TOSHIBA NOTEBOOK (LAPTOP) - PROBLEMS and CHECKS
Some problems you may encounter when using your notebook
computer are relatively easy to identify and solve. Others may require help
from your dealer, your network administrator or the manufacturer of a software
program.
Program stops responding.
If you are working with a program that suddenly freezes all
operations, chances are the program has stopped responding. You can exit the
failed program without shutting down the operating system or closing other
programs.
To close a program that has stopped responding:
1 Press Ctrl, Alt,
and Del simultaneously (once).
2 Click the Applications tab. If a program has stopped responding, the
words “not responding” appear beside its name in the list.
3 Select the program you want to close, and then click End
Task. Closing the failed program should
allow you to continue working. If it does not, continue with step 4.
4 Close the remaining programs one by one by selecting the
program name, then End Task.
5 Turn off your computer according to the instructions.
Program performs an illegal operation.
If you receive the message, “Your program has performed an
illegal operation, “you should record the details of the message and consult
the software manufacturer.
To record the details:
1 Click the Details button and select the text the operating
system displays. The Details button
displays information that the software manufacturer needs to help you solve
your problem.
2 Press Ctrl and c simultaneously to copy the text to the
clipboard.
3 Open Notepad (click Start, point to All Programs, and then
point to Accessories and click Notepad).
4 Press Ctrl and v simultaneously to paste the details into
Notepad.
5 Add a paragraph break and type some notes describing what
you were doing when you received the message.
6 Save the file and refer to it when you contact the
software manufacturer.
Problems to turn on the computer
These problems may occur when you turn on the power. The
computer will not start.
Make sure you
attached the AC adapter and power cable properly or installed a charged
battery.
Press and hold down the power button for a few seconds.
If you are using the AC adapter, check that the wall outlet
is working by plugging in another device, such as a lamp.
The computer starts but, when press a key, nothing happens.
Probably in Standby mode and have a software or
resource conflict. When this happens, turning the power on returns you to the
problem instead of restarting the system.
To clear the condition, press Ctrl, Alt, and Del
simultaneously.
Clearing the condition may get the computer running, but it
won’t solve a resource conflict.
The computer is not accessing the hard disk or the diskette
drive.
Computer normally loads the operating system from the
hard disk. If you have a hard disk problem, you will not be able to start the
computer. Insert a system diskette into the diskette drive, press the left or
right arrow key and choose your boot-up device.
HINT: Press F12 as you power on the computer to access the
menu.
The computer displays the WARNING RESUME FAILURE message.
The computer was placed in Standby mode and the battery has
discharged. Data stored in the computer’s memory has been lost.
To charge the battery, leave the computer plugged into a
live wall outlet for several hours.
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 Start-up menu to fix the problem.
Using Start-up options to fix problems
If the operating system fails to start properly, you may
have to change your system’s configuration or verify the start-up procedure to
fix the problem. To do this, use the options in the Startup menu. This section
describes each option and when to use the procedure.
To open the Start-up menu:
1 Restart your computer.
2 Press 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
Return to OS Choices
(menu)
TECHNICAL NOTE: If your computer is connected to a network,
the Start-up menu may display different versions of Safe mode.
Internet problems
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.
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 other mistake makes it impossible for your browser to
locate
the site.
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.
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:
1 Click Start, then click Help and Support.
2 Click the Hardware link in the window’s left pane. A list of category links appears.
3 Click the Fixing a hardware problem.
4 Choose 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.
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.
Interrupt Request Channel
The channel to the CPU is called an Interrupt Request (IRQ)
because it interrupts what the processor is doing and requests some of the
processor’s time. If two or more devices use the same IRQ, the processor does
not know which device is asking for attention. This may cause a hardware
conflict.
NOTE: One of the IRQs may be shared by multiple devices.
This is called IRQ sharing and is normal.
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, causing a
hardware conflict.
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.
Disable another system component and use its resources for
the new device.
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 a device
1 Click Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance,
Administrative Tools.
2 Double-click the Computer Management icon.
3 In the left pane, click Device Manager.
4 Select the specific device from the device category.
5 In the toolbar, look to the far right for an icon of a
monitor with a strike mark through a circle on the front. This is the disable
feature.
6 Click the icon. You
are given the option of disabling the device.
