HP Pavilion Dv7 4300 Entertainment Notebook Pc Series Manual

							Using external AC power
WARNING!To reduce potential safety issues, use only the AC adapter provided with the computer,
a replacement AC adapter provided by HP, or a compatible AC adapter purchased from HP.
WARNING!Do not charge the computer battery while on board an aircraft.
External AC power is supplied through:
●An approved AC adapter
●An optional docking device or expansion product
Connect the computer to external AC power:
●When charging or calibrating a battery.
●When installing or modifying system software.
●When writing information to a CD or DVD.
When connecting to external AC power:
●The battery begins to charge.
●If the computer is turned on, the Battery Meter icon in the notification area changes appearance.
When disconnecting from external AC power:
●The computer switches to battery power.
●The display brightness is automatically decreased to save battery life. To increase display
brightness, press the Increase Screen Brightness key or reconnect the AC adapter.
Connecting the AC adapter
WARNING!To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to the equipment:
Connect the power cord into an AC outlet that is easily accessible at all times.
Disconnect power from the computer by disconnecting the power cord from the AC outlet (not by
disconnecting the power cord from the computer).
If the power cord has a 3-pin connector, connect the cord into a grounded (earthed) 3-pin outlet. Do not
disable the power cord grounding pin, for example, by attaching a 2-pin adapter. The grounding pin is
an important safety feature.
To connect the computer to external AC power:
1.Connect the AC adapter to the power connector (1) on the computer.
2.Connect the power cord to the AC adapter (2).
3.Connect the other end of the power cord to an AC outlet (3).
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							Using battery power
When a charged battery is in the computer and the computer is not connected to external power, the
computer runs on battery power. When the computer is connected to external AC power, the computer
runs on AC power.
If the computer contains a charged battery and is running on external AC power supplied through the
AC adapter, the computer switches to battery power if the AC adapter is disconnected from the
computer.
NOTE:The display brightness is decreased to save battery life when you disconnect AC power. To
increase display brightness, press the Increase Screen Brightness key or reconnect the AC adapter.
Keep a battery in the computer or in storage, depending on how you work. Keeping the battery in the
computer whenever the computer is connected to AC power charges the battery and also protects your
work in case of a power outage. However, a battery in the computer slowly discharges when the
computer is off and disconnected from external power.
WARNING!To reduce potential safety issues, use only the battery provided with the computer, a
replacement battery provided by HP, or a compatible battery purchased from HP.
Computer battery life varies, depending on power management settings, programs running on the
computer, display brightness, external devices connected to the computer, and other factors.
Finding battery information in Help and Support
Help and Support provides the following tools and information about the battery:
●Battery Check tool to test battery performance
●Information on calibration, power management, and proper care and storage to maximize battery
life
●Information on battery types, specifications, life cycles, and capacity
To access battery information, select Start > Help and Support > Learn > Power Plans: Frequently
Asked Questions.
Using Battery Check
Help and Support provides information on the status of the battery installed in the computer.
NOTE:The computer must be connected to external power for Battery Check to function properly.
To run Battery Check:
1.Connect the AC adapter to the computer.
2.Select Start > Help and Support > Troubleshoot > Power, Thermal and Mechanical.
3.Click the Power tab, and then click Battery Check.
Battery Check examines the battery and its cells to verify that they are functioning properly, and then
reports the results of the examination.
Using battery power 43 
						

