Toshiba Satellite 3000 S Manual

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Mobile Computing
Charging batteries
Maximizing battery life
A high-capacity battery pack can be recharged many times. Over 
time it will gradually lose its ability to hold a charge. To maximize 
the life of your battery:

Avoid leaving the computer plugged in and unused for more 
than a few hours. Overcharging the battery may shorten its 
life.

If you are not going to use the computer for a long period of 
time, remove the main battery, and the secondary battery (if 
fitted).

Alternate between batteries if you have a spare.

Make sure your computer is turned off or in Hibernation 
mode when you are replacing a battery.

Store spare batteries in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.
NOTE: For optimum DVD performance, Toshiba 
recommends that you play DVDs while running on AC power 
rather than on battery power.
NOTE: Battery charge time may vary depending on the 
applications, power management settings, and features 
used.
Charging batteries 
The main battery and the optional secondary battery need to be 
charged before you can use them to power the computer.  
						

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Mobile Computing
Charging batteries
Charging the main and secondary batteries
To charge the main battery, plug the computer into a live wall 
outlet. It takes several hours to charge the battery with the 
computer off. It takes much longer to charge the battery while the 
computer is on.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The battery does not charge while the 
computer is consuming full power.
To charge the secondary battery, fit it in the Modular Bay and 
connect the computer to an AC power source.
A battery may not start charging immediately if:

The battery is extremely hot or cold. 
To ensure that the battery charges to its full capacity, wait until 
it reaches room temperature (50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 
to 26 degrees Celsius).

The battery is almost completely discharged. 
Leave the power connected, and the battery should begin 
charging after a few minutes.
HINT: Once a battery is fully charged, we recommend that 
you operate your computer on battery power until the battery 
discharges completely. Doing this extends battery life and 
helps ensure accurate monitoring of battery capacity.
Charging the RTC battery
The computer contains an internal battery that provides power for 
the real-time clock (RTC) and calendar.
During normal use, the main battery keeps the RTC battery 
adequately charged. Occasionally, the RTC battery may lose its  
						

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Mobile Computing
Monitoring battery power
charge completely, especially if you have had the computer turned 
off for a long time. 
If the RTC battery is low, the real-time clock and calendar may 
display the incorrect time and date, or stop working.
To recharge the RTC battery, plug in the computer and leave it 
turned off for at least 24 hours.
NOTE: When Hibernation mode is enabled and the RTC 
battery is completely discharged, a warning prompts you to 
reset the real-time clock.
Monitoring battery power
The battery light indicates the primary battery’s current charge. 
The Modular Bay light indicates the charge state of the secondary 
battery (if used). In both cases, the indicator light:

Glows green when the battery is fully charged 

Glows amber while the battery is being charged

Does not glow if the external power source is disconnected or 
if the battery is completely discharged
Determining remaining battery power
NOTE: Wait at least 16 seconds after turning on the 
computer before trying to monitor the remaining battery 
power. The computer needs this time to check the battery’s 
remaining capacity and perform its calculations.
1Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2Double-click the Power Management icon. 
						

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Mobile Computing
Monitoring battery power
3Choose the Power Save Modes tab, then under the Running 
on Batteries section, click Details.
4Click the Power Save Mode tab.
The current power source and battery power remaining 
section displays the current charge state of the battery. The 
value displays as a percentage of remaining battery charge. 
TECHNICAL NOTE: The computer drains the battery faster at 
low temperatures. Check your remaining charge frequently if 
you are working in temperatures below 50 degrees 
Fahrenheit.
The computer calculates the remaining battery charge based 
on your current rate of power use and other factors such as 
the age of the battery.
Conserving battery power 
How long a fully charged battery lasts when you are using the 
computer depends on a number of factors, such as:

How the computer is configured

How much you use the display panel instead of an external 
monitor

How much you use the hard disk and other drives

Whether you use any optional devices to which the battery 
supplies power, such as a PC Card

Where you are working—since operating time decreases at 
low temperatures
To s h i b a’s power-saving options greatly increase the length of time 
you can use the computer before it becomes necessary to recharge 
the battery. 
						

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Mobile Computing
Monitoring battery power
Toshiba has combined these options into three preset power usage 
modes: 

Long Life

Normal

High Power
To change the power usage mode, hold down both the 
Fn and F2 
keys. 
What to do when the battery runs low 
When the battery runs low you can:

Plug the computer into an external power source and recharge 
the battery.

