Toshiba L350 Manual

							
81Learning the Basics
Saving your work
Saving your work
Before you turn off the computer using the Shut Down command, 
save your work on the hard disk drive, diskette, flash media, or 
optical disc. This is one of the most important rules of computing.
When you turn off the computer  using the Sleep or Hibernate 
commands, your work should be there when you resume. 
Many programs offer a feature th at saves documents at regular 
intervals. Check your program’s do cumentation to see if it has an 
automatic save feature.
Saving files
1 In your Windows®-based application, click  File, and then  Save.
2 Click  Browse folders .
If you are working with a docum ent that already has a file 
name, this is all you need to do. If you created a new document, 
your program displays a Save As dialog box.
Use this dialog box to specify  where to store the document and 
to give it a file name.
(Sample Image) Save As dialog box
3 Choose the drive and folder where you want your file to be 
stored.
4 Type a file name, then click  Save.
HINT: To make another copy of the file you are currently working 
with, click  File, and then  Save As, and give the new file a different 
name. 
						

							
82Learning the Basics
Printing your work
File names
The Windows® operating system supports long file names that can 
contain up to 260 characters  and can include spaces. Some 
applications do not support long file names and require file names 
limited to no more th an eight characters.
You may use all the letters, numb ers, and other characters on the 
keyboard, except for these characters: \ / ? : *  > < |. File names 
are not case-sensitive.
Using a file extension 
Most programs assign an extension to the file name that identifies 
the file as being created in the pr ogram with a particular format. For 
example, Microsoft
® Word saves files with a .doc extension. Any 
file name with an extension of “.doc” is assumed to be a Microsoft® 
Word file. Creating your own extension is usually unwise, since the 
program is unlikely to recognize a strange extension and may refuse 
to handle your file correctly.
TECHNICAL NOTE: By default, the Windows® operating system does 
not show file extensions. For information on showing or hiding file 
extensions, see your Windows® online Help.
Printing your work
Ensure the operating system is set up for your printer as described 
in  “Setting up a printer” on page 61 .
HINT: You only need to set up the printer the first time you connect it. 
If you use more than one printer or are changing printers, you will 
need to set up the Windows
® operating system to run with the 
additional printer(s).
To print a file:
1 If your printer is not on, turn it on now. 
						

							
83Learning the Basics
Backing up your work
2In your Windows®-based application, click  File, and then  Print.
The program displays a Print dialog box.
(Sample Image) Print dialog box
3 Specify the print parameters. For example, the range of pages 
and number of copies to print.
4 Click  Print.
Backing up your work
Back up all the files you create in case something happens to your 
computer. You can back up your files to different types of media 
such as CDs, DVDs, diskettes, or to a network, if available.
To back up several files at  one time, use the Microsoft
® Windows® 
backup program preinstalled on th e computer’s hard disk. Also see 
“Backing up your data or your entire computer with the Windows® 
operating system” on page 172 .
HINT: Backing up all the files on your hard disk may take a 
considerable amount of time and multiple CDs/DVDs. You may 
prefer to use a high-capacity backup system, such as an external 
hard drive.
Small files can be backed up on  diskettes if an optional external 
diskette drive is available. 
						

							
84Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
Restoring your work
To restore information from your backup media to your hard disk, 
use the Restore page in the backup program. Look in the online 
Help or your operating system documentation for information on 
restoring files.
TECHNICAL NOTE: When restoring files, the backup program 
prompts you if you try to overwrite a file that already exists on the 
hard disk. Make sure the backup version is the one you want before 
overwriting the existing file.
Using the optical drive
Optical storage has become the  preferred medium for software, 
music, and video. Digital versatile discs (DVDs) provide a 
significant increase in data storage  and support features that are not 
available on any other video platform. These features include wide-
screen movies, multiple language tracks, digital surround sound, 
multiple camera angles,  and interactive menus.
For these reasons, your computer  may come with an optical drive.
TECHNICAL NOTE: Your optical drive is set to play region 1 (North 
America) DVD-ROMs. If you play a DVD disc from another region, 
the drive will automatically change to play in the format of the other 
region. The drive will allow you to change regions four times. On the 
fourth change, the region will be “locked in.” That is, the drive will 
only play DVDs from that last region. Note that changing from region 
1 to region 2 and back to region 1 is counted as two changes. 
For optimum DVD performance, it is recommended that you play 
DVDs while running the computer on AC power.
When viewing DVD movies use the DVD Player software that came 
with your computer.
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							
85Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
Optical drive components
The optical drive is located on the side of the computer. 
Your optical drive may look like this:
(Sample Illustration) Optical drive
Drive in-use indicator light —Indicates when the drive is in use. 
Eject button —Press to release the disc tray. 
Do not press the eject button or turn off the computer while the drive 
in-use indicator light is glowing. Doing so could damage the disc or 
the drive. 
When the disc tray is open, be careful not to touch the lens or the 
area around it. Doing so could cau se the drive to malfunction.
Manual eject hole —Use if you need to release the disc tray when 
the power is off. Use a straightened paper clip or other narrow 
object to press the manual eject  button located inside the hole.
Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. Pencil lead can 
break off inside the computer and damage it.
Drive in-use indicator light
Eject button
Manual eject hole 
						

