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Conserving Power: Dell™ Latitude™ C810 User's Guide

Management Tips

NOTE: See "About the Batteries" for more information on conserving battery power.

NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby mode, you may lose data.

To enter standby mode:

• In Microsoft Windows XP, click the Start button, click Turn Off Computer, and then click Stand By.
  
  In Microsoft Windows 2000, click the Start button, click Shutdown, click Standby, and then click OK.
  
  or
  
  
• Depending on how you set the power management options in the Advanced tab, use one of the following methods:
  
  
  • Press the power button.
    
  • Close the display.
    
  • Press the power management keyboard shortcut (sometimes referred to as the "sleep button"), .

If an external monitor is connected to the computer when you close the display, the computer does not enter standby mode. You can still use the external monitor.

To exit standby mode, press the power button or open the display depending on how you set the options in the Advanced tab.

Hibernate Mode (Suspend-to-Disk Mode)

Hibernate mode (also called suspend-to-disk or S2D mode) conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When you exit hibernate mode, the computer returns to the same state it was in before entering hibernate mode.

NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while in hibernate mode.

Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low.

• Press the power button.
  
• Close the display.
  
• Press the power management keyboard shortcut (sometimes referred to as the "sleep button"), .

If an external monitor is connected to the computer when you close the display, the computer does not enter hibernate mode. You can still use the external monitor.

NOTE: You cannot exit standby mode or hibernate mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad.

NOTE: 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.

For more information on hibernate mode, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

Power Options Properties

To access the Windows Power Options Properties window:

For Windows XP

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
   
   
2. Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
   
   
3. Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.

For Windows 2000

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
   
   
2. Double-click the Power Options icon.

Power Schemes Tab

The Power schemes pull-down menu displays the selected preset power scheme. Depending on your operating system, typical power schemes are:

NOTE: Dell recommends that you use the Portable/Laptop power scheme to maximize battery power.

• Home/Office Desk
  
• Portable/Laptop
  
• Always On
  
• Presentation
  
• Minimal Power Management
  
• Max Battery

Each preset power scheme has different time-out settings for putting the computer into 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 (in Windows XP) or Windows Help (in Windows 2000).

Alarms Tab

NOTE: 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. See "Battery Warnings" for more information on low battery warnings.

Power Meter Tab

The Power Meter tab displays the current power source and amount of battery charge remaining.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows you to:

• Set power icon and standby mode password options.

NOTE: If you are going to connect your computer to a port replicator or a docking station, click None when you program the display-close option. This setting ensures that your computer does not enter standby mode or hibernate mode when you close (lower) the display.

• Program the following functions:
  
  • Activate standby mode.
    
  • Activate hibernate mode.
    
  • Shut down Windows and turn off the computer.
    
  • Choose no action (None).

To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding pull-down menu, and then click OK.

Hibernate Tab

The Hibernate tab lets you enable hibernate mode by clicking the Enable hibernate support check box.

Intel® SpeedStep™ Technology Tab

NOTE: Windows XP controls the performance level of the processor depending on the power scheme that you select. See "Power Schemes Tab."

NOTE: To use Intel SpeedStep technology, a Microsoft Windows operating system must be running.

Depending on your operating system and microprocessor, the Power Options Properties window includes the Intel® SpeedStep™ technology tab. The Intel SpeedStep technology allows you to set the performance level of the processor according to whether the computer is running on battery or AC power:

• Automatic — The processor runs at its highest possible speed (Maximum Performance mode) when the computer is running on AC power. When the computer is running on battery power, the processor runs in Battery Optimized mode.
  
  
• Maximum Battery — The processor runs at a slower speed to extend battery life.
  
  
• Maximum Performance — The processor runs at its highest possible speed even if the computer is running on battery power.
  
  
• Battery Optimized Performance — Processor speed is optimized for battery power even if the computer is connected to an electrical outlet.
  
  

To change additional Intel SpeedStep options:

1. Click the Advanced button and then click one of the following options:
   
   
   • Disable Intel SpeedStep technology control
     
     
   • Remove flag icon (from the notification area)
     
     
   • Disable audio notification when performance changes
     
     
2. Click OK to accept any changes, and then click OK to close the Intel SpeedStep technology window.
   
   

You can also change the Intel SpeedStep settings by right-clicking the flag icon in the notification area.

ENERGY STAR® Emblem

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Computers program is a joint effort between the EPA and computer manufacturers to reduce air pollution by promoting energy-efficient computer products. The EPA estimates that use of ENERGY STAR® computer products can save computer users up to two billion dollars annually in electricity costs.

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