMAT™ (High-performance Media Access Technology).
Page 43: Games
Windows® XP. Some can be played on your computer, others are played with others through the Internet. To access these games click the green Start button then All Programs > Games. Windows® XP games PC only Internet games FreeCell Internet Backgammon Hearts...
Page 44 • What version of Windows® is needed? • What version of DirectX® is needed? You can find out what your Advent PC has by using the DXDiag program. To open this program click Start > Run. Type DXDIAG in the white box and click OK. The information you need is on the System, Graphics, and Sound tabs.
Page 45 Page 45...
Page 46: The Internet
Internet Page 46...
Page 47 The Internet The Internet is a giant collection of computers that spans across the whole planet. It is the largest network ever created. The modern Internet was born from the ARPANET, a US Military communications project in 1969. Over the years this grew and developed into what we see today.
Page 48: Internet Explorer
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6 Internet Explorer is supplied as part of Windows® XP and allows you to access the Internet. This program is known as a Web browser. You would use Internet Explorer when you want to visit a web site. Fig.
Page 49 How do I... Get to a web site? 1. Click the Start button and select Internet. This will open Internet Explorer and ask you to connect to the Internet if you use a dial-up connection. 2. At the top of Internet Explorer you will see a long white Address bar (Fig.
Page 50 Add websites to my favourites? 1. When you find a web site that you want to visit regularly you can add it to your Favorites menu so that you don’t have to remember the address. 2. Click the Favorites menu at the top of the screen (in between View and Tools), then click Add to Favorites.
Page 51 View the history file? 1. Click the History button (Fig. 32). 2. The history of previously visited pages will be displayed on the left side of Internet Explorer (Fig. 33). Fig. 32 The History button Fig. 33 Internet History file Page 51...
Page 52 Clear history and Internet cache? 1. In Internet Explorer click the Tools menu then Internet Options. 2. Internet Options will now open (Fig. 34). Select the General tab. 3. Click the Clear History button to delete your browsing history. 4. Click the Delete Files and Delete Cookies button to clear your Internet cache.
Page 53: Outlook Express
Microsoft® Outlook Express 6 is the latest version of the popular home email program. Outlook Express allows you to send and receive email from your Advent computer to anyone in the world. The advantage of email is that you can send a letter to family, friends, or colleagues anywhere in the world.
Page 54 How do I... Send an email? 1. Click Start then Email to open Outlook Express. 2. Click the Create Mail icon at the top of the screen. You will be presented with a blank email. 3. You now need to enter the email address of the person, or people you want to send your message to.
Page 55 Add an attachment to my email? 1. Create an email as normal. 2. Before you click Send, you need to click the Attach icon. 3. You can now browse to your photo or file and attach it to the email. You can attach more than one file to a message.
Page 56: Windows Messenger
Windows® Messenger Windows® Messenger is an Instant Messaging program that allows you to chat in real time with your friends, family and colleagues. With Messenger you can see when your contacts are online and send them a message. You can even send files, and chat face to face with a Web Cam and microphone.
Page 57 Anti-virus protection It is a sad fact that most computer users will have their computer infected with a virus at some point. Viruses are most commonly spread through email and the Internet. However, they can also be spread through infected floppy disks, CDs and DVDs, file sharing programs, and instant messaging software.
Page 58 Firewalls Along with anti-virus software, a firewall is another important part of your computer’s security. A firewall sits between your computer and the Internet and will attempt to block any intrusion attempts from computer hackers and other malicious sources. Think of it as your computer’s bouncer. It stands at the door to the Internet and stops unwanted visitors from getting in.
Page 59: Windows Security Center
Windows Security Center Your Advent computer is installed with the latest Windows XP Service Pack 2 software. This introduces a number of security upgrades and enhancements that help keep your computer safe and secure. These enhancements can be controlled and monitored through the easy-to-use Security Center which is a brand new addition to Windows XP.
Page 60: Windows Firewall
You can access the Security Center from a number of locations: 1. Click Start > Control Panel > Security Center 2. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Security Center. The Security Center window is divided into 3 sections: •...
Page 61: Firewall Settings
Firewall settings You can control your Windows Firewall by clicking the icon in the Manage Settings For: area of the Security Center (Fig. 40). There are 3 tabs you can configure. General The General tab (Fig. 41 ) allows you to turn the Windows Firewall on and off.
Page 62 Exceptions The Exceptions tab allows you to tell the Firewall that you want certain trusted programs to use the Internet. This is useful because online games and other services need to be able to access the Internet. Add Program Click this button to select a program installed on your computer.
