Toshiba A15 User Manual

Satellite® A10/A15 Series
Resource Guide

Keep this guide in a convenient place to access important
information about your computer.

If you need assistance, contact the following:

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InTouch
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Please fill in for your reference and future use:

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Contents

Contents

Setting up your computer and getting started............................ 4

Installing additional memory (optional) ..................................... 7

Your computer’s TFT display.................................................... 10

Inserting PC Cards................................................................... 10

Removing PC Cards................................................................. 11

Learning the basics.................................................................. 11

Playing a CD or DVD ................................................................ 12

Moving the computer............................................................... 15

Mobile computing.................................................................... 15

If something goes wrong ......................................................... 19

If you need further assistance.................................................. 21

Power cable connectors........................................................... 23

Features and specifications...................................................... 23

Regulatory information ............................................................ 28

Index ........................................................................................48

Welcome to the world of powerful and portable multimedia computers!

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With your new Toshiba notebook computer, your access to information can
accompany you wherever you go.

You will find that the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system is already
installed on your computer. It offers exciting features and easy Internet
access.

This guide

This guide offers important information about your computer, including
solutions to the most common problems, and features and specifications.

For more detailed information, descriptions of other features and more
extensive troubleshooting guidelines, see the electronic user’s guide
preinstalled on your system. It is also available on the Web at

pcsupport.toshiba.com.

Safety icons

This guide contains safety instructions that must be observed in order 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 the icons highlight these
instructions as follows:

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DANGE

Danger indicates a hazardous situation, which will result in death, serious
personal injury, or substantial property damage if the safety instruction is
ignored.

Warning indicates a hazardous situation, which can result in death, serious
personal injury, or substantial property damage if the safety instruction is
ignored.

Caution indicates a hazardous situation, which will or can cause minor
personal injury or property damage if the safety instruction is ignored.

Provides you with important but not hazard-related information.

Other icons used

Additional icons highlight other helpful or educational information:

TECHNICAL NOTE: This icon highlights technical information about the
computer.

HINT: This icon denotes helpful hints and tips.

4

Setting up your computer and getting started

DEFINITION: This icon indicates the definition of a term used in the text.

Other documentation

Your computer comes with all or some of the following documentation in
addition to this resource guide:

❖ Electronic user’s guide installed on your system.
❖ Guides for other software that may come preinstalled.
❖ Microsoft

®

Windows® XP operating system documentation.

❖ For accessory information, visit Toshiba’s Web site at toshiba.com.
❖ The Recovery Media containing the programs that are preinstalled at

the factory and any bundled software. Keep this media in a safe and
convenient place.

Setting up your computer and getting started

Strain and stress injuries are becoming more common as people spend
more time using their computers. With a little care and proper use of the
equipment, you can work comfortably throughout the day.

Using the computer keyboard incorrectly can result in discomfort and
possible injury. If your hands, wrists, and/or arms bother you while typing,
stop using the computer and rest. If the discomfort persists, consult a
physician.

For more information, consult books on ergonomics, repetitive-strain
injury, and repetitive-stress syndrome.

Placement of the computer

Proper placement of the computer and external devices is important to
avoid stress-related injuries. Consider the following when placing your
computer.

❖ Place the computer on a flat surface at a comfortable height and

distance. You should be able to type without twisting your torso or
neck, and look at the screen without slouching.

❖ If you are using an external monitor, the top of the display should be

no higher than eye level.

❖ If you use a paper holder, set it at about the same height and distance

as the screen.

Seating and posture

When using your computer, maintain good posture with your body relaxed
and your weight distributed evenly. Proper seating is a primary factor in
reducing work strain.

Setting up your computer and getting started

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Precautions

Your notebook computer is designed to provide optimum safety and ease of
use, and to withstand the rigors of travel. You should observe certain
precautions to further reduce the risk of personal injury or damage to the
computer.

Never apply heavy pressure to the computer or subject it to sharp impacts.
Excessive pressure or impact can damage computer components or
otherwise cause your computer to malfunction.

Some PC Cards become hot with prolonged use. Overheating of a PC Card
can result in errors or instability in its operation.

Be careful when you remove a PC Card that has been used for lengthy
periods of time.

Connecting to a power source

Your computer requires power to operate. Use the power cable and AC
adapter to connect the computer to a live electrical outlet, or to charge the
computer’s battery.

5

Power cable

DANGE

AC adapter

Use only the AC adapter supplied with your computer or an equivalent
adapter that is compatible. Use of any incompatible adapter could damage
your computer. Toshiba assumes no liability for any damage caused by use
of an incompatible adapter.

