Chapter 4: Exploring Your Computer’s Features. Toshiba TECRA A5

Chapter 4

Exploring Your

Computer’s Features

In this chapter, you will explore some of the special features of your notebook computer.

Exploring the desktop

The desktop is the launching pad for everything you can do in the Windows ® XP operating system. You use its features to start programs, find documents, set up system components, and perform most other computing tasks.

HINT: The illustrated examples in this guide may appear slightly different from the screens displayed by your system.

The differences are not significant and do not indicate any change in the functionality of your system.

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Finding your way around the desktop

Your computer’s desktop includes several standard features: icons, Start button, taskbar, system tray, and background pattern.

Icons

Start button Taskbar System tray

Sample Windows ® XP operating system desktop

Icons

An icon represents a folder, file, or program that can be quickly activated by double-clicking the icon.

You can create a new desktop icon for any folder, file, or program by dragging the element’s icon from its location in a window to the desktop area.

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134 Exploring Your Computer’s Features

Exploring the desktop

The icons initially displayed on your system desktop include:

Recycle Bin — Holds files you have deleted. You may be able to retrieve these files until you empty the Recycle Bin.

TECHNICAL NOTE: If you delete a file from a diskette, it does not go into the Recycle Bin. For more information on the

Recycle Bin, see Windows online Help.

Internet Explorer — The Microsoft ® browser that provides access to the Internet.

NOTE If you place the cursor over an icon, a popup description of the file contents appears.

Your desktop may contain other icons depending on your configuration. See Windows

®

XP online help for more specific information on each icon and how to use it.

Start button

You use the Start button to:

❖ Start programs

❖ Access Microsoft ® Windows ® XP operating system update information

❖ Open documents

❖ Adjust system settings

❖

❖

Find files

Access Windows ® Help

❖ Run programs

❖ Suspend system activity and shut down the computer

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Taskbar

Each time you open a program, a button associated with that program appears on the taskbar. With some programs, a button appears on the taskbar for each document or window you open. You can use these buttons to quickly switch between the programs or windows.

To make a program or window the currently active one, click the associated taskbar button.

System tray

The System tray displays icons of tasks or programs that run continuously in the background. To learn more about each task, position the cursor over the icon for a few moments and a short description of the task appears.

Typical tasks in the System tray are Current time, Power usage mode, Mouse properties, and speaker volume.

To activate a specific task, double-click the appropriate

System tray icon.

Setting up for communications

To connect to the Internet, use an online service, or communicate across the telephone lines with another computer, you need:

❖ A modem (one comes with your computer)

❖ A telephone line

❖ A browser or communications program

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Setting up for communications

❖ An Internet Service Provider (ISP) or online service if you plan to use the Internet

NOTE There are many other ways to connect to the Internet in addition to those discussed in this section.

For troubleshooting information related to this topic, see

“Modem problems” on page 207 and

“Wireless networking problems” on page 208 .

Determining the COM port

Your modem is connected to one of the computer’s COM

(communications) ports. The default setting for the modem is

COM3.

The following procedure is intended to support you if you need to either upgrade your modem or reset the port to the default settings.

If you are having trouble connecting through the modem, you may need to determine the current COM port name and possibly change it.

To find out which port your modem is connected to:

1 Open the Start menu, and click Control Panel.

2 Click Printers and Other Hardware.

3 Click Phone and Modem Options.

The Phone and Modem Options Properties dialog box displays.

4 Fill in the Local Information text boxes and click OK.

5 Click the Modems tab.

Your modem should be listed next to one of the computer’s

COM ports.

6 Make a note of the COM port number.

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7 To verify that the modem is set up properly, select the modem you wish to check, and then click Properties to bring up the dialog box with information specific to that modem.

Windows XP communicates with the modem and displays identifying information reported by the modem.

If Windows XP cannot communicate with the modem, it displays an error message. Consult the troubleshooting sections of your modem and Windows XP documentation.

8 Click OK to close the properties dialog box for that specific modem.

9 Click OK to close the Modem Properties dialog box.

10 Close the Control Panel.

Connecting the modem to a telephone line

Before you can use the modem, you must connect it to a standard voice-grade telephone line. For more information,

see “Connecting to a phone line” on page 152 .

Connecting your computer to a network

You can connect your computer to a network to increase its capabilities and functionality using one of its communication ports.

Accessing a network

To access a network:

❖ At the office, connect an Ethernet cable to the RJ45 jack on your computer. For specific information about connecting to the network, consult your network administrator.

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Setting up for communications

❖ While you are at home or traveling, you need a dial-up connection. Ask your network administrator for the telephone number of the network.