							Displaying the remaining battery charge
To display the remaining battery charge, move the pointer over the battery meter icon in the notification
area.
Inserting or removing the battery
CAUTION:Removing a battery that is the sole power source causes loss of information. To prevent
loss of information, initiate Hibernation or shut down the computer through Windows before removing
the battery.
To insert the battery:
1.Close the display.
2.Turn the computer upside down on a flat surface.
3.Insert the battery into the battery bay (1) and rotate it downward until it is seated (2).
The battery release latch automatically locks the battery into place.
To remove the battery:
1.Close the display.
2.Turn the computer upside down on a flat surface.
3.Slide the battery release latch to release the battery (1).
4.Pivot the battery upward (2), and then remove the battery from the computer (3).
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							Charging a battery
WARNING!Do not charge the computer battery while on board aircraft.
The battery charges whenever the computer is plugged into external power through an AC adapter, an
optional power adapter, an optional expansion product, or an optional docking device.
The battery charges whether the computer is off or in use, but it charges faster when the computer is
off.
Charging might take longer if a battery is new, has been unused for two weeks or more, or is much
warmer or cooler than room temperature.
To prolong battery life and optimize the accuracy of battery charge displays:
●If charging a new battery, charge it fully before turning on the computer.
●Allow the battery to discharge below five percent of a full charge through normal use before
charging it.
●If the battery has been unused for one month or more, calibrate the battery instead of simply
charging it.
Maximizing battery discharge time
Battery discharge time varies depending on the features used while on battery power. Maximum
discharge time gradually shortens, as the battery storage capacity naturally degrades.
To maximize battery discharge time:
●Lower the brightness on the display.
●Check the Power saver setting in Power Options.
Using battery power 45 
						

							●Remove the battery from the computer when it is not being used or charged.
●Store the battery in a cool, dry location.
Managing low battery levels
The information in this section describes the alerts and system responses set at the factory. Some low-
battery alerts and system responses can be changed using Power Options in Windows Control Panel.
Preferences set using Power Options do not affect lights.
Identifying low battery levels
If a low battery level is not resolved, the computer enters a critical battery level.
The computer takes the following actions for a critical battery level:
●If Hibernation is enabled and the computer is on or in Sleep, the computer initiates Hibernation.
●If Hibernation is disabled and the computer is on or in Sleep, the computer remains briefly in Sleep,
and then shuts down and loses any unsaved information.
Resolving a low battery level
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of losing information when the computer reaches a critical battery level
and has initiated Hibernation, do not restore power until the power lights turn off.
Resolving a low battery level when external power is available
To resolve a low battery level when external power is available, connect on of the following devices:
●AC adapter
●Optional expansion product or docking device
●Optional power adapter
Resolving a low battery level when a charged battery is available
To resolve a low battery level when a charged battery is available:
1.Shut down the computer or initiate Hibernation.
2.Remove the discharged battery, and then insert a charged battery.
3.Turn on the computer.
Resolving a low battery level when no power source is available
To resolve a low battery level when no power source is available, initiate Hibernation or save your work
and then shut down the computer.
Resolving a low battery level when the computer cannot exit Hibernation
To resolve a low battery level when the computer cannot exit Hibernation:
1.Insert a charged battery or connect the computer into external power.
2.Press the Power button to exit Hibernation.
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							Calibrating a battery
Calibrate the battery when:
●The battery charge displays seem inaccurate.
●You observe a significant change in battery run time.
A heavily used battery should only be calibrated once a month. Do not calibrate a new battery.
To calibrate the battery:
1.Fully charge the battery.
WARNING!Do not charge the computer battery while on board an aircraft.
NOTE:The battery charges while the computer is off or in use, but it charges faster when the
computer is off.
To fully charge the battery:
a.Insert the battery into the computer.
b.Connect the computer to an AC adapter, optional power adapter, optional expansion product,
or optional docking device, and then connect the adapter or device to an external power
source.
c.Leave the computer connected to external power until the battery is fully charged.
2.Disable Hibernation and Sleep. To disable Hibernation and Sleep:
a.Click the Battery Meter icon in the notification area, and then click More power options.
– or –
Select Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options.
b.Under the current power plan, click Change plan settings.
c.Record the Turn off the display settings listed in the On battery column so they can be reset
after the calibration.
d.Change the Turn off the display settings to Never.
e.Click Change advanced power settings.
f.Click the plus sign next to Sleep, and then click the plus sign next to Hibernate after.
g.Record the On battery setting under Hibernate so it can be reset after the calibration.
h.Change the On battery setting to Never.
i.Click OK.
j.Click Save changes.
3.Discharge the battery. To discharge the battery:
a.Disconnect the computer from the external power source, but do not shut down the computer.
b.Run the computer on battery power until the battery is discharged.
Using battery power 47 
						

