Toshiba Satellite S50a Manual

							101Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
In the Windows® Store you can search for and browse 
thousands of apps, all grouped into easy to find categories.
Setting up for communications
To connect to the Internet 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 
Wi-Fi
®/broadband connection, etc.)
Connect to the Internet
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.
Follow the steps below to set up your Wireless connection.
1Move your pointer to the upper-right corner of the screen 
or swipe in from the right edge. When the Windows
® 
charms appear, click the 
Settings ( ) charm.
2Click or touch the 
Wi-Fi () icon.
The Networks screen appears.
3Select your network.
4Click or touch 
Connect.
5Enter the network security key (if applicable).
6Click or touch 
Next.
Your computer should then be connected.
To enable or disable wireless communication, use the 
F12 key. For more information see “TOSHIBA Function 
Keys” on page 152.
When Airplane mode is OFF, the wireless indicator light 
 will be lit.
NOTE
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							102Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring audio features
For help with common Wi-Fi® networking problems, see 
“Wireless networking problems” on page 140.
Connecting your computer to a network
You can connect your computer to a network to increase its 
capabilities and functionality. 
Accessing a network
For specific information about connecting to the network, 
consult your network administrator. Many hotels, airports, 
and offices offer Wi-Fi
® access.
Exploring audio features
You can use your computer to record sounds using the 
computer’s internal microphones (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 
microphones (available on certain models) or by connecting 
an optional external microphone.
Using a microphone
1If you want to use an external microphone, connect it to 
the computer.
2From the Start screen begin typing 
Sound Recorder 
and click or touch your selection. If you are in the 
Desktop, press the 
Windows® ( ) key to display the 
Start screen. Click or touch the 
Search ( ) icon at the 
upper-right corner of the screen and, in the Search field, 
type 
Sound Recorder.
 
(Sample Image) Sound Recorder screen
3Click or touch the Start Recording button.
4Speak normally into the microphone. 
Start Recording/Stop Recording button 
						

							103Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Exploring audio features
5When you have finished recording, click or touch the 
Stop Recording button.
The 
Save As dialog box appears.
6To save the file, type a file name, and then click or touch 
Save.
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.
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:
1Locate the headphone jack on the computer.
2Using 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 
connector.
To adjust the volume:
❖For external speakers, use the volume controls on each 
speaker.
❖For headphones, use the computer’s volume control. 
						

							104Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Using the Web Camera
Using the Web Camera
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 computer
❖Chat with others and have them see you while using 
instant messaging (IM) programs
❖Have video conference calls
To email, instant message or video conference, you must 
be connected to the Internet.
Depending on your computer model, the process of sending 
email, taking pictures or recording video messages may vary. 
To access the Web Camera, on the Start screen click or 
touch the 
Camera tile. The Web Camera indicator light 
glows when the Web Camera is active.
When the Web camera is not active the indicator light is 
off.
Using the Memory card reader
The Memory card reader supports the use of Secure 
Digital™ (SD™, SDHC™, SDXC™), miniSD™, microSD™, or 
MultiMediaCard
® (MMC®) media. These media can be used 
with a variety of digital products: digital music players, 
cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, digital video 
camcorders, etc.
To use a microSD™ Card or miniSD™ Card, an SD™ 
adapter is required.
The Memory card reader may also support other types of 
media.
Do not use the Copy Disk function for this type of media. 
To copy data from one media to another, use the drag-
and-drop feature of the Windows® operating system.
NOTE
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							105Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Using the Memory card reader
Inserting memory media
To locate your Memory card reader, please refer to your 
Quick Start document.
The following instructions apply to all types of supported 
media devices.
1Turn the media so that the contacts (metal areas) are 
face down.
2Push the media into the adapter until it stops.
    