							
86Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
Media control buttons
(Available on certain models)
The media control buttons located on the system control panel 
above the keyboard let you play audio CDs or DVD movies when 
the computer is on.
 (Sample Illustration) Media Control buttons
The  Mute button  allows you to mute the sound.
The  Media button  activates a media playi ng application that can 
play audio CDs or DVD movies.
The  Play/Pause button  starts playing the disc or makes it pause if 
currently playing.
The  Stop button  stops a disc that is currently playing.
The  Previous track button  returns to the preceding track on the 
disc.
The  Next track button  skips to the following track on the disc.
Inserting an optical disc 
To insert an optical disc into the drive:
1Make sure the computer is turned on.
The drive will not open if  the computer’s power is off.
2 Make sure the drive’s in-use indicator light is off.
3 Press the drive’s eject button.
The disc tray slides partially out of the drive (about 1 inch).
Mute button* Stop button*
Media button* Previous track
Next track
Play/Pause button*
button*button*
*Available on certain models 
						

							
87Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
4Grasp the tray and pull it fully open.
 (Sample Illustration) Drive tray fully extended
5Hold the disc by its edges and check that it is free of dust.
If the disc is dusty, clean it as described in  “Caring for optical 
discs” on page 91 .
6 Place the disc carefully in th e disc tray, label side up.
 (Sample Illustration) Positioning the disc in the drive
7Gently press the disc onto the center spindle until it clicks into 
place.
Handle DVDs and CDs carefully, making contact only with the center 
hole and edge. Do not touch the surface of the disc. Do not stack 
discs. If you incorrectly handle the discs, you could lose data.
8 Make sure the disc is completely on the spindle and is lying flat 
on the tray. 
						

							
88Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
If you insert the disc incorrectly, it may jam the drive. If this happens, 
contact Toshiba support for assistance.
9 Push the disc tray in by pressing gently on the center of the tray 
until it clicks into place.
You are ready to use the disc.
Playing an audio CD
Insert an audio CD and close the disc tray.
If the computer is tu rned on, Windows Media
® Player opens. 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. 
When using Windows Media® Player, your system may not be able 
to activate Sleep or Hibernation modes. To prevent this from 
occurring, close Windows Media
® Player before you select Sleep or 
Hibernation mode.
(Sample Image) Windows Media
® Player screen
NOTE
Stop buttonPlay/Pause button 
						

							
89Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
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, turn the volume down. Do 
not set the volume too high when using headphones. Continuous 
exposure to loud sound can harm your hearing.
Playing optical media
If you insert an optical disc into  the optical drive and the Auto-Run 
feature does not automatically star t your disc, try launching the 
optical disc manually. To do this, follow these steps:
1 Click  Start, and then  Computer .
2 Click the optical drive icon.
The disc drive will  run the optical disc.
If your disc does not run using this method, try using an application 
that is associated with the media on  the disc. For example, if it is a 
music CD, open Windows Media
® Player and use it to select and 
then play the CD. For other type s of media, use the associated 
software to open the files on the disc.
Recording optical media
Depending on the configuration, your computer may come with an 
optical drive that allows you to:
❖ Play pre-recorded and  recorded optical media.
❖ Read/write data and multi-media files to recordable optical 
media.
For more information regarding supported optical media formats 
please refer to your computer’s  detailed specifications at 
pcsupport.toshiba.com . 
						

							
90Learning the Basics
Using the optical drive
Due to manufacturing and quality variations in third party optical 
media (e.g., CD or DVD) or optical media players/recorders, in 
certain cases, your Toshiba optical drive may not record on certain 
optical media that bear the applicable logo, or play back optical 
media recorded by other computers or optical media recorders. 
Additionally, certain optical media recorded on your optical drive 
may not play back or operate properly on other computers or optical 
media players. These problems are not due to any defect in your 
Toshiba computer or optical drive. Please refer to your computers 
product specification for listing of specific format compatibilities.
Copy protection technology may also prevent or limit recording or 
viewing of certain optical media.
For details on how to use the software, please refer to the respective 
Online Help menus.
Removing a disc with the computer on
To remove an optical disc  with the computer turned on:
1 Press the eject bu tton on the drive.
Do not press the eject button while the in-use indicator light is 
glowing. Doing so could damage the disc or the drive. 
Also, if the disc is still spinning when you open the disc tray, wait for 
it to stop spinning before you remove it. 
2 Pull the tray out until it is fully open, remove the disc, and 
place it in its protective cover.
3 Gently press the tray in to close it.
Removing a disc with the computer off
To remove a disc with the computer turned off:
1Insert a slender object, such as  a straightened paper clip, into 
the manual eject hole. 
The disc tray slides partially out of the drive (about 1 inch).
Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. Pencil lead can 
break off inside the computer and damage it.
NOTE