Connect the Dell computer to an electrical outlet when possible because the battery life expectancy is largely determined by the number of times the battery is charged.
Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time.
To exit a power management mode, press the power button.
Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits standby mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering standby mode.
NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby
mode, it may lose data.
To enter standby mode:
Click the Start button, click Turn off computer, and then click Stand by.
or
Depending on how you set the power management options on the Advanced tab, use one of the following methods:
Press the power button.
Close the display.
Press
.
To exit standby mode, press the power button or open the display depending on how you set the options on the Advanced tab. You cannot make the computer exit standby mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad or track stick.
Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode.
NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your
computer is in hibernate mode.
Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low.
Depending on how you set the power management options on the Advanced tab, use one of the following methods to enter hibernate mode:
Press the power button.
Close the display.
Press
.
HINT: Some PC Cards
may not operate correctly
after the computer exits
hibernate mode. Remove
and reinsert the card, or
simply restart (reboot)
your computer.
To exit hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode. You cannot make the computer exit hibernate mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad or track stick. For more information on hibernate mode, see the documentation that came with your operating system.
The Power schemes pull-down menu displays the selected preset power scheme. Depending on your operating system, typical power schemes are:
HINT: Dell recommends
that you use the
Portable/Laptop power
scheme to maximize
battery power.
Portable/Laptop
Home/Office
Always On
Presentation
Minimal Power Management
Max Battery
Windows XP controls the performance level of the processor depending on the power scheme you select. You do not need to make any further adjustments to set the performance level.
Each preset power scheme has different time-out settings for entering standby mode, turning off the display, and turning off the hard drive. For more information on power management options, see the Help and Support Center.
HINT: To enable audible
alarms, click each Alarm
Action button and select
Sound alarm.
The Low battery alarm and Critical battery alarm settings alert you with a message when the battery charge falls below a certain percentage. When you receive your computer, the Low battery alarm and Critical battery alarm check boxes are selected. Dell recommends that you continue to use these settings.
.
.