Chapter 6

Setting up Windows 98 to work with your printer

Exploring audio features

Emulating a full-size keyboard

Determining the COM Port

Using MS-DOS programs

Exploring Your Options

In this chapter, you will explore additional features of your Satellite notebook computer.

Setting up Windows 98 to work with your printer

When you start your computer for the first time, the Windows 98 Setup program offers you the opportunity to define a printer. If you did not define the printer at that time, or you want to set up a different printer, read this section.

Setting up a printer involves choosing a printer driver. This special program acts as a translator that converts your work into a format the printer can understand. This section describes how to select a printer driver in Windows 98.

If you are using any non-Windows programs, you need to set up a printer driver for each of those programs. Refer to your program's documentation for specific instructions.

In Windows 98, you can set up a printer with the Add Printer Wizard.

To set up a printer:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.
    The printer display panel appears.

 

Printer panel

  1. Double-click Add Printer.
    The Add Printer Wizard starts.

 

Add Printer Wizard

  1. Click Next to continue.
    The Add Printer Wizard asks you to specify how the printer is connected to the computer.
  2. Select one of the following:
    • If the printer you are setting up is not connected to a network, select Local printer.
    • If the printer you are setting up is connected to a network, select Network printer.
  3. Click Next to continue.
    • If your printer is a Plug and Play device, Windows 98 recognizes and sets up the printer automatically. Skip to step 13.
    • If your printer is not a Plug and Play device, the Add Printer Wizard prompts you to identify the printer you want to set up.
  4. Select your printer from the list of manufacturers and printers. If your printer is not listed and you have the printer driver on diskette, insert the diskette into the diskette drive and click Have Disk, then click Next to continue.
    The Add Printer Wizard prompts you to specify the printer port.
  5. Select the port settings according to the port to which your printer is connected and the instructions in your printer documentation, then click Next.
    The Add Printer Wizard asks you to enter a "friendly" printer name.
  6. Enter a name for your printer.

    HINT: If you are using more than one printer, make sure the name is descriptive enough to help you tell the difference.
  1. Select one of the following:
    • If you are setting up the default printer, click Yes.
    • To make the printer available only when specifically requested, click No.
  2. Click Next to continue.
    Windows 98 prompts you to print a test page.
  3. Select one of the following:
    • If your printer is connected and turned on, and you want to print a test page, click Yes.
    • If your printer not connected or is off, and you don't want to print a test page, click No.
  4. Click Finish.
    You are now ready to print.
  5. Click OK to print.

Depending on your program, you may see various messages indicating the status of your print job.

Exploring audio features

Using CD Player

You can use your computer to play audio CDs and to make recordings. For listening to music, you may prefer to use headphones or external speakers instead of the computer's built-in speakers.

To insert a CD in the CD-ROM drive follow the instructions in Using compact discs. The computer automatically detects the compact disc in the CD-ROM drive, opens Microsoft CD Player and begins to play the disc. You can control various CD Player functions by clicking the buttons on the control panel.

 

CD Player screen

Using external speakers or headphones

Your computer is equipped with a sound system and internal stereo speakers. Instead of using the internal speakers, you can connect headphones or a pair of external stereo speakers to the computer.

To connect external speakers or headphones:

  1. Locate the headphone jack on the computer. Refer to Right side.
  1. Using any necessary adapters, connect the headphone or external speaker cable into the headphone jack.

    TECHNICAL NOTE: The headphone jack requires a 16-ohm stereo mini-plug.
  1. To adjust the volume, do one of the following:
    • If you connect external speakers, use the volume control dial on the speakers.
    • If you connect headphones, use the computer's volume control dial located on the right side of the display panel.

Making a recording

You can save recordings as .WAV files by connecting a microphone or external sound source to the microphone jack.

To make a recording:

  1. Connect a microphone or external sound source to the microphone jack.
  2. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, then click Entertainment.
  3. Click Sound Recorder.
  4. Click the Record button.
  1. Speak normally into the microphone or turn on the external sound source.
  2. When you've finished recording, click the stop button.
The Audio Recorder window displays the new sound file as a waveform.
  1. To save the file, open the File menu and click Save.
Adjusting recording quality

The better the quality of the recording, the more disk space the sound file requires. Experiment to find a balance that suits your need.

To set recording quality:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Sound Recorder.
  2. In the Sound Recorder window, click Edit, then Audio Properties.
  3. In the Audio Properties dialog box, adjust the Recording Volume, Preferred device, and Preferred quality according to your needs.
  4. Click OK.
    Your new settings take effect the next time you record.

Emulating a full-size keyboard

Although the Satellite computer's keyboard has fewer keys, it is compatible with a standard keyboard. Using the  Fn key in combination with one of the specially marked function keys allows you to emulate a full-size keyboard.

Determining the COM Port

The modem is connected to one of the computer's COM (communications) ports. The default setting for your modem is COM2.

If you are having trouble making a modem connection, you may need to identify the COM port to which the modem is connected and possibly change it.

To determine the COM port to which the modem is connected:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
    Windows 98 opens the Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Modems.
    Windows 98 displays the Modem Properties dialog box.
  3. Select the Diagnostics tab.
    Your modem should be listed next to one of the computer's COM ports.
  4. Make a note of the COM port to which the modem is connected.
  5. To verify that the modem is set up properly, select the port to which your modem is connected and then click More Info to run Windows 98 Modem Diagnostics.

    TECHNICAL NOTE: Windows 98 communicates with the modem and displays identifying information reported by the modem. If Windows 98 cannot communicate with the modem, it displays an error message. Consult the troubleshooting sections of your modem and Windows 98 documentation.
  1. Click OK to close the Modem Properties dialog box.
  2. Close the Control Panel.

Using MS-DOS programs

Most MS-DOS programs will run in Windows 98. If an MS-DOS program does not run:

  1. Click Start, then Shut Down.
    Windows 98 displays the Shut Down Windows dialog box.
  2. Click Restart in MS-DOS mode, then click OK.
    Windows 98 shuts down the computer, then restarts it in MS-DOS mode and displays a system prompt.
  3. Refer to the program's documentation for the command that starts the program.
  4. At the system prompt, type the command and press Enter .