Setting up the connection

To set up an office connection, consult your network administrator for network settings and additional considerations.

To set up a dial-up connection, use the New Connection

Wizard:

1 Click Start and point to All Programs.

2 Point to Accessories, then to Communications, and click New Connection Wizard.

3 Enter the phone number of your network connection and let the program dial the number.

The computer connects to the network.

Using the Ethernet LAN Port

When your computer starts, Windows attempts to contact a

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. If the computer is not connected to a network, it may pause a few minutes as it waits for a reply. To avoid this delay, you can reconfigure Windows to disable the LAN port.

To disable the LAN port:

1 Click Start, click Control Panel, then Performance and

Maintenance.

2 Click the System icon, then click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.

3 Select the appropriate network adapter.

4 Click Actions.

5 Select the Properties icon.

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6 Select the Do not use this device (disable) option from the Device usage drop-down.

7 Click OK.

Your LAN port is now disabled.

To enable the Ethernet LAN port, repeat steps one through four. Select the Use this device (enable) check box, and click

OK.

Using Wireless LAN Connectivity

NOTE Wireless connectivity and some features may require you to purchase additional software, external hardware or services.

Availability of public wireless LAN access points may be limited.

Your system may come with an optional wireless LAN module. This is a technology that expands wireless communication beyond networking equipment, and can connect many different kinds of electronic devices without the need for cables.

For information on how to set up a wireless connection, refer to your wireless networking device documentation or your network administrator.

To use your wireless communication, slide the wireless on/off switch to the On position.

For help with common Wi-Fi ® networking problems, see

“Wireless networking problems” on page 208 .

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An overview of using the Internet

An overview of using the Internet

The following sections give a quick introduction to the

Internet and some of its exciting features, under these headings:

❖

The Internet

❖

The World Wide Web

❖

Internet Service Providers

❖

Connecting to the Internet

❖

❖

Surfing the Internet

Internet features

❖

Uploading to, and downloading files from, the Internet

The Internet

The Internet is an association of thousands of networks and millions of computers around the world connected by communications lines. They all work together to share information.

The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (or “Web”) is a subset of the Internet

— a collection of interlinked documents (located on computers connected to the Internet) that work together using a specific Internet protocol called Hypertext Transfer

Protocol (HTTP).

The World Wide Web offers information as text, images, audio, or video to be referenced from anywhere in the world.

Special programs called Web browsers are specifically designed to work with HTTP. They make it easier to connect to a particular network address and send and receive information.

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Internet Service Providers

To connect a computer directly to the Internet, many people and businesses use an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that has the equipment and the telecommunication lines necessary to maintain an Internet connection.

You can connect to the Internet by using a telephone and modem or through other higher-speed communication methods such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), cable, and satellite links.

Connecting to the Internet

To connect to the Internet, you need:

❖ A modem and telephone line, or a LAN connection

❖ A Web browser

❖ An Internet Service Provider (ISP) account

The Microsoft ® Web browser Internet Explorer is automatically configured on your system so that when you first start it, it guides you through signing up for a new ISP account, or assists you in setting up your computer to work with your existing ISP.

Once you have established an ISP account, you can connect to the Internet.

1 Connect your computer’s modem to a telephone line.

For more information on connecting a modem, see

“Connecting your modem to a telephone line” on page 152

.

2 Start your Web browser. Have your modem dial the ISP’s telephone number, and establish a connection with the

ISP’s computer.

If you are using your computer at the office, then you probably connect to the Internet through your company’s network. See your network administrator about connecting to the Internet.

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An overview of using the Internet

Surfing the Internet

Once connected to the Internet, the Web browser displays a home page, for example, your ISP’s home page on the

Internet or your company’s Web site home page.

To visit a desired Web site, type in the Web address. The Web address, or Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is a unique identifier for that computer system linked to the Internet. Web addresses can also appear within a Web page’s text, and are known as links. Clicking a link automatically transfers your

Web browser to that site.

You can also use a Search Engine, a Web site specifically designed to help you look for information.

Internet features

❖

❖

The Internet offers many types of communication tools to help you perform many tasks.

Internet email

To send and receive email of your own, you need a mailbox on the Web or an email address.

If you have an account with an ISP, you can probably set up an email address at the same time you sign up for the service.

Internet chat rooms

A chat room is a Web site that offers a place where people with similar interests and ideas communicate in real-time, one-on-one or in groups, by typing messages which are instantly viewed by others on their computer screens.

❖ Internet news groups

A news group is similar to a chat room, but instead of using a dedicated site to converse about a specialized subject with others in real-time, it uses a Web site as a

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❖ clearinghouse where all the messages are placed, like a gigantic bulletin board.