7 Click yes or no, whichever is appropriate.
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:
1 Click Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance,
Administrative Tools.
2 Double-click the Computer Management icon.
3 In the left pane, click Device Manager.
4 To view the device(s) installed, double-click the device
type.
5 To view the properties, double-click the device. The operating system displays the Device
Properties window, 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, DVD-ROM/CD-RW, diskette 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.
LAPTOP and DESKTOP COMPUTER PROBLEMS
Memory module problems
Incorrectly connected or faulty memory modules may cause
errors that seem to be device-related. It is worthwhile checking for these
first:
1 Turn off your computer according to the instructions.
2 Remove the memory module
3 Reinstall the memory module and making sure it is seated
properly.
4 Check for the error again.
5 If 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.
Power and the batteries
Your computer receives its power through the AC adapter and
power cable or from the system batteries (main battery and real-time clock
(RTC) 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:
Make sure the AC adapter and power cable are firmly plugged
into both the wall outlet and the computer.
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 main battery may not be inserted
correctly in the computer. Turn off the computer, remove the battery, clean the
contacts with a soft dry cloth (if necessary) 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, and then try
charging it again.
Check the power
options using the 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 set to turn off
automatically?
Was the battery fully charged to begin with?
All these
conditions affect how long the charge lasts.
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 F10
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.
If you are using the built-in screen, make sure the display
priority is not set for an external monitor. To do this, press Fn and
F5 simultaneously (once). If this does not correct the problem, press Fn and F5
simultaneously again to return the display priority to its previous setting.
If you are using an external monitor:
Check that the monitor is turned on.
Check that the monitor’s power cable is firmly plugged into
a working power outlet.
Check that the cable connecting the external monitor to the
computer is firmly attached.
Try adjusting the contrast and brightness controls on the
external monitor.
Press Fn and F5 simultaneously to make sure the display
priority is not set for the built-in screen.
Screen does not look right.
You can change the display settings by clicking a blank area
of the desktop with the secondary control button, then clicking Properties.
This displays the Display Properties window. The Appearance tab of this window
allows you to choose the colors for the screen. The Settings tab allows you to
choose the screen resolution.
The built-in screen flickers.
Some flickering is a normal result of the way the screen
produces colors. To reduce the amount of flickering, try using fewer colors.
To change the number of colors displayed:
1 Point at the desktop and click with the secondary button.
2 Click Properties, and then the Settings tab.
3 Change the Colors option and click OK.
A message tells you that there is a problem with your
display settings and that the adapter type is incorrect or the current settings
do not work with your hardware. Reduce
the size of the color palette to one that is supported by the computer’s
internal display.
To change the display properties:
1 Point at the desktop and click with the secondary
button. The Display Properties window
appears.
2 Click Properties, then click the Settings tab.
3 Adjust the screen resolution and/or color quality.
4 Click OK.
The display mode is set to Simultaneous and the external
display device does not work. Make sure
the external monitor is capable of displaying at resolutions of 800 x 600 or
higher. Devices that do not support this resolution will only work in
Internal/External mode.
Disk drive problems
Problems with the hard disk or with a diskette drive usually
show up as an inability to access the disk or as sector errors. Sometimes a
disk problem may cause one or more files to appear to have garbage in them.
Typical disk problems are:
You are having trouble accessing a disk, or one or more
files appear to be missing.
Make sure you are identifying the drive by its correct name
(A: or C:).
Error-checking
Run Error-checking, which analyzes the directories, files
and File Allocation Table (FAT) on the disk and repairs any damage it finds:
To run Error-checking:
1 Click Start, then click My Computer.
2 Right-click the drive you want to check and click
Properties.
The drive’s properties box appears.
3 Click the Tools tab.
4 Click the Check now button. The Check Disk All Apps box appears.
5 You can choose one or both options:
Automatically fix file system errors
Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
6 Click Start.
Error-checking runs the test.
Hard disk seems very slow.
If you have been using your computer for some time, your
files may have become fragmented. Run Disk Defragmenter.
To do this, click Start, then click All Programs, point to
Accessories and System Tools, and click Disk Defragmenter.
Data files are damaged or corrupted.
Refer to your software documentation for file recovery
procedures. Many software packages automatically create backup files.
You may also be able to recover lost data using utility
software, which is available from your dealer.
Some programs run correctly but others do not.
