Toshiba Satellite S50a Manual

							71Learning the Basics
Starting an app
Starting an app
To Start an app on the Start screen, move your pointer over 
the appropriate app tile and click or touch to open.
To Start an app from the Desktop, move your pointer to the 
upper-right corner of the screen or swipe in from the right 
edge. When the Windows
® charms slide out from the right, 
click or touch the 
Start ( ) charm, and then click or touch 
the appropriate app tile to open. 
Starting an app from the Start screen
To start an app on the Start screen, move your pointer over 
the appropriate tile and click or touch to open. Swipe your 
finger to the left or right to reveal more available tiles.
1To search for an app using the Apps page, click or touch 
the 
Down arrow ( ) icon in the lower-left corner of the 
Start screen. The Apps screen appears with the available 
system apps to choose from or you can enter your 
search in the search field.
   
(Sample Image) Searching for apps
To return the Start screen, click or touch the Up arrow 
( ) icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.
NOTE 
						

							72Learning the Basics
Saving your work
Saving your work
Before you turn off the computer using the Shut down 
command, save your work on the internal storage drive, 
external media, flash media, or optical disc. This is one of 
the most important rules of computing.
Many applications offer a feature that saves documents at 
regular intervals. Check your program’s documentation to 
see if it has an automatic save feature.
Backing up your work
Back up all the files you create in case something happens 
to your computer. You can back up your files to different 
types of media such as CDs, DVDs, external storage media, 
or to a network, if available.
To back up several files at one time, use the Microsoft
® 
Windows® file recovery program preinstalled on the 
computer’s internal storage drive. Also see “Backing up your 
data or your entire computer with the Windows® operating 
system” on page 146.
HINT: Backing up all the files on your internal storage 
drive may take a considerable amount of time and 
multiple CDs/DVDs. You may prefer to use a high-
capacity file recovery system, such as an external hard 
drive.
Using the optical disc drive
(Available on certain models.)
Optical storage is a popular medium for software, music, 
and video. Digital versatile discs or Blu-ray Discs
™ provide a 
significant increase in data storage and support features that 
were not available on previous video platforms. These 
features include wide-screen movies, multiple language 
tracks, digital surround sound, multiple camera angles, and 
interactive menus. 
						

							73Learning the Basics
Using the optical disc drive
TECHNICAL NOTE: Your optical disc drive is set to play 
region 1 (North America) for DVD-ROMs or BD-ROMs, 
depending on the type of drive. A DVD disc or Blu-ray™ 
Disc of a region other than the above mentioned cannot 
be played unless you manually change it in the Properties 
setting of the optical disc drive. The drive will allow you to 
change regions four times. On the fourth change, the 
region will be “locked in.” That is, the drive will only play 
DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
™ from that last region. Note that 
changing from region 1 to region 2 and back to region 1 
is counted as two changes. 
For optimum DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ performance, it is 
recommended that you play DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
™ 
while running the computer on AC power.
When viewing DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ movies use the 
DVD or Blu-ray Disc™ player software that came with 
your computer.
Viewing Blu-ray Disc™ movies
(Available on certain models.)
Your system may come with a Blu-ray Disc™ drive. Due to 
differences between High Definition and previous viewing 
capabilities, consider the following:
❖Use an HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content 
Protection) HDMI™ cable to view High Definition content 
via your Blu-ray Disc™ drive on an external monitor or 
television. The external monitor or television must 
support HDMI™.
❖Some Blu-ray Disc™ movies have online content that 
can be accessed from the disc. To view this content, 
your computer must be connected to the Internet. 
❖While viewing online content, your system may not view 
it in High Definition on an external monitor, even though 
your display setting is set to simultaneous. This is due to 
the lower resolution used in the simultaneous setting. 
For more information on your computer’s display 
settings, see “Directing the display output when you turn 
on the computer” on page 62.
NOTE
NOTE 
						

