62 Using a Battery
the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery
(see "Battery" on page210 for more information about the battery operating
time).

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, Sleep state begins automatically.
A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately
90 percent depleted. The computer enters Standby or Sleep mode when the
battery charge is at a critically low level.
You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the
Power O ption s window (see "Power Management Modes" on page 63).
Conserving Battery Power
To conserve battery power on your portable computer, do any of the
following:
• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible; 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 63.
• Configure the power management settings using either Dell QuickSet or
Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer’s power
usage (see "Power Management Modes" on page63).
• Use the Power Management Wizard or the
Power Options Properties
Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long
periods of time (see "Standby and Sleep Mode" on page 63).