When you connect the AC adapter to the computer, always follow the steps in
the exact order as described in the User's Manual. Connecting the power
cable to a live electrical outlet should be the last step otherwise the adapter
DC output plug could hold an electrical charge and cause an electrical shock
or minor bodily injury when touched. As a general safety precaution, avoid
touching any metal parts.

Hold the power cable by its plug when you connect/disconnect it. Do NOT
pull the cable itself. Doing so may damage the power cable and result in a
short circuit or electric shock.

AC power indicator

AC adapter

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Setting up your computer and getting started

The power cord on this product contains lead, a chemical known to
the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.

To connect AC power to the computer:

1 Connect the power cable to the AC adapter.

2 Plug the AC adapter into the DC-IN port.

3 Connect the power cable to a live electrical outlet.

If the electrical outlet is live, the system indicator panel’s AC power light
( ) glows green.

DANGE

Damaged power cables can cause fire or electric shock. Never modify,
forcibly bend, place heavy objects on top of, or apply heat to the power
cable.

If the power cable becomes damaged or the plug overheats, discontinue use.
There is a risk of electric shock.

Never remove the power plug from the outlet with wet hands. Doing so may
cause an electric shock.

Connecting a printer

You can connect a USB-compatible printer to your computer through one
of the USB ports. You can also connect a parallel printer through the
parallel port.

To confirm a printer’s compatibility, check its documentation.

Connecting a USB printer

To achieve the connection, you need a suitable USB cable, which may
come with your printer. Otherwise, you can purchase one from a computer
or electronics store.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting a USB printer to your
computer.

Connecting a parallel printer

To achieve the connection, you need a suitable cable, which may come with
your parallel printer. Otherwise, you can purchase one from a computer or
electronics store.

If you connect a parallel printer, do so before you turn on the computer.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting a parallel printer to
your computer.

Installing additional memory (optional)

Installing additional memory (optional)

Before you install or remove a memory module, turn off the computer using
the Start menu. If you install or remove a memory module while the
computer is in Standby or Hibernation mode, data will be lost.

A memory module must be installed in slot A. Do not try to operate the com­puter with a memory module in slot B only.

If you install a memory module that is incompatible with the computer, a
beep will sound when you turn on the computer. If the module is installed in
slot A, there will be a long beep followed by a short beep. If the module is in
slot B, there will be a long beep followed by two short beeps. In this case,
turn off the computer and remove the incompatible module.

Your computer comes with enough memory to run most of today’s popular
applications. You may want to increase the computer’s memory if you use
complex software or process large amounts of data.

Additional memory comes in various capacities (visit Toshiba’s Web site at

toshiba.com for more information). There are two memory slots. Your

system may have both slots occupied.

If you use the computer for a long time, the memory modules will become
hot. If this happens, let the modules cool to room temperature before you
replace them.

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You need a standard Phillips no. 1 screwdriver to install a memory module.

To avoid damaging the computer’s screws, use a standard Phillips no. 1
screwdriver that is in good condition.

If you are adding memory after you have started to use the computer, begin
at step 1, otherwise skip to step 2.

1 Turn off the computer via the Start menu.

See “Turn Off or Shut down command” in your electronic user’s
guide.

The operating system turns off the computer.

2 Unplug and remove any cables connected to the computer.

3 Close the display panel and turn the computer upside down to locate

the memory slot cover.

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Installing additional memory (optional)

Memory

slot cover

Base of your Satellite computer

4 Using a standard Phillips no. 1 screwdriver, unscrew the screw that

secures the memory slot cover, then remove the memory slot cover.

Removing the memory slot cover

5 Put the screw and the cover in a safe place so that you can retrieve

them later.

The following figure shows the inside of the memory compartment.

Viewing the inside of the memory compartment

Installing additional memory (optional)

6 Remove the memory module from its antistatic packaging.

Static electricity can damage the memory module. Before you handle the
module, touch a grounded metal surface to discharge any static electricity
you may have built up.

To avoid damaging the memory module, be careful not to touch its gold
connector bar (on the side you insert into the computer).

7 Holding the memory module by its edges so that the gold connector

bar faces the slot, fit the module into the socket.

8 Gently put the memory module connector down at an angle and press

down until the clips snap into place.

Do not force the module into position. The memory module should be
level when secured in place.

9

Inserting the memory module

Avoid touching the connectors on the memory module or on the computer.
Grease or dust on the connectors may cause memory access problems.

9 Replace the memory slot cover.

10 Replace the screw and tighten it.

11 Turn the computer over and reconnect any cables you removed.

12 Turn on the computer.

To verify that the computer correctly recognizes the memory, click
Start, Control Panel and click Performance and Maintenance.
Click System to view the recognized memory.

13 If the computer does not recognize the memory, shut down the

computer, remove the memory slot cover, and make sure the memory
module is seated properly, as described in step 8.