							74Learning the Basics
Using the optical disc drive
❖When an HDMI™ cable is used to send a High Definition 
signal to an external monitor the audio signal is 
automatically sent with the video signal. If you want to 
change the destination of the audio signal, use the 
Sound properties in the Control Panel.
(Sample Image) Sound properties window
❖If you want to use the internal speakers, click the 
Speakers tab and click Set Default.
❖Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate within 
the Blu-ray Disc™ player console. 
Use of the touch pad or a mouse is not supported within 
the Blu-ray Disc™ player.
Optical disc drive components
The optical disc drive is located on the side of the computer. 
Your optical disc drive may look like this:
 (Sample Illustration) Optical disc drive
NOTE
Drive in-use indicator light
Eject button
Manual eject hole 
						

							75Learning the Basics
Using the optical disc drive
Drive in-use indicator light—Indicates when the drive is in 
use. 
Eject button—Press to release the disc tray. 
Do not press the eject button or turn off the computer 
while the drive in-use indicator light is glowing. Doing so 
could damage the disc or the drive. 
When the disc tray is open, be careful not to touch the 
lens or the area around it. Doing so could cause the drive 
to malfunction.
Manual eject hole—Use if you need to release the disc 
tray when the power is off. Use a straightened paper clip or 
other narrow object to press the manual eject button located 
inside the hole.
Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. 
Pencil lead can break off inside the computer and 
damage it.
Media control buttons
The media control buttons located above the keyboard allow 
you mute the sound and play audio CDs or DVD movies 
when the computer is on.
(Sample Illustration) Media control buttons
The Previous track button allows you to restart playing the 
current track or go to the previous track.
The 
Play/pause button allows you to start playing or pause 
the media currently playing.
The 
Next track button allows you to go to the next track.
The 
Volume decrease button allows you to decrease the 
volume.
Mute button Previous trackNext track
Play/pause button
buttonbutton
Volume decrease button
Volume increase 
button 
						

							76Learning the Basics
Using the optical disc drive
The Volume increase button allows you to increase the 
volume.
The 
Mute button allows you to enable/disable volume mute.
Inserting an optical disc 
To insert an optical disc into the drive:
1Make sure the computer is turned on.
2Make sure the drive’s in-use indicator light is off.
3Press the drive’s eject button.
4Hold the disc by its edges and check that it is free of 
dust.
If the disc is dusty, clean it.
5Place the disc carefully in the disc tray, label side up, 
and gently press the disc onto the center spindle until it 
clicks into place.
Handle DVDs, Blu-rayTM, discs, and CDs carefully, 
making contact only with the center hole and edge. Do 
not touch the surface of the disc. Do not stack discs. If 
you incorrectly handle the discs, you could lose data.
6Push the disc tray in by pressing gently on the center of 
the tray until it clicks into place.
If you insert the disc incorrectly, it may jam the drive. If 
this happens, contact Toshiba support for assistance.
Playing optical media
If you insert an optical disc into the optical disc drive and the 
Auto-Run feature does not automatically start your disc, try 
launching the optical disc manually. To do this, follow these 
steps:
1Press the ( ) + 
E keys.
2Double-click the optical disc drive icon.
The drive will run the optical disc. 
						

							77Learning the Basics
Using the optical disc drive
If your disc does not run using this method, try using an 
application that is associated with the media on the disc. For 
example, if it is a music CD, open Windows Media
® Player 
and use it to select and then play the CD. For other types of 
media, use the associated software to open the files on the 
disc.
Recording optical media
Depending on the configuration, your computer may come 
with an optical disc drive that allows you to:
❖Play pre-recorded and recorded optical media.
❖Read/write data and multi-media files to recordable 
optical media.
For more information regarding supported optical media 
formats please refer to your computer’s detailed 
specifications at support.toshiba.com.
Due to manufacturing and quality variations in third party 
optical media (e.g., CD or DVD) or optical media 
players/recorders, in certain cases, your Toshiba optical 
disc drive may not record on certain optical media that 
bear the applicable logo, or play back optical media 
recorded by other computers or optical media recorders. 
Additionally, certain optical media recorded on your 
optical disc drive may not play back or operate properly 
on other computers or optical media players. These 
problems are not due to any defect in your Toshiba 
computer or optical disc drive. Please refer to your 
computer's product specification for listing of specific 
format compatibilities.
Copy protection technology may also prevent or limit 
recording or viewing of certain optical media.
For details on how to use the software, please refer to the 
respective Online Help menus.
NOTE 
						