Put the computer in Hibernation mode and replace the battery 
with a charged spare.

Save your work and turn off the computer.
If you don’t manage to do any of these things before the battery 
completely runs out of power, the computer automatically enters 
Hibernation mode and turns itself off. Hibernation mode keeps 
track of where you were so, when you turn on the power again, 
you can continue where you left off. 
The computer stores the information on what you were doing until 
the battery runs out of power. If you have Hibernation mode 
enabled (the default), the computer copies the details of your open 
programs and files to the hard disk before shutting down.
Setting battery alarms
Your computer can be configured to warn you when the battery is 
running low.
You can set multiple alarms. Each alarm can be set to alert you 
when a specified percentage of remaining battery power has been  
						

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Changing the main battery
reached. You can set how the warning occurs: sound an alarm, 
display a message, both, or none. You can also set the computer to 
enter Standby mode or Hibernation mode, or to Shutdown when 
the alarm goes off.
To set an alarm:
1Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2Double-click the Power Management icon.
3Choose the Power Save Modes tab, then under the Running 
on Batteries section, click Details.
4Click the Alarm tab and set the alarm, as desired.
Changing the main battery 
When your battery power is running low, you have two options—
connect the computer to an AC power source or install a charged 
battery.
CAUTION: When handling a battery, be careful not to drop it 
or short-circuit its terminals.
Removing the battery from the computer
1Save your work.
2Shut down the computer or place it in Hibernation mode 
according to the instructions in “Using Hibernation” on 
page 87.
3Remove all cables connected to the computer.
4Close the display panel and turn the computer upside down 
with the front side of the computer facing you. 
						

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Mobile Computing
Disposing of used batteries safely
5Push and hold the battery release latch, then firmly pull the 
battery pack toward yourself.
WARNING: If the battery is leaking or its case is cracked, put 
on protective gloves to handle it, and discard it immediately 
following the advice in “Disposing of used batteries safely” 
on page 97.
Disposing of used batteries safely 
You can recharge a battery many times. When the battery needs 
replacing, the battery light flashes amber shortly after you have 
fully recharged the battery
.
You must discard a battery if it becomes damaged.
CAUTION: The computer’s main battery is a lithium ion 
(Li-ion) battery, which can explode if not properly replaced, 
used, handled, or disposed of. Putting spent batteries in the 
trash is not only irresponsible, it may be illegal. Dispose of 
the battery as required by local ordinances or regulations.
Use only batteries recommended by Toshiba.
The materials that came with your computer may include an insert 
regarding the disposal of batteries. If not, check with your local 
government agency for information on where to recycle or dispose 
of old batteries.
Traveling tips
The environmental precautions listed in “Selecting a place to 
work” on page 41, 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. 
						

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Mobile Computing
Traveling tips

Always travel with the computer in a carrying case. Toshiba 
offers a choice of carrying cases for the computer. They all 
provide plenty of extra space for manuals, power cables, 
compact discs and diskettes. Contact your authorized Toshiba 
representative for more information.
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. 
						

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Chapter 5
Getting to Know the 
Windows  Millennium 
Edition Operating System
®
This chapter introduces the Windows® Millennium Edition 
operating system by guiding you through a few basic tasks.
If you have used the Windows
® 98 operating system before, you 
will find the Windows® Millennium Edition operating system 
familiar, since both operating systems are similar. Whether you 
have used a Windows
®operating system or not, the skill and 
confidence you will gain from this chapter will more than offset 
the short amount of time spent going through these lessons. 
As you explore your computer’s operating system further, you will 
often discover alternative ways of accomplishing a particular task.
For more detailed information on your operating system, refer to 
the Microsoft
® Windows® Millennium Edition operating system 
documentation that came with your computer. 
						

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Getting to Know the Windows Millennium Edition Operating 
System
Lesson 1: Exploring the desktop
Lesson 1: Exploring the desktop
The desktop is the launching pad for everything you can do in the 
Windows® Millennium Edition 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. 
However, the differences are not significant and do not 
indicate any change in the functionality of your system.
Finding your way around the desktop
Your computer’s desktop includes several standard features: icons, 
Start button, shortcut tray, taskbar, system tray, and background 
pattern.
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.
The icons initially displayed on your system desktop include:
My Documents—Provides a convenient place to store documents, 
graphics, or other files you want to access quickly. 
My Computer—Shows the file system for your computer and 
network (if any).