Page 63: Default Settings
Advanced The advanced tab is split into 4 sections: Network connection settings This area shows you any network or Internet connection that can be protected. Make sure the box next to each entry has a tick. This will tell the Windows Firewall to protect the connection.
Page 64 Fig. 44 Fig. 45 Page 64...
Page 65: Pop-Up Blocker
Pop-up Blocker The Pop-up Blocker is also a new addition to Windows XP with Service Pack 2. It monitors your Internet connection and prevents adverts from popping up on your screen. These are a nuisance and can often contain offensive text and images. The Pop-up Blocker can be accessed by clicking Tools >...
Page 66 Pop-up Blocker settings Some websites, for example, online banks, use pop-up windows that you will need to use. You can add the web site address to an ‘Allow list’ by typing the web address and clicking the Add button. low, medium high You can also set the filter level to , or...
Page 67: Looking After Windows Xp
Looking after Microsoft® Windows® XP Page 67...
Page 68 It is known as the ‘Operating System’. In order for a computer to function it needs both hardware and an Operating System (OS). Windows® XP controls your Advent computer. It allows your hardware components to talk to each other, and controls how your software and games work.
Page 69 Microsoft® Windows® Update Fig. 48 Windows® Update web site Microsoft® Windows® Update is a feature that has been part of the Windows® family since Windows® 98. It provides a way for Microsoft® to: • Update security flaws in Windows® XP •...
Page 70: Windows Update
How do I... Run Windows® Update? 1. Connect to the Internet if you need to. 2. Press the Start button then go to All Programs and select Windows Update from the menu (normally towards the top). 3. Internet Explorer will open and connect you to the Windows®...
Page 71: Automatic Updates
Automatic Updates The Security Center will turn automatic updates on by default. This means that Windows XP will download and install any available updates without you having to worry. If you want to change the way updates work you can do so by clicking the Automatic Updates button in the Manage settings for: area of the Security Center.
Page 72 Fig. 50 Automatic updates Page 72...
Page 73: Windows Service Packs
Install a Service Pack? Service Packs are installed as part of Windows® Update. This is the easiest way to apply them to your Advent Computer. However, if you want to download the Service Pack to your hard drive and install it at a later date you can download it from the Windows®...
Page 74: Disk Cleanup Wizard
Disk Cleanup Wizard The Disk Cleanup Wizard is a useful tool for removing clutter from your hard drives and free up storage space. The wizard scans your drives and will prompt you to clear things like: • Temporary Internet files •...
Page 75 Fig. 51 Disk Cleanup Wizard Page 75...
Page 76: Disk Defragmenter
Disk Defragmenter Over time as you add and delete files and programs on your hard drive the disk becomes fragmented. This means that files can be broken up and scattered around the disk to make sure they fit. This can have negative effects on your computer’s performance and efficiency because it takes longer to hunt around the hard drive for all the pieces.
Page 77 Fig. 52 Disk Defragmenter Page 77...
Page 78: Windows Xp Utilities
Windows® XP utilities Page 78...
Page 79 Windows® XP utilities Microsoft® have included a number of utilities with Windows® XP that allow you to tweak, tune, and customise the Operating System to meeting your computing requirements. There are also a number of accessibility options to help people with disabilities make the most of computer technology.
Page 80: Control Panel
The Control Panel The Control Panel functions as the name suggests. It allows you to control the various functions of Microsoft® Windows® XP, as well as the hardware inside your Advent computer. There are 2 ways to view the Control Panel: •...
Page 81 Fig. 54 Category View Fig. 55 Classic View Page 81...
Page 82: Date And Time
Changing the date and time Fig. 56 Date and Time There may be times when you need to change the date or time within Windows®. This is very easy to do: 1. Double-click the clock in the bottom right of your screen. 2.
Page 83: Accessibility Options
Accessibility options Windows® XP includes a number of accessibility options which change the way that Windows® and your keyboard and mouse work. These are tailored to users with physical disabilities to help them make the most from their computer. Accessibility Options are in the Control Panel. Accessibility options include: StickyKeys: this option allows you to press the CTRL, ALT, DEL key combination one key at a time, rather than all...
Page 84: Onscreen Keyboard
Onscreen keyboard Fig. 57 The onscreen keyboard The onscreen keyboard allows you to control text input and basic keyboard functions by using a mouse or other pointing device. To access the keyboard press the Start button, then All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Onscreen Keyboard.
