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Using a Battery 33
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Using a Battery
Battery Performance
NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide or
separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.
For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™
portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard
equipment in the battery bay.
NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer
to an electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the
AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, check the Power Meter in
Power Options (see "Accessing Power Options Properties" on page 37).
Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. You can install an optional
second battery in the media bay to significantly increase operating time.
NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can hold a charge) decreases over time. Depending
on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a
new battery during the life of your computer.
NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or
DVD.
Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to,
the following:
•Using optical drives.
• Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, media memory cards, or USB devices.
• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs
such as complex 3D graphics applications.
• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Configuring Power
Management Settings" on page 37 for information about accessing Windows Power Options
Properties or Dell QuickSet, which you can use to configure power management settings.
You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the computer. You can also set
power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low.