Toshiba Satellite Pro 4300 User Manual - Page 81

Monitoring battery capacity Remaining battery power can be monitored by the Power Saver Utility program. Refer to Utilities in Chapter 1, Introduction. Wait at least 16 seconds after turning on the computer before trying to monitor the remaining operating time. The computer needs this time to check the battery's remaining capacity and to calculate the remaining operating time, based on the current power consumption rate and remaining battery capacity. The actual remaining operating time may differ slightly from the calculated time. With repeated discharges and recharges, the battery's capacity will gradually decrease. Therefore, an often used, older battery will not operate for as long as a new battery even when both are fully charged. In this case, battery monitoring will indicate a 100% charge for both the old and new battery, but the displayed estimated time remaining will be shorter for the older battery. Maximising battery operating time A battery's usefulness depends on how long it can supply power on a single charge. How long the charge lasts in a battery depends on: How you configure the computer (for example, whether you enable battery-power saving options). The computer provides a battery save mode to conserve battery power. This mode has the following options: • Processing speed • Display auto off • HDD auto off • System auto off • LCD brightness See Chapter 7, Setup and Password Security. How often and how long you use the hard disk, CD-ROM and the diskette drive. How much charge the battery contained to begin with. How you use optional devices, such as a PC Card, to which the battery supplies power. Enabling Resume mode conserves battery power if you are frequently turning the computer off and on. Where you store your programs and data. Closing the display when you are not using the keyboard saves power. Operating time decreases at low temperatures. The condition of the battery terminals. Make sure the battery terminals stay clean by wiping them with a clean dry cloth before installing the battery pack. User's Manual Power and Power-Up Modes 6-7