Dell 120L Conserving Battery Power, Power Management Modes, Low-Battery Warning, Standby Mode

Low-Battery Warning

NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level.

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window. See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 14 for information about accessing QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window.

Conserving Battery Power

Perform the following actions to conserve battery power:

•Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible because battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged.

•Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time (see "Power Management Modes" on page 13).

•Use the Power Management Wizard or the Power Options Properties window to select options to optimize your computer’s power usage. These options can also be set to change when you press the power button, close the display, or press <Fn><Esc>.

NOTE: See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 14 for information on conserving battery power.

Power Management Modes

Standby Mode

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 Start→ Shut Down→ Stand by. or

•Depending on how you set the power management options in the Power Options Properties window or the QuickSet Power Management Wizard, use one of the following methods:

–Press the power button.

–Close the display.

–Press <Fn><Esc>.

Quick Reference Guide

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