(Sample Illustration) Inserting memory media
When inserting memory media, do not touch the metal 
contacts. You could expose the storage area to static 
electricity, which can destroy data.
Always remove memory media when not in use.
Removing memory media
1If you are not currently on the Desktop, choose the 
Desktop tile on the Start screen, otherwise skip to 
step 2.
2Prepare the card for removal by clicking on or touching 
the 
Show hidden icons button ( ), if necessary, in the 
notification area and then selecting the 
Safely Remove 
Hardware and Eject Media
 icon.
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							106Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Using the Memory card reader
3Highlight, and then click or touch the item you would like 
to eject.
If the system is unable to prepare the media for safe 
removal, a message will tell you to try again later. If the 
media can be removed now, the system displays 
Safe 
to Remove Hardware
.
If the computer has a spring-loaded adapter slot, see 
step 4; otherwise, skip to step 5.
4Gently press the card inward to release it.
The card pops out slightly.
5Grasp the card and pull it straight out.
    (Sample Illustration) Removing memory media
Do not remove memory media while data is being written 
or read. Even when the Windows® message “copying...” 
disappears, writing to the media might still be in progress 
and your data could be destroyed. Wait for the indicator 
light to go out. 
						

							107
Chapter 5
Utilities
Your computer includes several utilities designed to help you 
to reconfigure your system to best meet your individual 
needs. Together, these allow you to ascertain certain system 
details, set additional options, or change default options. 
These utilities are described in this chapter.
The utilities described in this chapter, and the icons 
shown in the sample images are applicable only if the 
related utility is available on your system.
❖eco Utility®
❖Supervisor password
❖User password
❖System Settings
❖Sleep Utilities
❖Function Key
❖Recovery Media Creator
❖Service Station
❖TOSHIBA Application Installer
NOTE 
						

							108Utilities
eco Utility®
eco Utility® 
The eco Utility® monitors your power savings from using the 
eco power plan by tracking real-time power consumption 
and accumulated savings over time.
To access the eco Utility
®:
1From the Start screen begin typing 
eco Utility.
2Click or touch 
eco Utility.
The eco Utility
® window appears.
   
(Sample Image) eco Utility® window
3To activate the eco power plan, select eco Mode on the 
left side.
4Click or touch the 
eco Mode button.
5Click or touch 
Close.
For more information on the eco power plan and utility, click 
or touch the 
Help button at the bottom of the window. 
						

							109Utilities
Password Utility
Password Utility
Setting a password lets you walk away from your computer 
while providing additional protection for your files. When you 
set a password, you must enter the password before you 
can work on your computer again.
TOSHIBA supports different types of passwords on your 
computer:
❖A supervisor password—Prohibits unauthorized users 
from accessing certain functions such as System 
Settings. This is useful if more than one person uses the 
computer. 
❖A user password—Prevents unauthorized users from 
starting the computer.
When setting up passwords, keep the following in mind:
❖The supervisor password must be set before the user 
password, or the user password must be deleted and 
then re-entered after the supervisor password is set.
❖The user password can be set up under the supervisor 
password.
Using a supervisor password
A supervisor password prevents other users from changing 
hardware configuration options.
Setting a supervisor password
If you choose to set a supervisor or user password, 
TOSHIBA strongly recommends that you save your 
password in a location where you can later access it 
should you not remember it.
TOSHIBA is not responsible for any losses that may 
occur to you, your organization or others as a result of the 
inability to access your computer. 
						

							110Utilities
Password Utility
To set a supervisor password:
1To access Supervisor Password from the Start screen 
begin typing 
Password Utility.
2Click or touch 
Password Utility.
 (Sample Image) Supervisor Password tab
3Click or touch Supervisor Password.
4Click or touch 
Set.
5Enter your password, and then enter it again to verify.
6Click or touch 
Set.
Under User Policy, this option may or may not ask for 
password verification.
7Click or touch 
OK to save your password as a text file.
Password Utility will suggest “memo.txt” for the text file 
name. If you have saved a password previously, using 
the same name may overwrite your password text file 
with the new password. By using a different name, you 
can prevent overwriting your previously stored 
passwords.
8Click or touch 
Save.
9Click or touch 
OK.
NOTE
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