The Network Device Switch utility makes it easy to switch between the various wired and wireless network adapters installed in a Toshiba notebook computer, sometimes including a dial-up modem.

The Fn+F8 Wireless HotKey enables and disables the installed wireless adapters -- either one or the other, or both. Press and hold the Fn key at the bottom left of the keyboard, and then repeatedly tap the F8 key (on the top row of the keyboard) to cycle through the available options, which will displayed in a window at the center of the display screen. Release both keys to select the option currently displayed.

For the Portege 4000, Satellite Pro 6000, Satellite Pro 6100, Tecra 9000 and some other models, an icon for this utility is located in the Windows System Tray (to the right of the Task Bar). The Network Device Switch utility may display as many as four options when the icon is clicked, as follows:

1. Dial-up network adapter (modem)

2. the wired Ethernet LAN adapter

3. Toshiba Wireless LAN Mini PCI card

4. Disable all devices

Normally, only one of the first three items will have a checkmark to the left of the entry. The check mark indicates that this adapter is enabled. When the machine is first turned on, both the Ethernet LAN adapter and the Wireless LAN adapter will be enabled. De-select one or the other of these two. 

Generally, only one of these network adapters should be selected, to avoid any confusion about which one is actually handling the network connection. When the computer is first turned on, however, both the Ethernet LAN adapter and the Wireless LAN adapter may be selected. It's generally a good idea to de-select the Wireless LAN adapter, or turn off the wireless antenna switch -- unless you are sure you need or prefer to use a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) or Bluetooth connection.

Simply unplugging the Ethernet cable from the computer insures that network activity intended for a wireless connection is not being routed through the wired Ethernet LAN adapter.

Problems may occur when a computer is connected to a dial-up line through a modem, and to either a wired or wireless LAN at the same time. It may seem that the Internet connection is occurring through the modem when it is actually established through the LAN interface. This can cause VPNs to fail, and cause other problems. Consider disabling all LAN adapters whenever you intend to use a dial-up modem for connections through the Internet.

The Wireless LAN adapter entry can refer to either the Wi-Fi adapter or the Bluetooth adapter. The Wireless HotKey (Fn+F8) toggles between these two devices.

When The “Disable all devices” entry is checked, the Fn+F8 HotKey can enable only the Bluetooth adapter, not also the Wi-Fi adapter. To enable the Wi-Fi adapter, it's necessary to first disable the Bluetooth adapter with the Fn+F8 HotKey, or with the Bluetooth Manager utility.

The following combinations of devices are known to work without conflict:

1. Wireless Mini PCI card checked, and Wi-Fi enabled with Fn+F8 HotKey.

2. Wireless Mini PCI card checked, and Bluetooth enabled with Fn+F8 HotKey.

3. Wired Ethernet adapter checked, wireless Mini PCI card un-checked, and Bluetooth enabled with Fn+F8 HotKey -- but not using TCP/IP stack.

4. Wired Ethernet adapter checked, wireless Mini PCI card un-checked, and Bluetooth disabled with Fn+F8 HotKey.

 

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