Toshiba Satellite S50a Manual

							21Contents
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Seeking additional help .................................. 36
Check list ....................................................... 36
Precautions .................................................... 37
Important information on your computer’s 
cooling fan................................................ 39
Setting up your computer .................................... 39
Connecting to a power source ............................ 40
Charging the main battery ................................... 41
Using the computer for the first time ................... 42
Initial setup ..................................................... 42
Setting up your software ................................ 42
Registering your computer with Toshiba ............. 43
To Shut down your computer .............................. 43
To Restart your computer .................................... 44
To place your computer in Sleep mode............... 45
Adding optional external devices......................... 45
Adding memory ................................................... 46
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive ................. 46
Creating recovery media ................................ 47
Restoring from recovery media...................... 50
Refresh your PC (with user’s data) ................ 51
Reset your PC ................................................ 53
Installing drivers and applications.................. 56
Using the touch pad ............................................ 57
Adjusting touch pad settings ......................... 59
Disabling or enabling the touch pad .............. 60
Connecting an external device ...................... 60
Using external display devices ............................ 61
Selecting video cables ................................... 61
Connecting an HDMI™-compatible 
television or display device ...................... 61
Connecting an external monitor or 
projector ................................................... 62
Directing the display output when you 
turn on the computer ............................... 62
Adjusting the quality of the external 
display ...................................................... 63
Customizing your computer’s settings ................ 64 
						

							22Contents
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
Caring for your computer..................................... 64
Cleaning the computer .................................. 64
Moving the computer ..................................... 65
Using a computer lock ................................... 65
Chapter 2: Learning the Basics .............................. 66
Computing tips .................................................... 66
Using the keyboard.............................................. 67
Function keys ................................................. 68
Special Windows
® keys  ................................ 69
Touch screen ....................................................... 69
Touch screen navigation ................................ 69
Mouse properties ................................................. 70
Starting an app .................................................... 71
Starting an app from the Start screen ........... 71
Saving your work ................................................. 72
Backing up your work .......................................... 72
Using the optical disc drive ................................. 72
Viewing Blu-ray Disc™ movies ...................... 73
Optical disc drive components ...................... 74
Media control buttons .................................... 75
Inserting an optical disc  ................................ 76
Playing optical media ..................................... 76
Recording optical media ................................ 77
Removing a disc with the computer on ......... 78
Removing a disc with the computer off ......... 78
Toshiba’s online resources .................................. 78
Chapter 3: Mobile Computing ................................ 79
Toshiba’s energy-saver design ............................ 79
Running the computer on battery power ............. 79
Battery Notice ................................................ 80
Power management ....................................... 81
Charging batteries ............................................... 81
Charging the main battery ............................. 81
Charging the RTC battery .............................. 82
Monitoring battery power .................................... 83
Determining remaining battery power............ 84 
						

							23Contents
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What to do when the main battery runs 
low ............................................................ 85
Setting battery notifications ........................... 85
Conserving battery power ............................. 86
Power Plans ................................................... 87
Using the eco power plan .................................... 88
Changing the main battery................................... 89
Removing the battery from the computer ...... 90
Inserting a charged battery ............................ 91
Taking care of your battery .................................. 92
Safety precautions ......................................... 92
Maintaining your battery ................................ 93
Disposing of used batteries ................................. 93
Traveling tips........................................................ 94
Chapter 4: Exploring Your Computer’s Features .... 96
Exploring the Start screen ................................... 96
Charms........................................................... 97
Tiles ................................................................ 98
Exploring the desktop .......................................... 98
Finding your way around the desktop ........... 98
Windows
® Store ................................................. 100
Setting up for communications.......................... 101
Connecting your computer to a network ..... 102
Exploring audio features .................................... 102
Recording sounds ........................................ 102
Using external speakers or headphones ..... 103
Using the Web Camera ...................................... 104
Using the Memory card reader .......................... 104
Inserting memory media .............................. 105
Removing memory media ............................ 105
Chapter 5: Utilities ................................................ 107
eco Utility® ........................................................ 108
Password Utility ................................................. 109
Using a supervisor password ...................... 109
Using a user password ................................ 111
Deleting a user password ............................ 113
System Settings ................................................. 114 
						

							24Contents
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Sleep Utilities ..................................................... 116
USB Sleep and Charge ................................ 116
Enabling/Disabling USB Sleep and 
Charge.................................................... 118
Power supply mode settings ....................... 118
Function Key ...................................................... 119
Recovery Media Creator .................................... 120
Service Station ................................................... 120
TOSHIBA Application Installer ........................... 121
Chapter 6: If Something Goes Wrong .................. 122
Problems that are easy to fix ............................. 122
Problems when you turn on the computer ........ 123
The Windows
® operating system is not 
working ........................................................ 125
Using Startup options to fix problems ......... 126
Internet problems ......................................... 128
The Windows
® operating system can 
help you.................................................. 129
Fixing a problem with Device Manager ............. 129
Checking device properties ......................... 129
Power and the batteries..................................... 130
Keyboard problems ........................................... 132
Display problems ............................................... 132
Disk or storage drive problems.......................... 134
Error-checking ............................................. 134
Optical disc drive problems ............................... 136
Sound system problems .................................... 139
Printer problems ................................................ 139
Wireless networking problems........................... 140
DVD Blu-ray Disc™ operating problems ........... 142
Develop good computing habits........................ 143
Data and system configuration backup in 
the Windows
® operating system ............ 144
If you need further assistance............................ 149
Contacting Toshiba ...................................... 150
Other Toshiba Internet Web sites ...................... 150
Toshiba’s worldwide offices .............................. 150 
						

