Toshiba L350 Manual

							
101Mobile Computing
Monitoring main battery power
❖How much you use the hard disk, optical drive, diskette drives, 
or other optional devices
❖ Where you are working, since  operating time decreases at low 
temperatures
There are various ways in which you can conserve power and 
extend the operating time of your battery:
❖ Enable Sleep or Hibernation, which saves power when you turn 
off the computer and turn it back on again
❖ Use the Windows
® power-saving option plans
These power-saving options control the way in which the computer 
is configured. By using them, y ou can increase the length of time 
you can use the computer before yo u need to recharge the battery.
Microsoft
® has combined these options into preset Power Plans. 
Using one of these power plans lets you choose between maximum 
power savings and peak system performance. You may also set 
individual power-saving options to suit your own needs.
The following sections describe how to choose a Power Plan and 
discuss each power-saving option.
Power Plans
You can choose a predefined Power Plan or select your own 
combination of power options. To do this:
1 Click  Start, Control Panel , Mobile PC , and then Power 
Options . 
The Windows
® Power Options window appears.
(Sample Image) Windows
® Power Options window 
						

							
102Mobile Computing
Monitoring main battery power
2Select an appropriate plan for  your work environment or create 
your own custom plan.
3 Click  Create a Power Plan  to set up a new plan.
To edit a plan or to edit advanced settings, continue to the following 
steps.
4 Click  Change Plan Settings  to choose the plan you want to 
edit.
This screen allows you to change basic settings.
5 Click  Change Advanced Settings  to access settings for 
battery notification levels, hard drive power save time, etc.
You can click on the plus signs  to expand each item and to see 
what settings are available for each item.
6 Click  Save Changes  to save the plan changes you have 
performed.
By default the three power plans Balanced, Power Saver, and High 
Performance are satisfactory for mo st people and do not need to be 
edited. The Power Saver plan is th e best used for maximum battery 
time. The High Performance plan wi ll give you the shortest battery 
time, but the highest performa nce from your computer. The 
Balanced plan is a compromi se between battery time and 
performance.
Using a hot key to set the Power Plan
You may use a hot key to set the Power Plan.
To set the Power Plan: 
1 Press 
Fn and F2 simultaneously to display the Power Plan hot 
key card.
 (Sample Image) Power Plan hot key card
NOTE 
						

							
103Mobile Computing
Changing the main battery
2While continuing to press Fn, press F2 until you select the 
desired Power Plan.
The Power Plan options are: Balanced, Power Saver, and High 
Performance. 
3 Release the 
Fn key.
The hot key card disappears. You  are now in the selected mode.
Changing the main battery
When your main battery has run out of power, you have two 
options: plug in the AC adaptor or  install a charged main battery.
Never short circuit the battery pack by either accidentally or 
intentionally bringing the battery terminals in contact with another 
conductive object. This could cause serious injury or fire, and could 
also damage the battery pack and computer.
❖Never expose a battery pack to abnormal shock, vibration or 
pressure. The battery packs internal protective device could 
fail, causing it to overheat or ignite, resulting in caustic liquid 
leakage, or explosion or fire, possibly resulting in death or 
serious injury.
TECHNICAL NOTE: To avoid losing any data, save your files and 
then either completely shut down your computer or put it into 
Hibernation mode before changing the main battery.
Removing the battery from the computer
To remove the battery:
1Save your work.
2 Turn off the computer or place it in Hibernation mode 
according to the instructions in  “Using and configuring 
Hibernation mode” on page 67 .
3 Unplug and remove any cables connected to the computer, 
including the AC adaptor.
4 Close the display panel and turn the computer upside down. 
						

							
104Mobile Computing
Changing the main battery
5Slide the battery release lock  to the unlocked position.
(Sample Illustration) Unlocking the battery release lock
6 Slide the battery release latch to release the battery.
7 Pull the discharged battery out of the computer.
 (Sample Illustration) Removing the battery
If the battery is leaking or its case is cracked, put on protective 
gloves to handle it, and discard it immediately. Always dispose of 
used battery packs in compliance  with all applicable laws and 
regulations. Put insulating tape, such as cellophane tape, on the 
electrode during transportation to avoid a possible short circuit, fire 
or electric shock. Failure to do  so could possibly result in serious 
injury. 
						

							
105Mobile Computing
Changing the main battery
Inserting a charged battery
To insert a battery:
1Wipe the terminals of the charge d battery with a clean cloth to 
ensure a good connection.
2 Insert the charged battery into the slot until the latch clicks.
The battery pack has been designe d so that you cannot install it 
with reverse polarity.
If the battery does not slide into the slot easily, move the battery 
release lock to the unlocked position and try again. Do not force the 
battery into position.
(Sample Illustration) Inserting the battery
3 Slide the battery release lo ck to the locked position.
(Sample Illustration) Locking the battery release lock 
						

