Dell PD598 Checking the Battery Charge

44 Using a Battery

CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture, incinerate,

disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children.

Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury

or equipment damage.

Checking the Battery Charge

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, the

battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery

charge.

NOTE: Dell QuickSet may not be available on your computer.

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter window. The

Battery Meter window displays status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the

battery in your computer.

Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter

The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-

click the icon on the taskbar.

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.

Charge Gauge

By pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the charge gauge on the battery, you can

check:

• Battery charge (check by pressing and

releasing

the status button)

• Battery health (check by pressing and

holding

the status button)

The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of

charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. That is, a battery can

show a status of "charged" but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).

Check the Battery Charge

To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate

the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For

example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no lights

appear, the battery has no charge.

PD598a01.book Page 44 Monday, February 6, 2006 2:24 PM

Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents 1 A Tour of Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2 Setting Up Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 3 Using the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 5 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 8U s i n g C a r d s 9 Setting Up a Home and Office Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 10 Securing Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 11 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 12 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 13 Traveling With Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 16 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Finding Information NOTE: 12 NOTE: 14 NOTE: A Tour of Your Computer Determining Your Computers Configuration Front View Page Page The lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: NOTE: 20 Left Side View Right Side View Page Back View 24 Page Page Bottom View Page Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Transferring Information to a New Computer Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD Page Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Page Using the Display Adjusting Brightness Switching the Video Image Setting Display Resolution Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad 40 Key Combinations System Functions Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Wireless Networking and Bluetooth Wireless Technology Function Power Management Speaker Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Power Management Modes Standby Mode Page Configuring Power Management Settings Charging the Battery Replacing the Battery Storing a Battery Dell QuickSet Features Page Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Playing CDs or DVDs Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture Copying CDs and DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect If the Computer Is On or in Standby Mode If the Computer Is Off or in Hibernate Mode Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Page S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Component Video and Standard Audio Page Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft Windows XP Using Cards ExpressCards ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard Page Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Media Memory Cards Installing a Media Memory Card Removing a Media Memory Card Page Setting Up a Home and Office Network Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem Network Setup Wizard Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up a New WLAN Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Completing the Connection to the WLAN Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection Checking Your Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Internet Connection Firewall Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock Passwords Computer Tracking Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Dell Support Utility Accessing the Dell Support Utility Clicking the Dell Support Icon Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon Drive Problems CD and DVD Drive Problems If You Cannot Eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW Drive Tray If You Hear an Unfamiliar Scraping or Grinding Sound Hard Drive Problems E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Page Error Messages Page Page IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters Lockups and Software Problems The Computer Does Not Start Up The Computer Stops Responding A Program Stops Responding or Crashes Repeatedly A Program Is Designed for an Earlier Microsoft Windows Operating System Dell MediaDirect Problems CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION Click the ? icon at the bottom of the Dell MediaDirect screen to access Help. TO PLAY MOVIES WITH DELL MEDIADIRECT, YOU MUST HAVE A DVD DRIVE AND THE DELL DVD PLAYER If you purchased a DVD drive with your computer, this software should already be installed. Memory Problems Network Problems General Mobile Broadband Network ExpressCard Problems Power Problems Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No Sound From Integrated Speakers No Sound From External Speakers No Sound From Headphones Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Video and Display Problems If the Display Is Blank If the Display Is Difficult to Read If Only Part of the Display is Readable Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Page Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec Page Using the Operating System CD Page Page Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Hard Drive Page Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Memory Page Page Modem Mini-Card Page Page Page Hinge Cover Page Keyboard Coin-Cell Battery Optical Drive Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology Page Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer Packing the Computer Travel Tips Traveling by Air Specifications NOTE: 138 NOTE: Page Page Page Page Page Getting Help Obtaining Assistance Online Services AutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Support Service Problems With Your Order Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call 148 Appendix Using the System Setup Program Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and Display Touch Pad CDs and DVDs FCC Notices (U.S. Only) FCC Class B Macrovision Product Notice Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals Contacting Dell Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Printers, and Projectors Page Glossary A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S Page T U V W X Z Index Numbers A B C E F H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W