							25Contents
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Appendix A: TOSHIBA Function Keys .................. 152
Functions ........................................................... 152
Help file ........................................................ 153
Display brightness........................................ 153
Output (Display switch)  ............................... 154
Disabling or enabling the touch pad ............ 155
Media buttons .............................................. 155
Volume Mute ................................................ 155
Disabling or enabling wireless devices ........ 156
Keyboard Function keys .............................. 156
Zoom (Display resolution) ............................ 156
Appendix B: Power Cord/Cable Connectors ........ 157
Glossary .......................................................... 158
Index ............................................................... 173 
						

							26
Introduction
Welcome to the world of powerful, portable, multimedia 
computing. With your Toshiba computer, your work and 
entertainment can accompany you wherever you go.
Your computer is ENERGY STAR
® qualified.
Toshiba is a partner in the Environmental Protection 
Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR
® Program and has designed 
this computer to meet the latest ENERGY STAR® guidelines 
for energy efficiency. Your computer ships with the power 
management options preset to a configuration that will 
provide the most stable operating environment and optimum 
system performance for both AC power and battery modes.
To conserve energy, your computer’s power management 
features have been pre-configured to activate the display 
Sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity; the system Sleep 
mode is activated after 30 minutes of user inactivity. We 
recommend that you leave these and other energy saving 
features active, so that your computer will operate at its 
maximum energy efficiency. You can wake the computer 
from Sleep mode by pressing the power button. See the 
“Mobile Computing” section of the Toshiba User’s Guide for 
more information on using power management settings to 
conserve computer energy. 
						

							27Introduction
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3 When considering additions to your home office, purchase 
products that have earned the ENERGY STAR
® for all your 
equipment needs, which can save you money, save energy, 
and help protect the climate.
Visit http://www.energystar.gov or 
http://www.energystar.gov/powermanagement for more 
information regarding the ENERGY STAR
® Program.
This computer is compatible with European Union 
Directive 2011/65/EU, Restriction of the use of certain 
Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic 
equipment (RoHS), which restricts use of certain 
chemicals including, but not limited to, lead, cadmium, 
mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. Toshiba 
requires its computer component suppliers to meet 
RoHS requirements and verifies its suppliers’ 
commitment to meeting RoHS requirements by 
conducting component sampling inspections during the 
product design approval process.
Certain Microsoft® software product(s) included with this 
computer may use technological measures for copy 
protection. IN SUCH EVENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE 
TO USE THE PRODUCT IF YOU DO NOT FULLY 
COMPLY WITH THE PRODUCT ACTIVATION 
PROCEDURES. Product activation procedures and 
Microsoft’s privacy policy will be detailed during initial 
launch of the product, or upon certain reinstallations of 
the software product(s) or reconfigurations of the 
computer, and may be completed by Internet or 
telephone (toll charges may apply).
Some software may differ from its retail version (if 
available), and may not include user manuals or all 
program functionality.
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							28Introduction
This guide
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
The product specifications and configuration information 
are designed for a product Series. Your particular model 
may not have all the features and specifications listed or 
illustrated. For more detailed information about the 
features and specifications on your particular model, 
please visit Toshiba’s Web site at support.toshiba.com.
While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of 
publication to ensure the accuracy of the information 
provided herein, product specifications, configurations, 
prices, system/component/options availability are all 
subject to change without notice. For the most 
up-to-date product information about your computer, or 
to stay current with the various computer software or 
hardware options, visit Toshiba’s Web site at 
support.toshiba.com. 
This guide
This guide introduces the computer's features as well as 
some basic procedures needed to perform tasks in 
Windows 8.1. 
You can:
❖Read the entire guide from beginning to end.
❖Skim through and stop when a topic interests you.
❖Use the table of contents and the index to find specific 
information.
NOTE 
						

							29Introduction
Safety icons
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
Safety icons
This manual contains safety instructions that must be 
observed to avoid potential hazards that could result in 
personal injuries, damage to your equipment, or loss of data. 
These safety cautions have been classified according to the 
seriousness of the risk, and icons highlight these instructions 
as follows:
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not 
avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not 
avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not 
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not 
avoided, may result in property damage.
Provides important information.
Other icons used 
Additional icons highlight other helpful or educational 
information:
TECHNICAL NOTE: This icon indicates technical 
information about the computer.
HINT: This icon indicates helpful hints and tips.
DEFINITION: This icon indicates the definition of a term 
used in the text.
NOTE 
						

							30Introduction
Documentation
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
Your computer’s features and specifications
Certain computer chassis are designed to accommodate all 
possible configurations for an entire product Series. Your 
select model may not have all the features and specifications 
corresponding to all of the icons or switches shown on the 
computer chassis, unless you have selected all those 
features.
This information applies to all the features and icons 
described in this guide.
Below are examples of some of the many possible icons 
used on your computer:
(Sample Illustration) System icons
Documentation
Your computer comes with the following documentation:
❖An electronic version of the User’s Guide (this document)
❖A Quick Start document
❖It may also include other documentation
For accessory information, visit Toshiba’s Web site at 
accessories.toshiba.com.
Service options
Toshiba offers a full line of service programs to complement 
its standard limited warranty. Toshiba’s standard limited 
warranty, extended warranty, and service upgrade terms and 
conditions are available at warranty.toshiba.com.
To stay current on the most recent software and hardware 
options for your computer, and for other product information, 
be sure to regularly check the Toshiba Web site at 
support.toshiba.com.
If you have a problem or need to contact Toshiba, see “If 
Something Goes Wrong” on page 122.