							
106Mobile Computing
Taking care of your battery
4Turn the computer right side up.
5 Reconnect any cables that were removed in step 3 of 
“Removing the battery from the computer” on page 103 .
6 Restart the computer.
Taking care of your battery
The following sections offer tips on how to take care of your battery 
and prolong its life.
Safety precautions
❖If the battery pack produces an  odor, overheats or changes 
color or shape while it is being used or charged, turn off the 
computer’s power immediately and disconnect the power 
cord/cable from the power socket . Carefully remove the battery 
pack from the computer.
❖ Do not try to disassemble a battery pack.
❖ Do not overcharge or reverse  charge a battery. Overcharging 
will shorten its life, and reverse charging could damage it.
❖ Avoid touching the metal terminals of the battery with another 
metal object. Short-circuiting the battery can cause it to 
overheat and may cause damage to the battery or the computer.
❖ Do not incinerate a spent battery, as this could cause it to 
explode and release caustic liquid.
❖ If a battery is leaking or dama ged, replace it immediately. Use 
protective gloves when handling a damaged battery.
❖ To replace the main battery, use an identical battery that you 
can purchase through the Toshiba Web site at
 
accessories.toshiba.com .
❖ A reverse polarity condition should be avoided with all 
batteries. The main battery is  designed so that it cannot be 
installed in reverse polarity. 
❖ Charge the battery only in the co mputer or in a battery charger 
designated as an approved option.
❖ When you install the battery  pack, you should hear a click 
when it is seated properly.
❖ Do not expose the battery pack  to fire. The battery pack could 
explode. 
						

							
107Mobile Computing
Taking care of your battery
Maintaining your battery
Fully discharging your battery pack will allow better accuracy of 
the battery meter.
To fully discharge your battery pack:
❖ Periodically, disconnect the co mputer from a power source and 
operate it on battery power until the battery pack fully 
discharges. Before doing so, follow the steps below:
1 Turn off the computer’s power.
2 Disconnect the AC adaptor a nd turn on the computer’s 
power. If it does not turn on, go to step  4.
3 Operate the computer on battery power for five minutes. If 
the battery pack has at least fi ve minutes of operating time, 
continue operating until the battery pack is fully 
discharged. If the battery light flashes or there is some 
other warning to indicate a  low battery, go to step 4.
4 Connect the AC adaptor to the computer and the power 
cord/cable to a power outlet. The DC-IN or AC power-
light should glow green, and the battery light should glow 
amber to indicate that the batter y pack is being charged. If 
the DC-IN or AC power-light indicator does not glow, 
power is not being supplied. Check the connections for the 
AC adaptor and power cord/cable.
5 Charge the battery pack until  the battery light glows green. 
❖ If you have extra battery packs, rotate their use.
❖ If you will not be using the system for an extended period, 
more than one month, re move the battery pack.
❖ If you are not going to use the  computer for more than eight 
hours, disconnect the AC adaptor.
❖ Store spare battery packs in a  cool dry place out of direct 
sunlight. 
						

							
108Mobile Computing
Disposing of used batteries
Disposing of used batteries
The life of a battery pack depends on usage. When the battery pack 
needs replacing, the main battery light flashes amber shortly after 
you have fully recharged the battery.    
You must discard a batter y if it becomes damaged.
Never attempt to dispose of a battery pack by burning or by throwing 
it into a fire, and never allow exposure to a heating apparatus (e.g., 
microwave oven). Heat can cause a battery pack to explode and/or 
release caustic liquid, both which may possibly cause serious injury.
Always dispose of used battery packs in compliance with all 
applicable laws and regulations. Put insulating tape, such as 
cellophane tape, on the electrode during transportation to avoid a 
possible short circuit, fire or electric shock. Failure to do so could 
possibly result in serious injury.
Always use the battery pack supplied as an accessory or an 
equivalent battery pack specified in the Users Manual. Other battery 
packs have different voltage and terminal polarities. Use of non-
conforming battery packs could generate smoke or cause fire or 
rupture, possibly resulting in serious injury.
After repeated use, the batteries will  finally lose their ability to hold 
a charge and you will need to replace them. Under certain 
applicable laws and regulations, it may be illegal to dispose of old 
batteries by placing them in the trash.
Please be kind to our shared environment. Check with your local 
government authority for details regarding where to recycle old 
batteries or how to dispose of them properly. If you cannot find the 
information you need elsewhere,  call Toshiba at: (800) 457-7777.
In addition, Toshiba’s recycling initiatives include recycling 
programs, events and consumer  promotions. For details, visit 
www.ToshibaDirect.com , select Recycling & Trade-in programs, or 
enter  Recycle  in the search bar.
Toshiba is dedicated to preservi ng the environment by sponsoring 
Call2Recycle™ , a program of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling 
Corporation. For more information  and for drop-off locations, visit 
www.rbrc.org  or call 1-800-822-8837. 
						

							
109Mobile Computing
Traveling tips
Notice regarding CR coin cell batteries, applicable to California, 
U.S.A. only:Perchlorate Material - special handling may apply. 
See http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/h azardouswaste/perchlorate/
Traveling tips
The environmental precautions listed in  “Selecting a place to work” 
on page 37 , also apply while traveling.
❖ Never leave your computer on a sunny ledge or in a place 
where it could get wet or covered in dust.
❖ Always travel with the comput er in a carrying case. Toshiba 
offers a choice of carrying cases  for the computer. They all 
provide plenty of extra space  for manuals, power cords, and 
compact discs. Contact your authorized Toshiba representative 
for more information or visit Toshiba’s Web site at 
accessories.toshiba.com .
TECHNICAL NOTE: When traveling by air, you may be required to 
pass your notebook through airport security equipment. The X-ray 
equipment will not harm your computer.
Before using your computer aboard an aircraft, make sure the 
Wireless antenna ON/OFF switch is set to the OFF position if your 
computer has wireless LAN capability.
NOTE 
						

							
110
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® 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.