Toshiba Satellite 3000 S Manual

							191
If Something Goes Wrong
The Windows®Millennium Edition operating system is not working
Other problems may involve a device driver. See “The Windows® 
Millennium Edition operating system can help you” on 
page 193 to fix the problem.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The Windows®Millennium Edition 
operating system automatically starts in Safe mode if it 
detects that system startup failed or the Registry (the file that 
defines how the operating system is set up) is corrupted.
Step-by-step confirmation
When you turn on your computer, the operating system processes 
the start-up files. With Step-by-step confirmation, the system asks 
you to confirm each line of the start-up process once it appears.
Use this option:

When the start-up process fails while loading the start-up files

To verify all drivers are being loaded

To temporarily disable one or more specific driver(s)

To check for errors in the start-up files
The operating system uses a file called io.sys, which contains all 
the information needed to start the computer. Although your 
computer does not need the Config.Sys and Autoexec.Bat files to 
start, it does process these files to support backward compatibility  
						

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If Something Goes Wrong
The Windows®Millennium Edition operating system is not working
with some programs and device drivers. The same holds true for 
the System.Ini and Win.Ini files.
TECHNICAL NOTE: Programs and devices that are backward 
compatible are designed to work with older operating 
systems and other programs. For example, many features of 
the Windows
®Millennium Edition operating system are 
backward compatible with earlier versions of the operating 
system. This lets you use older programs with the 
Windows®Millennium Edition operating system.
Most of the information contained in these files is now stored in 
the Registry, but they are still processed during system startup. 
Bootlog.Txt file contains a record of all the components and 
drivers loaded during startup and the status of each. When you 
select Step-by-step confirmation, you can view all these files one 
line at a time to help diagnose the cause of a problem.
Internet problems
My Internet connection is very slow.
Many factors contribute to the speed with which you can surf the 
Internet. They include: modem speed, time of day (when everyone 
else is surfing, your access can be slow) and popularity of the site. 
If accessing a particular site is very slow, try later.
My browser can’t find the URL address I typed in.
Make sure you separated the domain names of the address with 
the forward slash (/). Check the spelling of each name and the 
syntax of the address carefully. A single incorrect letter or missed 
character, comma instead of period (“dot”) or other mistake makes 
it impossible for your browser to locate the site. 
						

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If Something Goes Wrong
The Windows®Millennium Edition operating system is not working
My browser can’t find a site I bookmarked.
The World Wide Web is constantly changing. A site you 
bookmarked yesterday may not be available today or its server 
may be down for temporary repair. Try again later.
The Windows® Millennium Edition operating system can 
help you
If Windows®Millennium Edition operating system has started 
properly, but you still have a problem using your computer, the 
online Help can assist you in troubleshooting the problem.
To access Windows
® Millennium Edition Help:
1Click the Start button and click Help.
2Click the Home tab, then click Troubleshooting.
3Double-click a problem you would like help with, and follow 
the steps on the screen.
Working with troubleshooters
Windows® Millennium Edition Help includes a wide range of 
helpful troubleshooters that can assist you with many common 
computer problems. For instance, if you are having difficulty 
setting up a new printer, the Print troubleshooter can walk you 
through the setup process step by step. Troubleshooters are 
available through Windows
® Help, and they are constantly 
updated and supplemented on the Microsoft Support Online Web 
site. 
You can connect to Support Online by clicking the Search Online 
Support button in Windows
® Help or by connecting to:
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/.  
						

							194
If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
Resolving a hardware conflict
If you receive an error message telling you there is a device driver 
conflict or a general hardware problem, try using Windows® 
Millennium Edition Help to troubleshoot the problem first.
For help on hardware conflicts:
1From the Help menu, double-click on Troubleshooting.
2Click Hardware and System device problems and follow 
the steps.
If there is still a problem, the Windows
® Millennium Edition 
operating system should display a message that explains what the 
conflict is.
A plan of action
The smooth operation of the system depends on the interaction of 
all devices, programs, and features. If the system or one of its 
attached devices isn’t working, resolving the problem can be time-
consuming and frustrating.
The recommended procedure for getting multiple devices to work 
together is to add and set up one device at a time. After you add 
each device, test it to make sure it and all previously connected 
devices work.
The device most recently connected to the system is the one most 
likely to be causing a hardware conflict.
Resolving hardware conflicts on your own 
Computer components need resources to accomplish a task. A 
device, such as a disk drive or a modem, needs a channel to the 
computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU). It also needs a direct 
channel to the computer’s memory to store information as it 
works. These channels of communication are commonly referred 
to as system resources. 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
Interrupt Request Channel 
The channel to the CPU is called an Interrupt Request (IRQ) 
because it interrupts what the processor is doing and requests 
some of the processor’s time. If two or more devices use the same 
IRQ, the processor does not know which device is asking for 
attention. This causes a hardware conflict.
Direct Memory Access 
Similarly, the data required by the device is stored in a specific 
place or address in memory called the Direct Memory Access 
(DMA). The DMA provides a dedicated channel for adapter cards 
to bypass the microprocessor and access memory directly. If two 
or more devices use the same DMA, the data required by one 
device overwrites the data required by the other, causing a 
hardware conflict.
Plug and Play 
With Plug and Play and the Windows® Millennium Edition 
operating system, avoiding hardware conflicts is easy. Plug and 
Play is a computer standard that helps the system BIOS (basic 
input/output system) and the operating system to automatically 
assign resources to Plug and Play-compliant devices. In theory, if 
every device connected to the computer is Plug and Play-
compliant, no two devices will compete for the same system 
resources. Plug in the device and turn on your computer. The 
operating system automatically sets up your system to 
accommodate the new device.
If you install an older (legacy) device that the operating system 
cannot recognize, it may have difficulty assigning resources to it. 
As a result, a hardware conflict can occur. To see what resources 
have been assigned to the device, see “Checking device 
properties” on page 197. 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
Resolving conflicts
There are three things you can do to resolve hardware conflicts:

Disable the device.
For an older device, remove it from the computer. For a Plug 
and Play device, see “Fixing a problem with Device 
Manager” on page 196.