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Your computer’s TFT display

Removing a memory module

If you use the computer for a long time, the memory modules will become
hot. If this happens, let the modules cool to room temperature before you
replace them.

1 Follow steps 1 through 5 in “Installing additional memory (optional)”

on page 7.

2 Gently push the memory clips outward until the memory module pops

up.

Removing the memory module

3 Gently pull the memory module diagonally to remove it from the slot.

4 Complete the procedure by following steps 9 through 13 in “Installing

additional memory (optional)” on page 7.

Your computer’s TFT display

Small bright dots may appear on your TFT display when you turn on your
computer. Your display contains an extremely large number of thin-film
transistors (TFT) and is manufactured using high-precision technology.
Any small bright dots that may appear on your display are an intrinsic
characteristic of the TFT manufacturing technology.

Inserting PC Cards

Use caution when lifting or turning your computer. Failure to do so may
result in damage to components, such as cables, attached to your computer,
or to the computer itself.

Before you insert a PC Card, refer to the documentation that comes with
the card to see if you need to do anything before you insert it.

To insert a PC Card:

1 Turn off the computer.

You may also hot swap a PC Card (see “Hot swapping” on page 11).

2 Align the card connectors with the PC Card slot and carefully slide the

card into the slot until it locks into place.

To avoid damaging the PC Card or the computer, do not force the card into
the PC Card slot.

Removing PC Cards

1 Stop the PC Card by clicking the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the

system tray.

After the Safe to Remove Hardware message appears, it is safe to
remove the PC Card.

2 To remove the PC Card, press the slot’s eject button once.

3 Remove the PC Card and store it properly.

Hot swapping

One of the great things about PC Cards is that you can replace one PC Card
with another while the computer is on. This is called “hot swapping.”

Hot swapping precautions

Although you can insert a PC Card at any time, to avoid data loss never
remove a card while it is in use. For example:

❖ Never remove a hard disk card while the system is accessing it.
❖ Never remove a network card while you are connected to a network.

Before removing a PC Card, stop it by clicking the Safely Remove
Hardware icon on the system tray. Once the PC Card has stopped, you can

safely remove it.

Removing PC Cards

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Learning the basics

Computing tips

❖ Save your work frequently.

Your work stays in the computer’s temporary memory until you save it
to the disk. You will lose all unsaved work, if, for example, a system
error occurs and you must restart your computer, or your battery runs
out of charge while you are working. Your computer can be
configured to warn you when the battery is running low.

HINT: Some programs have an automatic save feature that you can turn on.
This feature saves your file to the hard disk at preset intervals. See your
software documentation for details.

❖ Back up your files to a removable storage media on a regular basis.

Label the backup copies clearly and store them in a safe place.

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Playing a CD or DVD

❖ Scan all new files for viruses.
❖ Never turn off the computer if a drive indicator light indicates a drive

is active.

The Windows® XP operating system records information, such as your
desktop setup, during its shutdown procedure. If you do not let the operating
system shut down normally, details such as new icon positions may be lost.

Using the TouchPad

The TouchPadTM, the touch-sensitive cutout in front of the keyboard,
enables you to move the cursor by brushing your finger on the surface in
the direction you’d like the cursor to move. To move the cursor to the top of
the screen, move your finger on the TouchPad away from you. To move the
cursor to the bottom, do the opposite.

For more information on the TouchPad, see the electronic user’s guide.

Primary and secondary control buttons

When you want to click or choose an item, use the TouchPad to move the
pointer/cursor to the item. Once the pointer/cursor is positioned, you can
click it into place by either double-tapping the TouchPad or clicking the
control buttons.

The control buttons are adjacent to the TouchPad and are used like the
buttons on a mouse. The primary control button is the left one and
corresponds to the left mouse button. To double-click, press the primary
button twice in rapid succession.

The function of the secondary button depends on the program you are
using. It usually corresponds to the right mouse button. Check your
program’s documentation to find whether it uses the secondary mouse
button.

Playing a CD or DVD

Your computer has a DVD-ROM or multi-function drive that can read both
DVD-ROM and CD-ROM discs.

Digital versatile discs (DVDs) provide a significant increase in data storage
and support features that are not available on any other video platform.
These features include wide-screen movies, multiple language tracks,
digital surround sound, multiple camera angles, and interactive menus.

HINT: Your DVD-ROM or multi-function drive is designed to play region 1
(North America) DVD-ROMs.

For optimum DVD performance, it is recommended that you play DVDs
while running the computer on AC power.

You use CD-ROMs to load and run software, and to access reference
material such as catalogs, as well as listen to music.

Drive components and control buttons

The DVD-ROM or multi-function drive may look like this:

Components

Sample DVD-ROM or multi-function drive shown

Use the eject button to release the disc tray. This button requires power.

