Dell Inspiron 1520 View - Page 56

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 Sleep state 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 Options window (see "Power Management Modes" on page 56). 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. • 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 page 56). • Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time (see "Standby and Sleep Mode" on page 56). Power Management Modes Standby and Sleep Mode Standby mode (sleep mode in Microsoft Windows Vista®) 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 or sleep mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering standby or sleep mode. NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby or sleep mode, it may lose data. To enter standby mode in Windows XP, click Start→Turn off computer→ Stand by. To enter sleep mode in Windows Vista, click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click Sleep. 56 Using a Battery