Toshiba Satellite 1100 Manual

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If Something Goes Wrong
The Windows
® operating system is not working
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The computer displays the Non-System disk or disk error 
message. 
Make sure there is no diskette in the diskette drive. If there is 
one, remove it and press any key to continue. If pressing any 
key does not work, press Ctrl, Alt, and Del to restart the 
computer. 
The Windows® operating system is not 
working
Once you are familiar with the desktop and used to the way 
the operating system responds to your work routine, you can 
easily detect if the operating system is not working correctly. 
For example:
❖The operating system fails to start after the Starting 
Windows XP message appears.
❖The operating system takes a long time to start.
❖The operating system responds differently from the 
normal routine.
❖The screen does not look right.
Unless a hardware device has failed, problems usually occur 
when you change the system in some way such as installing a 
new program or adding a device.
If you experience any of these problems, use the options in 
the Startup menu to fix the problem.
Using Startup options to fix problems
If the operating system fails to start properly, you may have to 
change your system’s configuration or verify the startup 
procedure to fix the problem. To do this, use the options in 
the Startup menu.
To open the Startup menu:
1Restart your computer. 
						

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The Windows
® operating system is not working
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2Press F8 when your computer starts.
The Windows
® Advanced Options menu displays these 
options:
❖Safe Mode
❖Safe Mode (with Networking)
❖Safe Mode (with Command Prompt)
❖Enable Boot Logging
❖Enable VGA Mode
❖Last known good configuration (your most recent 
settings that worked)
❖Directory services restore mode (Windows® domain 
controllers only)
❖Debugging Mode
❖Start Windows® normally
❖Reboot
For detailed information, refer to your operating system’s 
documentation.
Internet problems
My Internet connection is very slow.
Many factors contribute to the speed with which you can surf 
the Internet. They include: modem speed, time of day (when 
everyone else is surfing, your access can be slow) and 
popularity of the site. If accessing a particular site is very 
slow, try later.
My browser can’t find the URL address I typed in.
Make sure you separated the domain names of the address 
with the forward slash (/). Check the spelling of each name 
and the syntax of the address carefully. A single incorrect 
letter or missed character, comma instead of period (“dot”) or  
						

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other mistake makes it impossible for your browser to locate 
the site.
My browser can’t find a site I bookmarked.
The World Wide Web is constantly changing. A site you 
bookmarked yesterday may not be available today or its 
server may be down for temporary repair. Try again later.
The Windows® XP operating system can help you
If the operating system has started properly, but you still have 
a problem using your computer, the online Help can assist 
you in troubleshooting the problem.
To access Windows
® XP Help and Support:
1Click Start, then click Help and Support.
The Help and Support window appears.
2Then do one or both of the following:
❖In the search field, type in the topic of the problem with 
which you need help and follow the on-screen 
instructions.
❖Click a problem you would like help with from the 
listings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Resolving a hardware conflict
If you receive an error message telling you there is a device 
driver conflict or a general hardware problem, try using 
Windows
® Help and Support to troubleshoot the problem 
first.
For help on hardware conflicts:
1Click Start, then click Help and Support.
2Click the Hardware link in the window.
A list of category links appear. 
						

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3Click the Fixing a hardware problem or other 
appropriate link.
4Choose from specific topics and follow the steps.
If there is still a problem, the operating system should display 
a message that explains what the conflict is.
A plan of action
The smooth operation of the system depends on the 
interaction of all devices, programs, and features. If the 
system or one of its attached devices isn’t working, resolving 
the problem can be time-consuming and frustrating.
The recommended procedure for getting multiple devices to 
work together is to add and set up one device at a time. After 
you add each device, test it to make sure it and all previously 
connected devices work.
The device most recently connected to the system is the one 
most likely to be causing a hardware conflict.
Resolving hardware conflicts on your own 
Computer components need resources to accomplish a task. 
A device, such as a disk drive or a modem, needs a channel to 
the computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU). It also needs a 
direct channel to the computer’s memory to store information 
as it works. These channels of communication are commonly 
referred to as system resources.
Direct Memory Access 
Similarly, the data required by the device is stored in a 
specific place or address in memory called the Direct 
Memory Access (DMA). The DMA provides a dedicated 
channel for adapter cards to bypass the microprocessor and 
access memory directly. If two or more devices use the same 
DMA, the data required by one device overwrites the data 
required by the other. That may cause a hardware conflict. 
						

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Plug and Play 
With Plug and Play and the Windows® XP operating system, 
avoiding hardware conflicts is easy. Plug and Play is a 
computer standard that helps the system BIOS (basic input/
output system) and the operating system to automatically 
assign resources to Plug and Play-compliant devices. In 
theory, if every device connected to the computer is Plug and 
Play-compliant, no two devices will compete for the same 
system resources. Simply plug in the device and turn on your 
computer. The operating system automatically sets up your 
system to accommodate the new device.
If you install an older (legacy) device that the operating 
system cannot recognize, the operating system may have 
difficulty assigning resources to it. As a result, a hardware 
conflict can occur. To see what resources the operating 
system has assigned to the device, see “Checking device 
properties” on page 187.
Resolving conflicts
There are three things you can do to resolve hardware 
conflicts:
❖Disable the device.
For an older device, remove it from the computer. For a 
Plug and Play device.
❖Disable another system component and use its resources 
for the new device.
❖Reconfigure the device so that its requirements do not 
conflict. Refer to the device’s documentation for 
instructions about changing settings on the device. 
						