Never 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.

The manual eject button allows you to manually open the disc tray when
power to the computer and the drive is off.

Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. Pencil lead can break off
inside the computer and damage it. Instead, use a slim object such as a
straightened paper clip.

Playing a CD or DVD

Manual eject button
Eject button

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Inserting a disc

1 If the computer is turned on, press the eject button on the DVD-ROM

or multi-function drive.

Pressing the eject button

The disc tray partially opens.

2 Grasp the disc tray and pull it fully open.

Before playing an audio CD or a DVD, turn down the volume. Playing the
disc at maximum volume could damage your ears. To turn down the volume,
use the volume control dial or access the Volume Control program (click

Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Volum e
Control).

To avoid damaging a disc or losing data, check that the disk/disc activity
light is off before opening the disc tray.

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Playing a CD or DVD

3 Hold the disc by its edges and check that it is clean and free of dust.

Handle discs carefully. Avoid touching the surface of the disc. Grasp it by its
center hole and edge. If you handle the disc incorrectly, you could lose data.

4 Carefully place the disc in the empty tray with its label facing up.

Inserting a disc

Be careful not to touch the drive’s lens (located underneath the drive’s
spindle) or the area around it. Doing so could cause the drive to malfunction.

5 Gently press the center of the disc onto the spindle until it locks.

Make sure the disc is properly positioned on the spindle. If you position the
disc incorrectly, it can jam the disc tray.

6 Close the disc tray by pressing gently on the center of the tray until it

clicks, indicating that it is locked.

Removing a disc with the computer on

Never press the eject button while the computer is accessing the drive. Wait
for the disk/disc activity light on the system indicator panel to turn off before
opening the disc tray.

1 Locate and press the eject button.

The disc tray partially opens.

2 Grasp the sides of the disc tray and pull it fully open.

3 Remove the disc from the disc tray and place it in its protective cover.

If the disc is spinning when you open the disc tray, wait for the disc to stop
before removing it.

4 Close the disc tray by pressing gently on the center of the tray until it

clicks indicating that it is locked.

Removing a disc with the computer off

1 Insert a slender object, such as a straightened paper clip, into the

manual eject button access hole.

Never use a pencil to press the manual eject button. Pencil lead can break off
inside the computer and damage it.

2 Pull the tray fully open, remove the disc and place it in its protective

cover.

3 Push the tray in to close the drive.

Moving the computer

Before moving your computer, even across the room, make sure all disk
activity has ended (the drive-in-use lights stop glowing) and all external
peripheral cables are disconnected.

Never pick up the computer by its display panel or by the back (where the
ports are located).

Mobile computing

Running the computer on battery power

The computer contains a removable lithium ion (Li-ion) high-capacity
battery that provides power when you are away from an AC outlet. You can
recharge it many times.

To ensure that the battery maintains its maximum capacity, operate the
computer on battery power at least once a month until the battery is fully
discharged. Please see “Maximizing battery life” on page 18 for
procedures. If the computer is continuously operated on AC power, either
through an AC adapter or a docking station for an extended period (more
than a month), the battery may fail to retain a charge. It may not function
efficiently over the expected life of the battery and the battery light may not
indicate a low-battery condition.

Moving the computer

15

Monitoring battery power

The battery light indicates the main battery’s current charge. It:

❖ Glows green when the battery is fully charged
❖ Glows amber while the battery is being charged

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Mobile computing

❖ Does not glow if the external power source is disconnected or if the

battery is completely discharged

TECHNICAL NOTE: The computer drains the battery faster at low
temperatures. Check your remaining charge frequently if you are working in
temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The computer calculates the remaining battery charge based on your current
rate of power use and other factors such as the age of the battery.

Setting battery alarms

Your computer can be configured to warn you when the battery is running
low. For more information, see “Setting battery alarms” in the electronic
user’s guide.

Changing the main battery

When your battery power is running low, you have two options: connect the
computer to an AC power source or install a charged battery.

If your battery discharges fully, your information will be lost. Be sure to save
your work often.

When handling a battery, be careful not to drop it or short-circuit its
terminals. Also, do not drop, hit or otherwise impact the battery. Do not
scratch or break the casing and do not twist or bend the battery.

Do not remove the battery while the computer is in Standby mode. Data in
memory will be lost.

Removing the battery from the computer

1 Save your work.

2 Turn off the computer via the Start menu or place it in Hibernate

mode according to the instructions in “Using Hibernation” in your
electronic user’s guide.

3 Remove all cables connected to the computer.

4 Close the display panel and turn the computer upside down with the

front side of the computer facing you.

5 Move the battery release lock to the left in order to move the battery

release latch.