Online shopping

Many Web sites offer products and services for sale.

Uploading to, and downloading files from, the Internet

Transferring files from one computer to another is termed uploading (transferring data from your computer to a site on the Web), or downloading (transferring data from a site on the

Web to your computer).

There are several ways to upload or download data. It can be as simple as attaching a file or document to an email, or you can use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) features of your Web browser to transfer large amounts of data.

Exploring audio features

You can use your computer to record sounds using an external microphone. You can play .wav sound files or audio

CDs using the built-in speakers, headphones, or external speakers.

Playing an audio CD

Insert an audio CD and close the disc tray.

If the computer is turned on, Windows Media ® Player opens and the CD begins to play. You can use the Windows Media

Player program to control the CD.

To access the Windows Media Player, you can open it through the Start menu or activate it from the taskbar.

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NOTE When using Windows Media Player, your system may not be able to activate Standby or Hibernation modes. To prevent this from occurring, close Windows Media Player before you select

Standby or Hibernation mode.

Stop button

Play/pause button

Sample Windows Media Player screen

The Windows Media Player control panel works much like an ordinary compact disc player:

❖ To play the CD or to pause, click the Play/pause button.

❖ To stop the CD, click the Stop button.

Before putting on headphones to listen to an audio CD, turn the volume dial down, and do not set the volume too high when using the headphones. Continuous exposure to loud sound can harm your hearing.

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Playing CDs using Auto-Run

If you insert a CD into the DVD-ROM/multi-function drive and the Auto-Run feature does not automatically start your disk, try launching the CD manually. To do this, follow these steps:

1 Open the Start menu and select My Computer.

2 Click the DVD-ROM/multi-function drive icon.

The disc drive will run the CD.

If your disk does not run using this method, try using an application that is associated with the media on the disk. For example, if it is a music CD, open Windows ® Media Player and point it to play the CD. For other types of media, use the associated software to open the files on the disk.

Creating a CD

Depending on your DVD configuration, your computer may come with a multi-function drive that allows you to:

❖ Play pre-recorded DVDs

❖ Play pre-recorded CDs

❖ Read and write data (depending on your system configuration) and music files to CD-Recordable (CD-R) and CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) discs; and DVD

±

R/

±

RW or DVD RAM discs.

NOTE Copy protection technology included in certain media may prevent or limit recording or viewing of the media.

For details on how to use the software, please refer to the respective Online Help menus.

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Exploring audio features

Recording sounds

You may record sounds as .wav files by connecting an external microphone or other sound source to the microphone jack.

TECHNICAL NOTE: If you record MP3 files, you will only be able to play them on a device capable of playing MP3 files.

Using a microphone

1 Connect an external microphone to the computer.

2 Click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories,

Entertainment, then click Sound Recorder.

Positioning bar

Record

Stop

Play

Skip forward

Skip backward

Sample Sound Recorder screen

3 Click the Record button.

4 Speak normally into the microphone.

5 When you have finished recording, click the Stop button.

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NOTE

The Sound Recorder window displays the new sound file as a waveform.

You can only record 60 seconds at a time.

6 To hear what you just recorded, click the Play button.

7 To save the file, select Save from the File menu.

NOTE The microphone on your computer might be set to Mute. To check this, click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories,

Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.

Using external speakers or headphones

Your computer is equipped with a full stereo sound system with internal speakers. Instead of using the internal speakers, you can connect headphones or a pair of external stereo speakers.

TECHNICAL NOTE: Use amplified speakers that require an external power source. Other types of speakers will be inadequate to produce sound from the computer.

To play back sound files through external speakers or headphones:

1 Locate the headphone jack on the computer.

2 Using any necessary adapters, plug the cable from the headphones or external speakers into the headphone jack.

The headphone jack requires a 16-ohm stereo mini-jack.

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Using the i.LINK® port (optional)

To adjust the volume:

❖ For external speakers, use the volume controls on each speaker.

❖ For headphones, use the computer’s volume control dial.

Before putting on headphones to listen to an audio CD, turn the volume dial down, and do not set the volume too high when using the headphones. Continuous exposure to loud sound can harm your hearing.

Using the i.LINK

®

port (optional)

Your computer may be equipped with an i.LINK

® port. This port on the left side of the computer provides an extremely fast data transfer rate.

In addition to high speed, the i.LINK

® port also supports isochronous data transfer (the delivery of data at a guaranteed rate.) This makes it ideal for devices that transfer high levels of data in real-time, such as video devices.

As with USB ports, the i.LINK

® port supports both Plug-and-

Play (automatic configuration) and hot swapping (the ability to connect and disconnect devices while the computer is on).

