Managing Power

    While your notebook is running on battery power, you should manage power consumption to get the most use out of the battery. This chapter shows you how to:

Check and recharge the battery
Change batteries
Recalibrate the battery
Extend the life of the battery by conserving battery power and using alternate power sources
Change power-saving settings

Monitoring the battery charge

    Closely monitor the battery charge. When the battery charge gets low, change the battery or connect to AC power immediately to prevent losing any unsaved work.

    Monitor the battery charge by:

Positioning the cursor over the power cord icon or battery icon on the taskbar. A battery status window opens. Move the cursor away from the icon to close the window.
Pressing Fn+Status to view the Status display, which opens in the upper left corner of the screen. The Status display shows the current power source, the battery charge, and the power management mode.
Looking at the battery charge indicator:
A green light indicates the battery is fully charged.
An orange light indicates the battery is being charged.
A red light indicates the battery is low.
A red, blinking light indicates the battery is critically low.
An orange, blinking light indicates the battery is malfunctioning.
Waiting for a Low Battery warning message to appear.

    If your battery charge indicators display what looks like an inaccurate charge, you may need to recalibrate the battery. For more information, see "Recalibrating the battery".

Recharging the battery

    The battery recharges while it is installed and your notebook is connected to AC power. While the battery is recharging, the battery charge indicator turns orange and the battery icon on the taskbar has a lightning bolt.

Recalibrating the battery

    If your notebook unexpectedly goes into Standby mode while you are using it but the battery charge is not low, you may need to recalibrate your battery. You should also recalibrate the battery once a month to maintain the accuracy of the battery gauge.

To recalibrate the battery:

    1. Connect the AC adapter, then turn on your notebook.

    2. When you see the startup screen, press F2. The BIOS Setup program opens.

    3. Click Exit, then select Battery Auto-Learning (set by default to disabled). A checkmark appears to show that it is now turned on.

    4. Exit the BIOS Setup utility by clicking Exit, then selecting Save and Exit. The battery recalibration program begins and the notebook will reboot.
      After your battery has been recalibrated, the notebook recharges the battery. Recharging may take 12-24 hours. After the battery finishes recharging, the battery meter displays the accurate battery charge. If the battery meter does not show an accurate charge, contact Gateway Technical Support.

    Important

    Do not interrupt the battery recalibration process. If recalibration is interrupted, you must start the process over again.

      1. Follow the on-screen instructions to exit the battery recalibration program.

         

    Changing batteries

      Your notebook must be plugged into AC power or turned off while changing the batteries.

      Warning

      Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.

      Replace only with a Gateway battery designed for your notebook. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

      The battery used in this device may present a fire or chemical burn hazard if mishandled. Do not disassemble, heat above 212°F (100°C), or incinerate. Dispose of used battery promptly. Keep away from children.

      To replace the battery:

        1. If your notebook is on, save all work and shut down the notebook.

        2. Close the notebook cover, turn your notebook over, slide the battery release latch, and slide the battery out of the bay.
        1. Slide a charged battery into the bay until it snaps into place.

           

      Extending battery life

      Conserving battery power

        While using the battery to power your notebook, conserve power by:

      Dimming the display as low as is comfortable.
      Removing PC Cards when you do not need them. Many PC Cards use a small amount of power while inserted, even if they are not being used.
      Modifying the Power Management settings for maximum power savings. For more information, see "Changing power settings".
      Closing the display panel to turn off the display while you are not using your notebook. The display stays off until you open the panel again.
      Using Hibernate mode for maximum power savings while the notebook is not in use. For more information, see Using Hibernate mode.
      Using the CD/DVD drive only when necessary. CD/DVD drives use a large amount of power.
      Recharge the battery often, take an extra battery, and fully recharge the batteries before traveling. For more information, see "Recharging the battery" and "Changing batteries".

      Using alternate power sources

        To extend battery life, use alternate power sources whenever possible.

      If traveling internationally, take electrical adapters. Save the battery for times when you cannot use a power adapter. If you plan on taking your AC power adapter, also take a single-plug power surge protector.
      If you will have access to an EmPowerTM in-flight power receptacle or an automobile cigarette lighter, use an airplane/automobile power adapter. Save the battery for times when you cannot use a power adapter.
      To find AC power outlets in airports, look for them next to support pillars, in large areas such as boarding gates, and under banks of telephones.

      Changing power modes

        You can use the following power modes to lengthen the life of your notebook's battery:

      Standby - while your notebook is on standby, it switches to a low power state where devices, such as the LCD screen and drives, turn off.
      Hibernate - (also called save to disk) writes all current memory (RAM) information to the hard drive, then turns your notebook completely off. The next time you turn on the notebook, it reads the memory information from the hard drive and opens the programs and documents that were open when you activated Hibernate. For more information on using Hibernate mode, see "Using Hibernate mode".

      Using Standby mode

        Always save your work before using Standby mode. When in Standby, your computer reduces or turns off the power to most devices except memory. However, the information in the memory is not saved to the hard drive. If power is interrupted, the information is lost.

        When in Hibernate mode, your computer saves all memory information to the hard drive, then turns the power completely off.

      If your computer is... ...and you
      want to...             		...then

      On

      Enter Standby mode

      Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer, then click Stand By.

      On

      Enter Hibernate mode (must be enabled)

      Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer, press and hold Shift, then click Hibernate.

      In Standby or Hibernate mode

      Exit Standby or Hibernate mode

      Press the power button.

      Changing power settings

        You can change the function of the power button, Standby key, and power-saving timers by changing power settings on your notebook.

        You can customize power settings from the Windows Control Panel by selecting power schemes, setting power alarms, adjusting advanced power settings, and activating Hibernate mode.

        Power schemes (groups of power settings) let you change power saving options such as when the monitor or hard drive is automatically turned off. You can select one of the defined power schemes or create a custom power scheme.

        Alarms can alert you when the battery charge is low.

        Advanced power settings let you assign different power saving modes to the power button and Standby key.

      Changing the power scheme

        Help and Support

        For more information on changing power settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

        To change the power scheme

          1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

          2. Click Performance and Maintenance, then click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.
          1. Select a power scheme from the Power Scheme list.
            - OR -
            Set the timers, then save your custom power scheme by clicking Save As and typing a name for the scheme.
          1. Save the changes by clicking OK.

             

        Changing alarm options

          Help and Support

          For more information on changing power settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

          To change the alarm options:

            1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

            2. Click Performance and Maintenance, then click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

            3. Click the Alarms tab.
            1. Adjust the alarm settings, then save the changes by clicking OK.

               

          Changing advanced power management settings

            Help and Support

            For more information on changing power settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

            To change advanced power management settings:

              1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

              2. Click Performance and Maintenance, then click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

              3. Click the Advanced tab.
              1. Select a power savings mode to be activated by the power button, then save the changes by clicking OK.

                 

            Using Hibernate mode

              Help and Support

              For more information on changing power settings, click Start, then select Help and Support.

              To activate Hibernate mode:

                1. Click Start, then select Control Panel.

                2. Click Performance and Maintenance, then click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens.

                3. Click the Hibernate tab.
                1. Select the Enable hibernation check box, then click Apply. Hibernate mode is now an option you can select on the Advanced tab and in the Turn Off Computer dialog box.

                   

              To use Hibernate mode:

              To use hibernation as a power savings mode, open the Power Options dialog box, click the Power Schemes or Advanced tab, select Hibernate as one of the power settings, then save the changes by clicking OK.
              To manually place your computer into hibernation, click Start, then click Turn Off Computer, press and hold Shift, then click Hibernate.