							78Learning the Basics
Toshiba’s online resources
Removing a disc with the computer on
To remove an optical disc with the computer turned on:
1Press the eject button on the drive.
Do not press the eject button while the drive in-use 
indicator light is glowing. Doing so could damage the 
disc or the drive. 
Also, if the disc is still spinning when you open the disc 
tray, wait for it to stop spinning before you remove it. 
2Pull the tray out until it is fully open, remove the disc, and 
place it in its protective cover.
3Gently press the tray in to close it.
Removing a disc with the computer off
To remove a disc with the computer turned off:
1Insert a slender object, such as a straightened paper 
clip, into the manual eject hole. 
The disc tray slides partially out of the drive.
Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. 
Pencil lead can break off inside the computer and 
damage it.
2Pull the tray out until it is fully open, remove the disc, and 
place it in its protective cover.
3Gently press the tray in to close it.
Toshiba’s online resources
Toshiba maintains a number of online sites to which you can 
connect. These sites provide information about Toshiba 
products, give help with technical questions and keep you 
up to date with future upgrades. For more information, see 
“Contacting Toshiba” on page 150.  
						

							79
Chapter 3
Mobile Computing
This chapter covers all aspects of using your computer while 
traveling.
Toshiba’s energy-saver design
Your computer enters a low-power suspension mode when it 
is not being used, thereby conserving energy and saving 
money in the process. It has a number of other features that 
enhance its energy efficiency.
Many of these energy-saving features have been preset by 
Toshiba. We recommend you leave these features active, 
allowing your computer to operate at its maximum energy 
efficiency, so that you can use it for longer periods while 
traveling.
Running the computer on battery power
The computer contains a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery that 
provides power when you are away from an AC outlet. You 
can recharge it many times.  
						

							80Mobile Computing
Running the computer on battery power
Battery Notice
Battery life rating is for comparison purposes only, and does 
not indicate the battery life that will be obtained by any 
individual user. Actual battery life may vary considerably 
from specifications depending on product model, 
configuration, applications, power management settings and 
features utilized, as well as the natural performance 
variations produced by the design of individual components. 
The battery life rating is only achieved on the select models 
and configurations tested by Toshiba under the specific test 
settings at the time of publication and is not an estimate of a 
system’s battery life under any conditions other than the 
specific test settings. 
Recharge time varies depending on usage. Battery may not 
charge while the computer is consuming full power. After a 
period of time, the battery will lose its ability to perform at 
maximum capacity and will need to be replaced. This is 
normal for all batteries.
To ensure that the battery maintains its maximum capacity, 
operate the computer on battery power at least once a 
month. The Lithium-Ion battery has no memory effect so it is 
not necessary to let the battery fully discharge each time. 
However, for better accuracy of the battery meter, it is helpful 
to fully discharge the battery periodically. Please see 
“Maintaining your battery” on page 93 for procedures. If the 
computer is continuously operated on AC power, either 
through an AC adaptor or a port replicator (if applicable to 
your system), for an extended period (more than a month), 
the battery may fail to retain a charge. This may shorten the 
life of the battery, and may cause the battery meter to be 
inaccurate.
For best performance when playing streaming media 
(especially streaming video), either power the computer 
from its AC adaptor, or set up a power plan that keeps 
the computer running at full performance even when 
powered from its battery. For more information about 
Windows® power plans, see “Power Plans” on page 87.
The computer may also have an internal real-time-clock 
(RTC) battery.
NOTE