Inserting and removing PC Cards

Your computer comes with one PC Card slot and supports two types of PC Cards:

❖ Type I cards—You can install one of these cards.

❖ Type II cards—You can install one of these cards.

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Inserting a PC Card

Use caution when lifting or turning your computer. Failure to do so may result in damage to components, such as cables, attached to your computer, or to the computer itself.

Before you insert a PC Card, refer to the documentation that comes with the card to see if you need to do anything before you insert it.

To insert a PC Card:

1 Turn off the computer.

You may also hot swap a PC Card. Stop the PC Card by clicking the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the

System tray, then clicking to select the PC Card device.

After the PC Card is stopped, it is safe to remove.

2 Locate the PC Card slot on the left side of the computer.

3 Insert the PC Card.

Sample inserting a PC Card

4 When the card is almost all the way into the slot, push firmly, but gently, to ensure a firm connection with the computer. Do not force the card into position.

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Using the Bridge Media Adapter Slot (optional)

Removing a PC Card

Stop the PC Card by clicking the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the System tray, then clicking to select the PC Card device. After the PC Card is stopped, it is safe to remove.

1 Locate the PC Card ejection button.

2 Press the PC Card eject button once to extend it, and push it in to remove the PC Card.

The PC Card ejects slightly from the slot.

3 Grasp the edges of the PC Card and slide it out of the slot.

Sample removing a PC Card

Setting up a PC Card for your computer

Some PC Cards are ready to use as soon as you install them.

Others, such as hard disk cards, network cards, and SCSI adapters, may need to be set up to work with your computer.

To set up your PC Card, refer to the documentation that came with the card or refer to your operating system manual or online help.

Using the Bridge Media Adapter Slot (optional)

Your computer may be equipped with a Bridge Media

Adapter Slot, which supports the use of Memory Stick TM or

Memory Stick TM PRO media, Secure Digital TM (SD TM ) Cards,

Media Memory Cards (MMC), or xD-Picture Cards. This media can be used with a variety of digital products: digital

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151 music players, cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, digital video camcorders, etc.

NOTE Do not use the Copy Disk function for this type of media. To copy data from one media to another, use the drag-and-drop feature of Windows.

Inserting media

The following instructions apply to all media devices.

1 Turn the media so that the contacts (metal areas) are face down.

2 Push the media into the adapter slot until it locks in place.

Sample inserting media

When inserting memory media, do not touch the metal contacts. You could expose the storage area to static electricity, which can destroy data.

Do not remove media while data is being written or read. Even when the Windows message “copying...” disappears, writing to the media might still be in progress and your data could be destroyed. Wait for the indicator light to go out.

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Connecting your modem to a telephone line

Removing media

1 Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the System tray, then click to select the media device. After the media is stopped, it is safe to remove.

2 Grasp the card and pull it straight out.

Connecting your modem to a telephone line

Your computer comes with a built-in modem that can be connected to a standard voice-grade telephone line.

The modem allows you to:

❖ Access the Internet

❖ Communicate with your office’s local area network

(LAN) or larger corporate wide area network (WAN)

For specific information about connecting to a LAN or

WAN, consult your network administrator.

❖ Send a fax directly from your computer

For more detailed information regarding your computer’s modem, visit Toshiba’s Web site at accessories.toshiba.com

.

Connecting to a phone line

Before you can communicate using the modem, you need to connect it to a telephone line. Your computer’s built-in modem port provides an RJ-11 jack, allowing you to connect the modem to a standard voice-grade telephone line.

1 Plug one end of a telephone cable (purchased separately) into the modem port on the back of the computer.

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Sample connecting the telephone cable to the modem port

2 Connect the other end to the RJ-11 wall jack.

Sample connecting to a wall jack

The modem is designed for use with a standard analog telephone line. Do not connect the modem to a digital telephone line. A digital line will damage the modem.

Now you are ready to send a fax or use the modem to connect to an online service or the Internet.

For more information on using a modem, see “Setting up for communications” on page 135

.

Using an expansion device

The expansion port is used to connect your computer to an expansion device. This is an excellent investment if you are using your computer both in and out of the office.

When you return to your desk, you can then connect to your network, print reports from your computer, or use a mouse

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Using an expansion device instead of the Toshiba Dual Pointing Device. Connecting cables for each of these devices every time you return to the office is time-consuming and inconvenient.

With an expansion device, you can leave external devices connected while you are using your computer away from your desk. When you return, you can quickly connect your computer and have immediate access to all the devices.

For more information, see the accessories information package that comes with the device or visit accessories.toshiba.com

.

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