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Fixing a problem with Device Manager 
Device Manager provides a way to check and change the 
configuration of a device.
CAUTION: Changing the default settings using Device Manager 
can cause other conflicts that make one or more devices unusable. 
Device Manager is a configuration tool for advanced users who 
understand configuration parameters and the ramifications of 
changing them.
Disabling or enabling a device 
1Click Start, click the My Computer icon with the 
secondary button, then click Properties.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
2Click the Hardware tab.
3Click the Device Manager button.
4Select the specific device from the device category.
5To enable a device, look at the far right of the toolbar. 
Look for an icon of a monitor with a strike mark through 
a circle on the front. When you mouse over the small 
icon, the status of Disabled displays.
To disable a device, look at the far right of the toolbar. 
Look for an icon of a monitor with a blue check mark on 
it. When you mouse over the small icon, the status of 
Enabled displays.
6Click the icon.
You are given the option of disabling or enabling the 
device. 
7Click yes or no, whichever is appropriate. 
						

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Checking device properties
Device Manager provides a way to view the properties of a 
device. Properties include the name of the manufacturer, the 
type of device, the drivers installed, and the system resources 
assigned to the device. 
To check a device’s properties:
1Click Start.
2Click My Computer with the secondary button, then 
click Properties.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
3Click the Hardware tab.
4Click the Device Manager button.
5To view the device(s) installed, double-click the device 
type.
6To view the properties, double-click the device.
The operating system displays the Device Properties 
dialog box, which provides an array of tabs. They 
include:
❖The General tab, which provides basic information 
about the device.
❖The Resource tab, which lists resources assigned to 
the monitor, DVD-ROM, floppy disk drive, and other 
power-using functions.
❖The Drivers tab, which displays the drivers being 
used by the device.
A Troubleshooting button is also present.
Click troubleshooting.
A Help and Support window for that device appears.
For more information about Device Manager, refer to 
Windows
® XP online help. 
						

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Memory card problems 
Incorrectly connected or faulty memory modules may cause 
errors that seem to be device-related. It is worthwhile 
checking for these first:
1Turn off the computer via the Start menu.
2Remove the memory module.
3Reinstall the memory module, following the instructions 
in “Using the computer for the first time” on page 44, and 
making sure it is seated properly.
4Check for the error again.
5If the error recurs, remove the memory module entirely 
and check for the error again.
If removing the memory module eliminates the error, the 
memory module may be faulty. If the error recurs without 
the memory module installed, the error is not caused by 
the memory module.
NOTE: Toshiba recommends using only memory approved by 
To s h i b a .
Power and the batteries 
Your computer receives its power through the AC adapter and 
power cable or from the system batteries (main battery and 
optional secondary battery). Power problems are interrelated. 
For example, a faulty AC adapter or power cable will neither 
power the computer nor recharge the batteries.
Here are some typical problems and how to solve them:
The AC power light does not come on when you plug in 
the AC adapter and power cable.
Make sure the AC adapter and power cable are firmly 
plugged into both the wall outlet and the computer. 
						

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If the AC power light still does not come on, check that the 
wall outlet is working properly by plugging in a lamp or other 
appliance.
The AC adapter and power cable work correctly, but the 
battery will not charge.
The battery doesn’t charge while the computer is consuming 
full power. Try turning off the computer.
The main battery may not be inserted correctly in the 
computer. Turn off the computer, remove and replace the 
battery.
The battery may be too hot or too cold to charge properly. If 
you think this is the probable cause, let the battery reach 
room temperature and try again.
If the battery has completely discharged, it will not begin 
charging immediately. Leave the AC adapter and power cable 
connected, wait 20 minutes and see if the battery is charging.
If the battery light is glowing after 20 minutes, let the 
computer continue charging the battery for at least another 20 
minutes before you turn on the computer.
If the battery light does not glow after 20 minutes, the battery 
may have reached the end of its useful life. Try replacing it.
The battery appears not to power the computer for as 
long as it usually does.
If you frequently recharge a partially charged battery, it may 
not charge fully. Let the battery discharge completely, then 
try charging it again.
Check the power options using the Toshiba Power 
Management Utility. Have you added a device, such as a PC 
Card or memory module, that takes its power from the 
battery? Is your software using the hard disk more? Is the 
display power set to turn off automatically? Was the battery 
fully charged to begin with? All these conditions affect how 
long the charge lasts. 
						

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For more information on maximizing battery power, see 
“Charging the battery” on page 89.
Keyboard problems
If, when you type, strange things happen or nothing happens, 
the problem may be related to the keyboard itself.
The keyboard produces unexpected characters.
A keypad overlay may be on. If the numeric keypad or cursor 
control light is on, press Fn and F10 simultaneously to turn 
off the cursor control light or press Fn and F11 
simultaneously to turn off the numeric keypad light.
If the problem occurs when both the keypad overlays are off, 
make sure the software you are using is not remapping the 
keyboard. Refer to the software’s documentation and check 
that the program does not assign different meanings to any of 
the keys.
You have connected an external keyboard and the 
operating system displays one or more keyboard error 
messages.
If you have a second keyboard, try it. If it works, the first 
keyboard may be defective or incompatible with your 
computer.
Display problems 
Here are some typical display problems and their solutions:
The display is blank.
Display Auto Off may have gone into effect. Press any key to 
activate the screen.
You may have activated the instant password feature by 
pressing Fn and F1 simultaneously. If you have registered a 
password, press the Enter key, type the password and press 
Enter. If no password is registered, press Enter. The screen 
reactivates and allows you to continue working.