Disable another system component and use its resources for 
the new device, see “Fixing a problem with Device 
Manager” on page 196.

Reconfigure the device so that its requirements do not 
conflict. Refer to the device’s documentation for instructions 
about changing settings on the device.
Fixing a problem with Device Manager 
Device Manager provides a way to check and change the 
configuration of a device.
CAUTION: Changing the default settings using Device 
Manager can cause other conflicts that make one or more 
devices unusable. Device Manager is a configuration tool for 
advanced users who understand configuration parameters 
and the ramifications of changing them.
Disabling a device 
1Click the My Computer icon with the secondary button, then 
click Properties.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
2Click the Device Manager tab.
3Select the device and click Properties.
A dialog box displays the device’s properties. 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
4In the General section of the dialog box, check the box next to 
Disable in this hardware profile.
5Click OK.
Checking device properties
Device Manager provides a way to view the properties of a device. 
Properties include the name of the manufacturer, the type of 
device, the drivers installed, and the system resources assigned to 
the device. 
To check a device’s properties:
1Click the My Computer icon with the secondary button, then 
click Properties.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
2Click the Device Manager tab.
3To view the device(s) installed, double-click the device type.
4To view the properties, double-click the device.
The operating system displays the Device Properties dialog 
box, which provides various tabs from which to choose. Some 
of the common ones are:

The General tab, which provides basic information about 
the device.

The Resources tab, which lists the resources assigned to 
the device. If you have a device conflict, it is shown in the 
Conflicting device list.

The Drivers tab, which displays the drivers being used by 
the device.
For more information about Device Manager, refer to Windows
® 
Millennium Edition online help. 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
Memory card problems 
Incorrectly connected or faulty memory modules may cause errors 
that seem to be device-related. It is worthwhile checking for these 
first:
1Click Start, then click Shut Down.
2Select Shut down, then click OK.
The operating system shuts down and turns off the computer 
automatically.
3Remove the memory module.
4Reinstall the memory module, following the instructions in 
“Installing additional memory (optional)” on page 47, 
and making sure it is seated properly.
5Check for the error again.
6If the error recurs, remove the memory module entirely and 
check for the error again.
If removing the memory module eliminates the error, the 
memory module may be faulty. If the error recurs without the 
memory module installed, the error is not caused by the 
memory module.
Power and the batteries 
Your computer receives its power through the AC adapter and 
power cable or from the system batteries (main battery and real-
time clock (RTC) battery). Power problems are interrelated. For 
example, a faulty AC adapter or power cable will neither power 
the computer nor recharge the batteries.
Here are some typical problems and how to solve them: 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
The AC power light does not come on when you plug in the 
AC adapter and power cable.
Make sure the AC adapter and power cable are firmly plugged into 
both the wall outlet and the computer.
If the AC power light still does not come on, check that the wall 
outlet is working properly by plugging in a lamp or other 
appliance.
The AC adapter and power cable work correctly, but the 
battery will not charge.
The battery doesn’t charge while the computer is consuming full 
power. Try turning off the computer.
The main battery may not be inserted correctly in the computer. 
Turn off the computer, remove the battery, clean the contacts with 
a soft dry cloth (if necessary) and replace the battery.
The battery may be too hot or too cold to charge properly. Its 
temperature needs to be in the range of 50 degrees to 88 degrees 
Fahrenheit (10 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius). If you think this is 
the probable cause, let the battery reach room temperature and try 
again.
If the battery has completely discharged, it will not begin charging 
immediately. Leave the AC adapter and power cable connected, 
wait 20 minutes and see if the battery is charging.
If the battery light is glowing after 20 minutes, let the computer 
continue charging the battery for at least another 20 minutes 
before you turn on the computer.
If the battery light does not glow after 20 minutes, the battery may 
have reached the end of its useful life. Try replacing it. 
						

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If Something Goes WrongResolving a hardware conflict
The battery appears not to power the computer for as long 
as it usually does.
If you frequently recharge a partially charged battery, it may not 
charge fully. Let the battery discharge completely, then try 
charging it again.
Check the power options using the Windows
® Millennium 
Edition Power Management utility. Have you added a device, such 
as a PC Card or memory module, that takes its power from the 
battery? Is your software using the hard disk more? Is the display 
power set to turn off automatically? Was the battery fully charged 
to begin with? All these conditions affect how long the charge 
lasts.
For more information on maximizing battery power, see 
“Charging batteries” on page 91.
Keyboard problems
If, when you type, strange things happen or nothing happens, the 
problem may be related to the keyboard itself.
The keyboard produces unexpected characters.
A keypad overlay may be on. If the numeric keypad or cursor 
control light is on, press 
Fn and F10 simultaneously to turn off the 
cursor control light or press 
Fn and F11 simultaneously to turn off 
the numeric keypad light.
If the problem occurs when both the keypad overlays are off, make 
sure the software you are using is not remapping the keyboard. 
Refer to the software’s documentation and check that the program 
does not assign different meanings to any of the keys.
You have connected an external keyboard and the operating 
system displays one or more keyboard error messages.
If you have a second keyboard, try it. If it works, the first keyboard 
may be defective or incompatible with your computer.