Gateway 450rog 450rgh User Manual

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Extending battery life
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Extending battery life
Conserving battery power
To conserve power while using the battery to power your notebook:
■Dim the display as low as is comfortable.
■Remove PC Cards cards and IBM Microdrive cards when you do not need 
them. Many PC Cards and Microdrive cards use a small amount of power 
while inserted, even if they are not being used.
■Modify the power management settings for maximum power savings. For 
more information, see “Changing power settings” on page 163.
■Close the LCD panel to turn off the display while you are not using your 
notebook. The display stays off until you open the panel again.
■Use Hibernate mode for maximum power savings while your notebook is 
not in use. For more information, see “Activating and using Hibernate 
mode” on page 167.
■Use the disc drive only when necessary. These 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” on page 153 and “Changing batteries” on page 155.
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 surge protector.
■If you will have access to an EmPower™ in-flight power receptacle or an 
automobile cigarette lighter, use an airplane/automobile power adapter or 
power inverter. 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. 
						

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Chapter 8: Managing Power
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Changing power modes
You can use the following power modes to lengthen the life of your notebook’s 
battery:
■Standby - while your notebook is in Standby, it switches to a low power 
state where devices, such as the display 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 your notebook, it reads the memory 
information from the hard drive and opens the programs and documents 
that were open when you activated Hibernate mode. For more information 
on using Hibernate mode, see “Activating and using Hibernate mode” on 
page 167.
Using power saving modes
Always save your work before using Standby mode. In Standby mode, your 
notebook reduces or turns off the power to most devices except memory. 
However, the information in memory is not saved to the hard drive. If power 
is interrupted, the information is lost.
When in Hibernate mode, your notebook saves all memory information to the 
hard drive, then turns the power completely off.
If your notebook 
is......and you want to... ...then
On Enter Standby mode Press FN+STANDBY.
-OR-
Close the LCD panel.
On Enter Hibernate mode 
(must be activated)Click Start, then click Turn Off Computer. Press 
and hold 
SHIFT, then click Hibernate.
In Standby or 
Hibernate modeExit Standby or 
Hibernate modePress the power button. 
						

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Changing power settings
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Changing power settings
You can change the function of the power button, Standby system 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 display 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 system key. You can also select which power saving mode 
is activated when you close the LCD panel.
Changing the power scheme
To change the power scheme:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your 
Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Performance and Maintenance.
ImportantThe processor installed in your notebook may use Intel® 
SpeedStep™ technology to conserve battery power. A 
SpeedStep-equipped processor can change its operating 
speed according to the power source. A 
SpeedStep-equipped notebook’s default settings operate 
the processor at full speed while connected to AC power 
and at reduced speed (which uses less power) while using 
battery power. Power schemes also set the speed of an 
Intel
® SpeedStep™-equipped processor. 
						

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Chapter 8: Managing Power
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2Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties 
dialog box opens.
3Click the arrow button to open the Power Schemes list, then click the power 
scheme you want.
- OR -
Set the timers, then click 
Save As and type a name for the scheme.
4Click OK.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about changing the power scheme, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword power scheme in the Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Changing power settings
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Changing alarm options
To change the alarm options:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your 
Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Performance and Maintenance.
2Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties 
dialog box opens.
3Click the Alarms tab.
4Adjust the alarm settings.
5Click OK.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about changing the alarm options, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword alarm options in the Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Chapter 8: Managing Power
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Changing advanced settings
To change advanced power management settings:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your 
Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Performance and Maintenance.
2Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties 
dialog box opens.
3Click the Advanced tab.
4Click the arrow button to open a Power buttons list, then click the power 
setting mode you want to use.
5Click OK.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about changing the power 
management settings, click Start, then click Help and 
Support.
Type the keyword power management in the Search 
box  , then click the arrow. 
						

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Changing power settings
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Activating and using Hibernate mode
To activate Hibernate mode:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your 
Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Performance and Maintenance.
2Click/Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties 
dialog box opens.
3Click the Hibernate tab.
4Click the Enable hibernation check box, then click Apply. Hibernate mode is 
now an option you can select on the Advanced tab in the Power Options 
Properties dialog box and in the Tu r n O f f C o m p u te r dialog box. 
						

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Chapter 8: Managing Power
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To use Hibernate mode:
■As an automatic power savings mode:
Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the 
Power Schemes 
tab. Click the arrow button to open a 
System hibernates list, then click the 
time you want to use.
- OR -
Open the Power Options Properties dialog box, then click the 
Advanced tab. 
Hibernate is now an option in the 
Power buttons lists.
■As a manually-selected power savings mode, click Start, then click 
Tu r n O f f C o m p u t e r. Press and hold SHIFT, then click Hibernate.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about using Hibernate mode, click 
Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword hibernate in the Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

							9
169
Traveling with
Yo u r
Gateway 450
These tips can make traveling with your notebook more 
convenient and trouble-free. Read this chapter to learn 
about:
■Using the modem
■Using your radio frequency wireless connections
■Transferring files
■Protecting your notebook from loss and theft
■Managing your notebook’s power efficiently 
						

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Chapter 9: Traveling with Your Gateway 450
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Packing your notebook
■Remove all peripheral devices and cables. Remember to pack those you will 
need while traveling.
■Pack your notebook securely into a briefcase or hand-carried luggage, and 
keep it separate from toiletries, liquids, and food. Do not pack it in checked 
luggage.
■K e e p  y o u r  n o t e b o o k  s t a b l e  d u r i n g  t r a v e l .  S e c u r e  i t  t o  p r e v e n t  i t  f r o m  s l i d i n g  
around in overhead bins and car trunks.
Traveling by air
■Charge the battery in case airport security asks you to start your notebook.
■Have your notebook hand-inspected or sent through the X-ray scanner, 
but never carry it through the metal detector.
■Turn off your notebook for takeoff and landing.
■Turn off all wireless devices while in the aircraft.
■Do not check your notebook as luggage.
Modem
■Take a telephone cord to connect the modem to telephone jacks. If you 
are traveling internationally, take telephone jack adapters or an acoustic 
handset coupler.
■Take a telephone line protector.
■Take a telephone line tester to check for unsafe lines, especially if you are 
traveling internationally.
■Take remote access information with you so you can connect to your ISP 
while outside of your usual calling area. A list of country dialing codes may 
be especially useful if you are traveling internationally.