Page 85: Desktop Cleanup Wizard
Desktop Cleanup Wizard The Desktop Cleanup Wizard is a feature new to Windows® XP. Over time our desktops can become cluttered with shortcuts and program icons, leaving you nowhere to place new things. Windows® XP will now monitor your Desktop and every 60 days will prompt you to remove items that are no longer used, or not used very often.
Page 86: User Accounts And Passwords
Microsoft® which allows you the user to secure your computer with a password if you want to. You can add as many users as you want to your Advent computer and each person can have their own password. This will allow them to control their own desktop and sound settings, but you can also prevent them making changes to Windows®, and even make your files private.
Page 87 How do I… Add a user to my computer? 1. Press the Start button then click Control Panel. 2. Now click User Accounts. 3. You can now pick a task: Change an account, Create a new account, or Change my picture. 4.
Page 88 Add a password to an account? 1. Press the Start button then click Control Panel. 2. Now click User Accounts. 3. Choose Change an account from the Pick a task list. 4. Select the account you want to add a password to. 5.
Page 89 Create a password reset disk? 1. Log into the account you want to create a reset disk for (you need one for each account). 2. Take a blank floppy disk and label it “Password reset disk for …..” and put it into the floppy drive. 3.
Page 90: Section 7 - Troubleshooting And Support
Troubleshooting support Page 90...
Page 91: System Restore
System Restore is a handy tool included with Microsoft® Windows® XP. It allows you to turn the clock back when things go wrong and return your Advent computer to a date when it was working properly. Windows® will make a restore point every 24 hours, or you can make your own.
Page 92 How do I… Restore my computer to an earlier time? 1. Press Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. 2. The System Restore program will open (Fig. 61 ). You will have 2 choices “Create a Restore Point”, or “Restore my computer to an earlier time”.
Page 93 Fig. 62 Selecting your restore point Create a restore point? 1. Launch System Restore (see previous page). 2. Select “Create a restore point” from the Welcome screen and click Next. 3. Give your restore point a name (Fig. 63 ). 4.
Page 94 Fig. 63 Creating a restore point Undo a restore point? 1. Launch System Restore, you will see a third option “Undo my last restoration” from the list and click Next. 2. Confirm the date and time, save any open work, then click Next.
Page 95: Help And Support Center
Advent Help and Support Center Remember that the Advent Help and Support Center is always available when you need advice with a question or problem you have with Windows® XP or your computer. You can access Help and Support by: •...
Page 96: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting My computer will not turn on • Check that the power cable is connected and the wall socket is turned on. • Check the fuse in the plug. • Try the cable in a different power socket. There is no display on my monitor •...
Page 97 My keyboard or mouse are not working • Check that they are connected to the right socket on your Advent computer. • Remove the cable and blow on the connector and socket to remove any dust. • If your mouse has a ball, try cleaning the ball with a soft cloth.
Page 98 My hard drive light is on and constantly making churning noises. • Windows® XP is having to work hard to access the information you request. Try running the Disk Defragmenter to resolve the problem. When I try to install a game or program if it tells me that there is insufficient disk space.
Page 99 Re-installing device drivers & software If you are experiencing problems with a particular piece of software or hardware supplied with your Advent computer you can re-install them without the need to erase your hard drive and run a full System Recovery.
Page 100: System Recovery
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition • Hardware device drivers for the original hardware • Software supplied with your Advent computer It will not reinstall any software, hardware, or peripherals that you have added to your computer. Please see the documentation supplied with these devices for more information.
Page 101 Recovery program, in this normal default mode of operation, recovers factory-shipped applications, drivers and the operating system without affecting any data files you may have created since purchasing this PC. Click on “Next” to continue. 4. Click Next as instructed.
Page 102 Recovery program, in this normal default mode of operation, recovers factory-shipped applications, drivers and the operating system without affecting any data files you may have created since purchasing this PC. Click on “Next” to continue. 5. Click Next as instructed.
Page 103 Using your Recovery CDs with a brand new hard drive If you replace your existing hard drive with a new one, or if it is replaced during a repair please carry out the following steps. 1. Insert CD 1 into your computer and restart. 2.
Page 104: Recovery Cd Creator
Recovery CD Creator Your Advent computer is supplied with a tool that allows you to create a set of Recovery CDs. You can use these to re- install the computer to its ‘just out of the box’ state should you need to. We advise that you do this before you start using your computer.
Page 105: Further Help
PC Repair Line— 0870 901 3000 (BT national rate) Warranty help when you PC is broken and needs repairing. PC Helpline— 0906 515 1180 (£1.50p per min. Max. 20 mins) ‘Pay as you go’ support for peripherals, software and out of warranty customers.

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