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Mobile Computing

Monitoring main battery power

If you do not manage to do any of these things before the main battery completely runs out of power, the computer automatically enters Hibernation mode and turns itself off. Hibernation mode keeps track of where you were, so that when you turn on the power again, you can continue where you left off.

If you have Hibernation mode enabled (the default), the computer copies the details of your open programs and files to the hard disk before shutting down. For more information on using Hibernation, see “Hibernation mode” on page 73.

Setting battery alarms

You can set two alarms. Each alarm can be set to alert you when a specified percentage of remaining battery power has been reached. You can set how the warning occurs: sound an alarm, display a message, both, or none. You can also set the computer to enter Standby mode or Hibernation mode or to completely power down when the alarm goes off.

To change the default alarm settings:

1Click Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, and then TOSHIBA Power Saver.

2Click the Setup Action tab.

3Configure the Alarm settings to suit your needs.

Conserving battery power

How long a fully charged battery pack 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 hard disk, optical drive, diskette drives, or other optional devices

❖Where you are working, since operating time decreases at low temperatures

There are various ways in which you can conserve power and extend the operating time of your battery:

❖Enable Standby or Hibernation, which saves power when you turn off the computer and turn it back on again

❖Use Toshiba’s power-saving options

These power-saving options control the way in which the computer is configured. By using them, you can increase the length of time you can use the computer before you need to recharge the battery.