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Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25
Standby Mode
Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When the
computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode.
To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Control Panel
.
2
Under
Pick a category
, click
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Under
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click
Power Options
.
To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, click
Turn Off Computer, and then click Stand by.
To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.
Hibernate Mode
Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then
completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is
restored to the state it was in
before it entered hibernate mode.
To activate hibernate mode:
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Control Panel
.
2
Under
Pick a category
, click
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Under
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click
Power Options
.
4
Define your hibernate settings on the
Power Schemes
tab,
Advanced
tab, and
Hibernate
tab.
To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from
hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of
hibernation, because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode.
Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the
contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before
shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates
the hibernate file automatically.
Power Options Properties
Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the
Power Options Properties window.
To access the Power Options Properties window:
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Control Panel
.
2
Under
Pick a category
, click
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Under
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click
Power Options
.
4
Define your power settings on the
Power Schemes
tab,
Advanced
tab, and
Hibernate
tab.
WD846bk2.book Page 25 Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:40 PM