Toshiba L350 Manual

							
111Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring the desktop
Finding your way around the desktop
Your computer’s desktop includes several standard features: icons, 
Start button, Taskbar, Notification Area, and background pattern.
(Sample Image) Windows
® 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.
Various icons are initially displayed on your system desktop, for 
example: 
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 or flash media, 
it does not go into the Recycle Bin. For more information on the 
Recycle Bin, see Windows® online Help.
If you place the cursor over an icon, a popup description of the file 
contents appears.
Start button
Taskbar
IconsNotification Area
NOTE 
						

							
112Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring the desktop
Your desktop may contain other icons depending on your 
configuration. See Windows® online Help for more specific 
information on each icon and how to use it.
Start button
You use the Start button to: 
❖ Start programs 
❖ Open documents 
❖ Adjust system settings 
❖ Find files 
❖ Access Windows
® Help and Support
❖ Suspend system activity and shut down the computer 
Whenever a procedure in this User ’s Guide instructs you to click 
Start, it means that you should click the Start button.
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 quick ly switch between the programs 
or windows.
To make a program or window the  currently active one, click the 
associated Taskbar button.
Notification Area
The Notification Area displays icons of tasks or programs that run 
continuously in the background and displays notifications. To learn 
more about each task, position th e cursor over the icon for a few 
moments and a short description of the task appears.
Typical tasks in the Notification Area are Current time, Power 
usage mode, Mouse properties, and speaker volume.
To activate a specific task, double-click the appropriate Notification 
Area icon.
NOTE 
						

							
113Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
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 browser or communications program 
❖ An Internet Service Provider (ISP ) or online service if you plan 
to use the Internet 
❖ A way to connect to the  ISP (for example modem/
Wi-Fi
®/LAN, etc. 
Using Wireless LAN connectivity
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 co nnect 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 communicatio n, slide the Wireless antenna 
ON/OFF switch to the ON position.
When the Wireless antenna ON/OFF switch is ON, the wireless 
indicator light   will be lit.
For help with common Wi-Fi
® networking problems, see  “Wireless 
networking problems” on page 165 .
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. 
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							
114Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
Accessing a network
To access a network:
❖At the office, connect an Ethern et cable to the RJ45 jack on 
your computer. For specific info rmation about connecting to 
the network, consult your netw ork administrator. Many hotels, 
airports, and offices offer Wi-Fi
® access. If your computer has 
Wi-Fi®, ask them for help when  connecting to their Wi-Fi® 
network.
❖ 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 ad ditional considerations. 
To set up a dial-up connection, us e the Connect to the Internet 
Wizard:
1 Click  Start, Control Panel , Network and Internet , and then 
Connect to the Internet .
2 Click  Dial Up .
3 Enter the phone number and account information of your 
Internet connection.
4 Click  Connect  and let the program dial the number.
The computer connect s to the Internet.
Connecting a modem to a telephone line
(Available on certain models)
Your computer may come 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. 
						

							
115Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
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.
1Plug one end of a telephone cable  (purchased separately) into 
the modem port on the back of the computer. 
(Sample Illustration) Connecting the telephone cable to the modem 
port
2 Connect the other end to the RJ-11 wall jack.
(Sample Illustration) Connecting to a wall jack
Connect the built-in modem only to ordinary analog phone lines.
Never connect the built-in modem to a digital line (ISDN).
Never connect the built-in modem to the digital connector on a 
public telephone or to a digital private branch exchange (PBX).
Never connect the built-in modem to a key telephone system for 
residences or offices.
Connection to any communication line other than an analog phone 
line could cause a computer system failure.
Now you are ready to send a fax or use the modem to connect to an 
online service or the Internet.
NOTE 
						

							
116Exploring Your Computer’s Features
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 docum ents (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 informat ion as text, images, audio, or 
video to be referenced from an ywhere 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. 
Internet Service Providers 
To connect a computer directly to  the Internet, many people and 
businesses use an Internet Servi ce 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. 
						

							
117Exploring Your Computer’s Features
An overview of using the Internet
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
Once you have established an ISP account, you can connect to the 
Internet.
1 Connect your computer’s modem (a vailable on certain models) 
to a telephone line. For more information on connecting a 
modem, see  “Connecting a modem to a telephone line” on 
page 114 .
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. 
Surfing the Internet
Once connected to the Internet, th e 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 Locat or (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 tran sfers 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. 
						

							
118Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring audio features
❖Internet chat rooms
A chat room is a Web site that  offers a place where people with 
similar interests and ideas comm unicate 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 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 co mputer 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 docum ent 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 the computer’s 
internal microphone (available on certain models) or an optional 
external microphone. You can listen to sound files or audio CDs 
using the built-in speakers, headphones, or external speakers.
Recording sounds
You may record sounds using the computer’s internal microphone 
(available on certain models) or by connecting an optional external 
microphone.
Using a microphone
1 If you want to use an external  microphone, connect it to the 
computer. 
						

							
119Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring audio features
2Click  Start, All  Programs , Accessories , and then Sound 
Recorder .
(Sample Image) Soun d Recorder screen
3 Click the  Start Recording  button.
4 Speak normally into the microphone. 
5 When you have finished recording, click the  Stop Recording 
button.
The  Save As  dialog box appears.
6 To save the file, type a file name, and then click  Save.
Using external speakers or headphones
Your computer is equipped with  a full stereo sound system with 
internal speakers. Instead of usin g the internal speakers, you can 
connect headphones or a pair  of external stereo speakers.
Before putting on headphones to listen, turn the volume down. Do 
not set the volume too high when using headphones. Continuous 
exposure to loud sound can harm your hearing.
TECHNICAL NOTE: When using amplified speakers, use 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.
To adjust the volume:
❖ For external speakers, use the vo lume controls on each speaker.
❖ For headphones, use the computer’s volume control.
Start Recording/Stop  Recording button 
						

							
120Exploring Your Computer’s Features
We b  C a m e r a
Web Camera
(Available on certain models)
Your computer may come with a built-in Web camera. With this 
Web camera you can do the following:
❖ Take pictures and record videos with your notebook computer
❖ Chat with others and have them see you while using instant 
messaging (IM) programs
❖ Have video conference calls
To E-mail, instant message or video conference, you must be 
connected to the Internet. 
Depending on your computer model, the process of sending E-mail, 
taking pictures or recording video messages may vary. 
The Web camera software, by default, should already be running in 
the Notification Area.
Using an ExpressCard®
The ExpressCard®slot supports the use of ExpressCard media. The 
slot also supports ho t swapping, which allo ws you to replace one 
ExpressCard with another while the computer is on.
Inserting an ExpressCard®
Before you insert an ExpressCard®, refer to the documentation that 
comes with the card to see if you  need to do anything before you 
insert it. 
To insert an ExpressCard:
1 Locate the ExpressCard slot on  the side of the computer.
2 Insert the ExpressCard.
(Sample Illustration) Inserting an ExpressCard
NOTE