This is probably a configuration problem. If a program does
not run properly, refer to its documentation and check that the hardware
configuration meets its needs.
DVD-ROM or DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive problems
You cannot access a disc in the drive.
Make sure the drive tray has closed properly. Press gently
until it clicks into place.
Open the drive tray and remove the disc. Make sure the drive
tray is clean. Any dirt or foreign object can interfere with the laser beam.
Examine the disc to see whether it is dirty. If necessary,
wipe it with a clean damp cloth dipped in water or a neutral cleaner.
Replace the disc in the tray. Make sure it is lying flat,
label side up. Press the disc down until it locks on the spindle.
Close the drive tray carefully, making sure it has shut
completely.
Press the disc eject button, but the drive tray does not
slide out.
Make sure the computer is connected to a power source and
turned on. The DVD-ROM or DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive eject mechanism requires power to
operate.
To remove a disc without turning on the computer, use a
narrow object, such as a straightened paper clip, to press the manual eject
button. This button is in the small hole next to the disc eject button on the
right side of the computer.
Some discs run correctly, but others do not.
If the problem is with an application CD-ROM, refer to the
software’s documentation and check that the hardware configuration meets the
program’s needs. The color of the
materials used to make the disc can affect its reliability. Silver-colored
CD-ROMs are the most reliable, followed by gold-colored CD-ROM. Green-colored
CDROMs are the least reliable.
WinDVD problems: general issues
WinDVD has been configured to provide optimum performance
and quality based upon your system’s available resources. Changes made to the
system or its configuration may impact the playback performance of the WinDVD
player.
WinDVD controls are disabled.
Controls may be grayed out by commands on the DVD disc. For
example, it is common for DVD movie titles to disable fast-forward and rewind
during the legal notices at the beginning of a movie.
Playback performance is poor.
Make sure your system’s A/C adapter is plugged in and the
system’s power setting is on full.
The Root or Title menu does not open.
Most DVD titles have one or both of the “Root” and “Title”
menus. If one menu button appears to do nothing, try the other menu button.
WinDVD performance decreases after making a system change.
DVD playback performance is dependent upon several system
resources. Changes to these system resources caused, for example, by installing
a new graphics or audio card may impact performance. Some software changes may
also impact playback performance (for example, downloading new drivers from the
Web). Before installing a new hardware or software component on your system,
check for any potential conflicts between its resource requirements and your
current system configuration. Also, if you change your operating system, check
with your PC manufacturer or your graphics card vendor to ensure that you have
the appropriate drivers for both your hardware (for example, the graphics card)
and software (drivers must support the operating system and DVD with WinDVD).
Slow playback performance.
DVD playback is a resource intensive application. Other
applications and/or changes to your system hardware, software or configuration
can impact playback performance. If playback is slower than normal, try:
1 Closing any other open applications to improve the
performance of the DVD playback.
2 Ensuring DMA (Direct Memory Access) is turned on.
3 If you have installed new hardware (such as a new graphics
card or audio card), ensure the component’s drivers support Microsoft DirectX
8.1 or higher and WinDVD. Contact the manufacturer of the component.
4 Verifying that your display driver resolution, color depth
and refresh rate are optimal for DVD playback. (Some systems do not support
video overlays if these parameters are not optimal.) Try lowering these
settings to improve performance.
If Something Goes Wrong
Resolving a hardware conflict
Secondary IDE Channel DMA setting
To ensure the Secondary IDE Channel DMA setting:
1 Click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware,
System. The System Properties window.
2 Click the Hardware tab.
3 Click the Device Manager button.
4 Click + to open the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
5 Double-click the Secondary IDE Channel. The Secondary IDE Channel Properties window
appears.
6 Click Advanced Settings.
7 Look at Device 0. The current transfer mode should be
Ultra DMA Mode 2. If it isn’t, select Ultra DMA Mode 2 from the pull-down menu
and click OK.
WinDVD problems: content issues
Movies exhibit poor performance of “Director's Commentary”
or other similar optional content versions.
Some movies may exhibit poor performance of these features. In
particular, the video portion of the movie may become jerky or show pauses. The
normal version of the movie will not show this problem.
WinDVD will not function properly with “debug” software
installed. The WinDVD application will
not function properly if it detects that debug software is present on the
system. Remove the debug software to restore functionality of WinDVD.