Managing
Power Usage

Managing Battery Power

    Your system has many ways to tailor power management and maximize battery operating time to best fit how you use your notebook. This chapter contains information about charging and using the battery pack, changing the power button settings, using Standby, Suspend, and other notebook settings to maximize battery power.

Charging the battery pack

    The battery must be installed in the notebook and connected to an AC power source to charge. The battery charges any time your notebook is connected to an AC power source.

    You can also purchase an external battery charger or an airplane/automobile adapter from Gateway Add-Ons. The external charger can charge an additional battery while your notebook is charging its own attached battery. The airplane/automobile adapter lets you power your notebook and charge your battery from power plugs on airplanes and automobiles.

    To charge a battery pack

    1. Install the battery pack in the notebook, then connect the AC power to the notebook. The AC power begins to recharge the battery pack.

Swapping the battery pack

    Battery packs can be "warm-swapped." This means you can change battery packs while in Suspend mode (Windows 95) or Standby mode (Windows 98). The backup battery that supports warm swapping has a limited power supply of about ten minutes. Make the battery swap quickly to conserve the backup battery power.

To remove the battery pack

    1. Save all work.
    2. If you are using Windows 95 or Windows NT, click Start on the taskbar, then click Suspend . The system goes into Suspend mode.
      - OR -
      If you are using Windows 98, click Start on the taskbar, then click Shut Down , Standby , then OK. The system goes into Standby mode.
      - OR -
      Shut down the system.
    1. Close the LCD panel and turn your notebook over.
    2. Slide the battery release latch to release the battery pack.
    1. Hold the latch forward and lift the battery pack from the notebook.

Using the battery

    Your notebook can run on a fully charged battery for about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on how much you use the system components. For example, battery life is reduced if you use a screen saver rather than the Suspend function. Battery life is also reduced by playing an audio CD or DVD. Other factors sich as the power management settings also affect the battery life. See "Maximizing Battery Life" on page 58 for more information about power management.

Battery learning software

    About once a year you will need to run the Battery Learning Software to re-calibrate the battery gauge. This learning cycle increases the battery gauge accuracy (gauge accuracy changes over time).

    Because the learning cycle can take as long as 16 hours per battery, we suggest that you start the Learning Cycle program and run it overnight.

    To perform a learning cycle on the battery pack

    1. Insert the battery into the battery bay.

    1. Plug the AC adapter into the notebook and an AC outlet.
    2. Connect the external diskette drive, then insert the Battery Learning Cycle diskette into the drive.
    3. Start up your notebook. The Learning Cycle software starts.
    4. Follow the on-screen directions for the battery learning software.

Monitoring the battery status

    Use one of the following battery indicators to monitor the battery power level:

Battery gauge icon

    This icon appears in the taskbar tray. Double-click the Battery icon to open the Battery Meter window. The Battery Meter window tells you what the current power source is and the total battery power remaining.

Pop-up status display

    Press Fn+F2 (status key) to display the pop-up menu in the upper left corner of the LCD panel. The menu displays the following system information:

    1. The 1st line shows battery charge status percentage, where 100% represents a fully charged battery. If the battery level is low, a warning icon appears.
    2. The 2nd line indicates the current power management setting (OFF, ON, or DC).
    3. The 3rd line shows the current power source (AC ON or AC OFF).
    4. The 4th line displays the current BIOS used on the system.

Changing the Power button setting

    You can change the Power button function from On/Off to Standby/Resume in the BIOS Setup utility. See "Using the BIOS Setup utility" on page 72 for more information about accessing the BIOS Power menu settings to change the Power Button Mode.

Using the Suspend and Standby modes

    Setting the system to the Suspend (Windows 95 and Windows NT) or Standby (Windows 98) mode helps conserve battery power without turning the system power off, lets you leave software applications running, and lets you "awaken" the system without going through the full start-up process.

    You may be using Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT operating system on your notebook. Each OS handles the system modes differently. Use the table below to see the mode differences in each OS.

    System mode Definition Operating system

    Suspend ("Sleeping state")

    Causes the system to remove power from most devices except RAM (Random Access Memory).

    Pressing the power button restores power to the notebook.

    Windows 95 Windows NT

    Resume

    "Awakens" system from Suspend mode. Restores power to notebook.

    Windows 95 Windows NT

    Sleep

    Turns off:

      • CPU (Central Processing Unit) clock
      • Video controller
      • Hard disk
      • Input/output controller
      • Audio


    Any activity on the keyboard, mouse, or a modem ring brings the notebook back to full power.

    Windows 95

    Standby ("Sleeping state")

    Equivalent to the Suspend mode in Windows 95

    Windows 98

    Resume

    "Awakens" system from Standby mode. Restores power to the notebook.

    Windows 98

Suspend in Windows 95 and NT

    Windows 95 and NT uses Suspend mode. The table below shows how to change the system modes in Windows 95 and NT.

    If your notebook is... ...and you want to... ...do this:

    OFF

    Start up

    Press the power button

    ON

    Suspend

    Click Start , Suspend

    - OR -

    Press Fn+F4

    In Suspend mode

    Restore power

    Press the power button

    ON

    Shut down

    Click Start , Shut Down , Shut down the computer , then click Yes.

    The system also initiates a sleep mode automatically based on sleep and timeout settings made in the BIOS Setup program.

Standby in Windows 98

    Windows 98 uses Standby mode. The table below shows how to change the system modes in Windows 98.

    If your notebook is... ...and you want to... ...do this:

    OFF

    Start up

    Press the power button

    ON

    Standby

    Click Start , Shut Down , Standby, OK.

    - OR -

    Press Fn+F4

    In Standby mode

    Restore power

    Press the power button

    ON

    Shut down

    Click Start , Shut Down , Shut Down again, then click OK.

    The system also initiates a sleep mode automatically based on sleep and timeout settings made in the Control Panel Power Management settings.

    To access the Power Management Properties dialog box, click Start , Settings , Control Panel , then Power Management . Adjust the power settings to fit the way you use your system.

Maximizing Battery Life

    You can extend the battery life by following these practices:

Lower the display brightness as much as is comfortable.
Close the LCD panel when not in use. The LCD display stays off until you open the LCD panel.
Adjust the Power menu settings in the BIOS setup program for maximum battery life.
      For example, you can also make custom settings to the Standby mode, such as changing the Sleep and Standby Timeout. Changing the timeouts lets you choose the length of time before the system goes into the Sleep or Standby mode.

    The following settings show user changeable power saving modes in the BIOS setup Power menu:

    Setting Power saving mode

    Power button mode:

    [Standby/Resume]

    PM Control:

    [Battery]

    Power Savings:

    [Maximum Battery Life]

    Sleep Timeout:

    [2 Minutes]

    Standby Timeout:

    [10 Minutes]

    Hard Disk Timeout:

    [2 Minutes]

    Video Timeout:

    [4 Minutes]

    Audio Timeout:

    [2 Minutes]

    Battery Low Standby:

    [Enabled]

    Auto Dim With Battery Only:

    [On]

    Cooling control:

    [Silence]


Remove PC Cards when not in use. Some PC Cards use battery power even when they are not in use. Check the PC Card manufacturer's documentation to find out if the card uses power when not in use.
Keep the battery pack in the computer when using AC power to continuously charge the battery.
Minimize your use of the DVD or CD-ROM drive. DVD and CD-ROM drives use considerable battery power.
Use the optional external charger to charge an additional battery pack while you work.