116 Mobile Computing
Monitoring battery power
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
Setting battery alarms
Your computer can be configured to warn you of a low
battery charge condition, so you can take the necessary steps
to save your work.
Your Windows operating system offers two alarms before
your system shuts down.
To change the default alarm settings:
1Open the Start menu, click Control Panel, then
Performance and Maintenance.
2Click the Tos hi ba Power Saver icon.
3Click the Setup Action tab.
4Select the Alarm settings in the Setup Alarm section.
Before your computer runs out of battery power, save your
data and take one of the following actions:
❖Suspend or shut down your computer.
❖Shut down your computer and replace the main battery
with a charged one.
❖Connect your computer to an AC power source.
Conserving battery power
How long a fully charged battery lasts when you are using the
computer depends on a number of factors, such as:
❖How the computer is configured
❖How much you use the display panel instead of an
external monitor
❖How much you use the hard disk and other drives
❖Whether you use any optional devices to which the
battery supplies power, such as a PC Card
❖Where you are working—since operating time decreases
at low temperatures