							The computer must remain on while the battery is being discharged. The battery discharges
whether or not you are using the computer, but the battery discharges faster while you are using
it.
●If you plan to leave the computer unattended during the discharge, save your information
before beginning the discharge procedure.
●If you use the computer occasionally during the discharge procedure and have set energy-
saving timeouts, expect the following performance from the system during the discharge
process:
◦The monitor does not shut down automatically.
◦The hard drive speed does not decrease automatically when the computer is idle.
◦System-initiated Hibernation does not occur.
4.Recharge the battery. To recharge the battery:
a.Connect the computer to external power until the battery is fully recharged.
The computer can be used while the battery is recharging, but the battery charges faster if
the computer is off.
b.If the computer is off, turn it on when the battery is fully charged.
5.Re-enable Hibernation and Sleep. To re-enable Hibernation and Sleep:
CAUTION:Failure to re-enable Hibernation after calibration might result in a full battery discharge
and information loss if the computer reaches a critical battery level.
a.Click the Battery Meter icon in the notification area, and then click More power options.
– or –
Select Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options.
b.Under the current power plan, click Change plan settings.
c.Re-enter the settings that you recorded for the items in the On battery column.
d.Click Change advanced power settings.
e.Click the plus sign next to Sleep, and then click the plus sign next to Hibernate after.
f.Re-enter the setting that you recorded for On battery.
g.Click OK.
h.Click Save changes.
Conserving battery power
To conserve battery power:
●Select Windows Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options > Power Saver power
plan.
●Shut down wireless and local area network (LAN) connections and exit modem applications when
you are not using them.
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							●Disconnect external devices that are not connected to an external power source when you are not
using them.
●Stop, disable, or remove any external media cards that you are not using.
●Press the Decrease Screen Brightness key or Increase Screen Brightness key to adjust screen
brightness as needed.
●If leaving your work, initiate Sleep or Hibernation, or shut down the computer.
Storing a battery
CAUTION:To prevent damage to a battery, do not expose it to high temperatures for extended periods
of time.
If a computer is unused and disconnected from external power for more than 2 weeks, remove the
battery and store it separately.
To prolong the charge of a stored battery, place it in a cool, dry place.
NOTE:Check a stored battery every six months. If the capacity is less than 50 percent, recharge the
battery before returning it to storage.
Calibrate a battery before using it if it has been stored for one month or more.
Disposing of a used battery
WARNING!To reduce the risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble, crush, or puncture the battery. Do
not short external contacts. Do not dispose of the battery in fire or water.
For more information, see the Regulatory, Safety and Environmental Notices included with this
computer.
Replacing the battery
Computer battery life varies, depending on power management settings, programs running on the
computer, display brightness, external devices connected to the computer, and other factors.
Battery Check notifies you to replace the battery when an internal cell is not charging properly, or when
the battery storage capacity has reached a weak condition. A message refers you to the HP website for
more information about ordering a replacement battery. If the battery is covered by an HP warranty,
instructions include a warranty ID.
NOTE:HP recommends purchasing a new battery when the storage capacity light illuminates green-
yellow.
Using battery power 49 
						

							Switching between graphics modes (select models only)
The computer is equipped with switchable graphics and has two modes for processing graphics. When
switching from AC power to battery power, the computer switches from High-performance mode to
Power-saving mode to conserve battery life. Similarly, when switching from battery power to AC power,
the computer switches back to the High-performance mode.
NOTE:In order to optimize computer performance, the system might not allow switching modes, or
prompt you to switch modes. It might be necessary to close all programs before switching.
NOTE:HDMI only works in the High-performance mode. HDMI cannot be used in Power-saving mode.
When switching between AC and battery power, you are notified that the computer is about to switch
graphics modes. If you prefer, choose to continue using the same graphics mode. While the computer
switches modes, the screen goes blank for a few seconds. When the switch is complete, a notification
appears in the notification area, and the screen image reappears.
NOTE:When select computer models are in slate mode, the screen orientations are reset when
switching between graphics modes.
To determine which graphics mode you are using, right-click on the Windows desktop, and then click
Configure Switchable Graphics.
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