Toshiba Satellite 2430 2435 Manual

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Exploring Your Options
Exchanging data with another computer
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❖Set up a home or small office network
❖Set up an advanced connection
5Click Next and follow the directions on the screen.
The computer connects to the network.
Exchanging data with another computer
To transfer a large amount of information between 
computers, you need a physical connection and a 
synchronization program. 
You can use the Windows
® XP Briefcase or a specialized 
synchronization program that transfers data using a cable 
connected to the computers’ parallel ports.
Transferring files using a parallel port connection
To transfer files using the computers’ parallel ports, you need 
a LapLink®- compatible parallel cable.
Getting started
1Connect the cable.
2Load the transfer program on both computers.
3Set any specific options.
4Start the transfer.
5When you have finished transferring files, close the 
programs on both computers. 
						

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Connecting to the Internet
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Getting help transferring files
1Click Start, then Help and Support.
The Help and Support window appears.
2Click the Index button.
3In the dialog box, type 
direct cable connections.
4Follow the online guide instructions.
Connecting to the Internet
To connect to the Internet you may need:
❖A modem (one comes with your computer) 
❖A telephone line, DSL, a cable connection, or a satellite 
link
❖A browser or communications program 
❖An Internet Service Provider (ISP) 
Once you have established an ISP account, you can access the 
Internet.
Connect to the Internet by using a telephone and modem or 
through other higher-speed communication methods, such as 
Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), cable or a satellite link.
TECHNICAL NOTE: If you are using the telephone line at home, 
disable Call Waiting before you connect through the modem. Call 
Waiting interrupts data transmission.
After your Internet connection has been made, start your Web 
browser. 
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
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Using a modem
If you’re using a modem, you connect the modem to one of 
the computer’s COM (communications) ports. The default 
setting for the modem is COM3.
If you are having trouble connecting through the modem, you 
may need to determine the current COM port name and 
possibly change it.
For more information on connecting a modem, see 
“Connecting the modem to a phone line” on page 86.
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
❖T h e  Wo r l d  Wi d e  We b
❖Signing up with an Internet Service Provider 
❖Getting started 
❖Surfing the Internet 
❖Internet features 
❖Uploading and downloading files from the Internet 
For more information about the Internet, see “Lesson 3: 
Learning about the Internet” on page 118. 
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.  
						

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An overview of using the Internet
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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. 
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.
Signing up with an Internet Service Provider 
Microsoft’s Web browser, Internet Explorer, which is 
preinstalled on your system, is automatically configured 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 access the 
Internet. 
						

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An overview of using the Internet
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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 as 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 can communicate 
in real-time, one-on-one or in groups, by typing messages 
which are instantly viewed by others on their computer 
screens.  
						

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❖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 and downloading files on 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 HTTP features of your Web browser to transfer 
large amounts of data. You can also use the File Transfer 
Protocol (FTP) supported by a separate software program. 
						

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Exploring video features
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Exploring video features
Your computer’s video features provide the viewing of 
presentations or DVD movies on the computer screen.
TECHNICAL NOTE: Video CD playback capability is not enabled 
on all systems.
HINT: There are no menus for Video CD 1.0 titles.
For more information about using WinDVD, see 
“WinDVD™” on page 167.
Changing the display properties setting
1Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select 
Properties. 
The Display Properties dialog box appears.
 
Sample Display Properties dialog box 
						

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Exploring audio features
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2Click the Settings tab.
3Slide the Screen area slider bar toward Less until the 
setting reads 800 x 600, then click Apply. 
The screen blinks momentarily while the settings are 
adjusted.
4The Monitor Settings window appears and asks if you 
want to keep the settings.
5Click Ye s.
6To change the settings back, repeat steps 2 through 5.
Display settings hot key 
Using the Fn + F5 keys, you can set your system’s display to 
view DVD movies or presentations on an external device. For 
more information, see “Display modes” on page 220.
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.
Recording sounds
You can make audio recordings and save them as .wav files 
by connecting an external microphone or other sound source  
						

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Exploring audio features
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to the microphone jack and using the Sound Recorder feature 
in the operating system.
DEFINITION: A .wav (pronounced “wave”) file is a format for 
storing sound in files.
TECHNICAL NOTE: If you record MP3 files, you will only be able 
to play them on a drive capable of playing MP3 files.
Using a microphone
1Connect an external microphone to the computer.
2Click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories, 
Entertainment, then click Sound Recorder.
Sample Sound Recorder screen
3Click the Record button and speak normally into the 
microphone. 
NOTE: You can only record 60 seconds at a time.
Positioning
bar
Record
Stop
Skip forward
Skip backward
Play 
						

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4When you have finished recording, click the Stop button.
5To hear what you just recorded, click the Play button.
6To save the file, select Save from the File menu.
Adjusting recording settings
The better the quality of the recording, the more disk space 
the sound file requires. Experiment to find a balance that fits 
your needs.
1Open Sound Recorder, if necessary (click Start, point to 
All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click 
Sound Recorder).
2In the Sound Recorder window, click Edit, then click 
Au di o  P rop er t ie s.
3In the Audio Properties dialog box, adjust the Recording 
Volume and Preferred device.
4Click OK.
Your new settings take effect the next time you record.
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.