Toshiba Satellite S50a Manual

							41Getting Started
Charging the main battery
2Plug the AC adaptor cord into the DC-IN on the side of 
the computer.
To locate your DC-IN port, please refer to your Quick 
Start document.
3Connect the power cord/cable to a live electrical outlet.
The AC power light on the indicator panel glows white.
Never attempt to connect or disconnect a power plug 
with wet hands. Failure to follow this instruction could 
result in an electric shock, possibly resulting in serious 
injury.
The computer’s main battery light gives you an 
indication of the main battery’s current charge:
❖Glows amber while the main battery is being charged 
(AC adaptor connected)
❖Glows white when the main battery is fully charged
❖Is unlit when the main battery has discharged, the 
battery is not charging, or the AC adaptor is not 
plugged into the computer or AC outlet
❖Flashes amber when the main battery charge is low 
and it is time to recharge the main battery or plug in 
the AC adaptor
If the AC power light flashes amber during charging, 
either the main battery is malfunctioning, or it is not 
receiving correct input from the AC power supply.
Charging the main battery
The computer battery may not be accessible by the user.
Before using the battery to power the computer, you must 
charge the battery.
To charge the battery, leave the computer plugged into an 
AC power source with the computer turned off until the 
battery light glows white. After that, the battery will be 
completely charged and ready to power the computer.
_+
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							42Getting Started
Using the computer for the first time
Battery life and charge time may vary depending on the 
applications power management settings, and features 
used.
Using the computer for the first time
The computer is now ready for you to turn it on and begin 
using it, see “Exploring Your Computer’s Features” on 
page 96.
When opening or closing the display panel, place one 
hand on the palm rest to hold the computer in place and 
use the other hand to slowly open or close the display 
panel.
To avoid damaging the display panel, do not force it 
beyond the point where it moves easily and never lift the 
computer by the display panel. 
Do not press or push on the display panel and be careful 
to remove any pens or other objects from the keyboard 
area before closing the display panel.
Initial setup
The Startup screen is the first screen displayed when you 
turn on your computer for the first time. Follow the on-screen 
instructions on each screen in order to properly install the 
operating system and begin using your computer.
Setting up your software
When you turn on the computer for the first time, do not 
turn off the power again until the operating system has 
loaded completely. 
The names of windows displayed, and the order in 
which windows appear, may vary according to your 
software setup choices.
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							43Getting Started
Registering your computer with Toshiba
The first time you turn on your computer, the setup guides 
you through steps to set up your software. Follow the on-
screen instructions.
Registering your computer with Toshiba
Product registration is strongly recommended, and allows 
Toshiba to send you periodic updates, announcements, and 
special offers applicable to your Product. Product 
registration can be completed by one of three methods:
1From the Toshiba Web site at register.toshiba.com: Type 
in the requested information and complete the 
registration process.
2From the Start screen: Type 
Registration while in the 
Start screen, locate and complete the registration 
process.
3From 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 
Registration. In the list that appears, 
click or touch 
Registration and complete the 
registration process.
Failure to complete Product Registration will not diminish 
your rights under the Toshiba Standard Limited Warranty.
To register online, an Internet connection is required.
To Shut down your computer
1Press the Windows® ( ) key to display the Start 
screen.
Pressing the power button before shutting down the 
Windows® operating system could cause you to lose 
your work. Make sure the system indicator panel’s 
storage drive light and the drive in-use light are off. If you 
turn off the power while a disk/disc is being accessed, 
you may lose data or damage the disk/disc and/or drive.
NOTE 
						

							44Getting Started
To Restart your computer
2Click or touch the Power ( ) icon at the upper-right 
corner of the screen.
  (Sample Image) Shut down
To perform a Hybrid shut down, (instead of performing a 
Shut down), click or touch the 
Shut down option but do 
NOT hold the Shift key.
3Highlight 
Shut down while holding the Shift key, and 
then click or touch the 
Shut down option.
The computer closes all open applications, shuts down 
the operating system, and then turns off.
To Restart your computer
1Press the Windows® ( ) key to display the Start 
screen.
2Click or touch the 
Power ( ) icon at the upper-right 
corner of the screen.
  (Sample Image) Restart
3Highlight Restart, and then click or touch the Restart 
option.
The computer closes all open applications, and restarts 
the operating system.
Shut down option
NOTE
Restart option 
						

							45Getting Started
To place your computer in Sleep mode
To place your computer in Sleep mode
1Press the Windows® ( ) key to display the Start 
screen.
If you power down using the Sleep command and the 
battery discharges fully, your unsaved information will be 
lost. Be sure to save your work first.
2Click or touch the 
Power ( ) icon at the upper-right 
corner of the screen.
  (Sample Image) Sleep
3Highlight Sleep, and then click or touch the Sleep 
option.
Sleep mode saves the current state of the computer to 
memory so that, when you restart the computer, you can 
continue working from where you left off.
Adding optional external devices
Before adding external devices, Toshiba recommends 
setting up your software. See “Setting up your software” 
on page 42.
After starting your computer for the first time you may want 
to:
❖Connect external devices (see “Connecting an external 
device” on page 60)
❖Connect an external monitor (see “Using external 
display devices” on page 61)
Sleep option
NOTE 
						

							46Getting Started
Adding memory
Adding memory
Your computer comes with enough memory to run most of 
today’s popular applications. Toshiba will not be responsible 
for any product damage, data loss, service or part 
replacement made necessary by improper installation of a 
memory module.
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive
To purchase an optional external writable optical disc 
drive, visit the Toshiba Web site at 
accessories.toshiba.com.
Your computer includes recovery utilities to allow you to 
recover your internal storage drive if necessary. 
The following internal storage drive recovery options are 
available:
A recovery image of your computer is stored on the internal 
storage drive, and the image can be restored by running the 
recovery utilities directly from your internal storage drive as 
described in the sections below. However, it is strongly 
recommended that you create recovery media. If the 
recovery files on your internal storage drive become 
corrupted or are deleted, you can restore your system from 
your recovery media. Also, if your original internal storage 
Recovery option Description
Creating recovery 
mediaThis option allows you to create the recovery 
media you will use to restore your computer.
See “Creating recovery media” on page 47.
Restoring from 
recovery mediaThis option allows you to restore your system from 
the recovery media you created.
See “Restoring from recovery media” on page 50.
Refresh your PC
(with user’s data)This option allows you to refresh your system 
without losing your data.
See “Refresh your PC (with user’s data)” on 
page 51.
Reset your PC This option allows you to remove all data from your 
system and reinstall Windows
®.
See “Reset your PC” on page 53.
NOTE 
						

							47Getting Started
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive
drive fails, you can restore your system to a new internal 
storage drive from your recovery media. It is strongly 
recommended that you create recovery media before using 
your system for the first time. See “Creating recovery media” 
on page 47 and “Restoring from recovery media” on 
page 50.
❖During the recovery process your computer must be 
connected to an external power source via the AC 
adaptor.
❖When you restore your system, only the operating 
system files and drivers originally shipped with the 
computer are restored. Any files that you created are 
not restored during this process. Be sure to 
separately save the files you have created to external 
media using Windows
® or another backup program. 
For more information, see “Backing up your work” on 
page 72.
Creating recovery media
It is strongly recommended that you create recovery media. 
If the recovery files on your internal storage drive become 
corrupted or are deleted, you can restore your system from 
your recovery media. Also, if your original internal storage 
drive fails, you can restore your system to a new internal 
storage drive from your recovery media.
During the recovery process your computer must be 
connected to an external power source via the AC 
adaptor.
When you create recovery media, only the operating 
system files and drivers originally shipped with the 
computer are backed up to the external media and can 
be restored from this media. Any files that you created 
are not backed up on the recovery media. You will need 
to separately back up the files you created; for more 
information, see “Backing up your work” on page 72.
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							48Getting Started
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive
When you create recovery media, the system will prompt you 
to insert several blank DVDs or connect one or more USB 
flash drives of a certain minimum capacity to your computer. 
The amount of space required for storing the recovery files 
varies by computer model. Follow the procedure below to 
determine how much space you will need for storing your 
system’s recovery files.
To create recovery media:
1From the Start screen begin typing 
Recovery Media 
Creator
 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 
Recovery Media Creator. In the list that appears, 
click or touch your selection.
The TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator dialog box 
displays.
 (Sample Image) TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator dialog 
box
An optional external writable optical disc drive must be 
connected to your computer in order for the DVD option 
to display in the dialog box.
2Select 
DVD or USB Flash from the drop-down list, 
depending on the type of external media you want to 
use.
NOTE 
						

							49Getting Started
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive
3Check the “Information” area of the dialog box to 
determine the number of DVDs you will need and/or the 
minimum amount of storage space required for copying 
your system’s recovery files to USB flash drive(s).
4Do one of the following:
❖If you are copying files to DVD, insert a blank DVD 
into the optional external writable optical disc drive.
❖If you are copying files to a USB flash drive, connect 
a USB flash drive of the required minimum capacity 
(as specified in the TOSHIBA Recovery Media 
Creator utility) to your computer.
All information stored on your DVDs or USB flash drive(s) 
will be erased during the process of creating the recovery 
media. Be sure to save the information stored on your 
external media to another storage device before 
executing this procedure, or use blank media.
5Click or touch the 
Create button in the TOSHIBA 
Recovery Media Creator utility dialog box.
6Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the copy 
process.
If you are copying the recovery files to DVDs, be sure to 
label each DVD in the set sequentially (for example, “1 of 
3,” “2 of 3,” etc.), so that you will know in which order to 
insert the discs during recovery.
For information on using the Recovery media you have 
created with the preceding steps, see “Restoring from 
recovery media” on page 50.
NOTE 
						

							50Getting Started
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive
Restoring from recovery media
The recovery process deletes information stored on the 
internal storage drive. Be sure to save your work to 
external media before executing the recovery (see 
“Backing up your work” on page 72).
During the recovery process your computer must be 
connected to an external power source via the AC 
adaptor.
If you have created recovery media for your system, you can 
restore your system from such media, if necessary. For 
example, if your original internal storage drive fails, you can 
restore your system to a new internal storage drive from your 
recovery media. For instructions on creating recovery media, 
see “Creating recovery media” on page 47.
When you restore your system, only the operating 
system files and drivers originally shipped with the 
computer are restored. Any files that you created are not 
restored during this process. Be sure to separately save 
the files you have created to external media using 
Windows
® or another backup program. For more 
information, see “Backing up your work” on page 72.
To recover your internal storage drive from recovery media:
1Make sure your computer is turned off.
2Do one of the following:
❖If your recovery files are on DVDs, insert the first 
recovery DVD into your optional external writable 
optical disc drive.
❖If your recovery files are on a USB flash drive, 
connect the USB flash drive to your computer.
3Turn on your computer while pressing the 
F12 key on 
your keyboard.
The Boot menu displays.
4Using the arrow keys, select the 
DVD option or the USB 
Flash
 option, depending on which type of media you are 
using, and then press the 
ENTER key.
NOTE
NOTE