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Accessories

Is Printer/Web camera/External Optical drive/Scanner or any other accessory not working?


•	Verify that the accessory is supported on the computer. Check the device documentation for support information. If the device is not supported, please contact the manufacturer to verify installation information.

•	Verify that the minimum operating system and minimum hardware requirements of the accessory are met.
•	Verify that the device and the latest device drivers were installed correctly per the owner's manual or the vendor's Web site installation instructions.
•	Verify that there are no conflicts in the Device Manager (Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows XP).
	a. For Windows 2000, click Start, select Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click System.
	b. Click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button.
•	Uninstall and reinstall any software used to access the product. Refer to the vendor's Web site for instructions.
•	Refer to the accessory documentation or the vendor's Web site for additional troubleshooting steps.

Audio

No sound? Test your audio after performing each step:

Set the physical volume controls to an appropriate level. You can adjust the volume by using the Fn + appropriate key combinations.

Verify that the Microsoft Windows volume is properly set and is not muted in the Taskbar Volume Control and in the applicable output controls in the Playback Master Volume Control. Also verify in the Master Volume Control that the Wave device is not muted and is set to a proper level.

Click the speaker icon

or on

the Microsoft Windows system tray to open the Volume control.

Note: If the speaker icon is not on the windows task bar, press F1 while the Windows desktop is active and search for "Volume control" for instructions on how to change the volume and add the speaker icon to the task bar

Double-click the speaker icon

on the Windows system tray to open the Master volume control.

Connect external speakers or headphones to the audio connectors on the Zenith Laptop to verify audio.

Audio jack	Description
Headphone jack	The headphone jack is used for connecting a stereo headphone or external speakers.
Microphone jack	This jack is used to connect a microphone to your computer when you want to record voice or other sounds on the hard disk.

Battery

Battery does not charge? check the following:

1. Is the AC adapter plugged into the outlet and connected to the Zenith Laptop? If not, correct the problem and continue.

2. Does the outlet have power? Some outlets are connected to a switch, or the circuit may be open because of a blown fuse or circuit breaker.

3. Does the AC adapter power the Zenith Laptop without the battery? If not, the fault may be with the AC Adapter or the Zenith Laptop itself.

4. Is the battery too hot? You cannot charge the battery when it is too hot. If the battery feels hot, remove it from the computer and allow it to cool to room temperature. After it cools, reinstall it and recharge the battery. If you still cannot charge the battery, it will need to be serviced.

Battery life (capacity) decreases with age and usage of battery

Capacity is the length of time you can run your system on a fully charged battery. It is normal for all batteries to lose some capacity over time. Each time you discha rge and recharge your battery, you will lose a very small amount of this capacity.

Some of the capacity may be recovered through using a more aggressive power management scheme.

Battery cannot be fully charged in standard charge time when powered off

The battery might be over-discharged. Do the following:

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Make sure that the over-discharged battery is in the computer.

3. Connect the AC adapter to the computer and let it charge.

If the battery cannot be fully charged in 24 hours, use a new battery. If the optional Quick Charger is available, use it to charge the over-discharged battery.

Battery discharges when system is powered off and unplugged

The battery will loose capacity when left in a system without the AC power attached because the system will draw a small amount of current that will deplete the capacity over time.

System shuts down before, or operates after battery status indicator shows empty

When the actual battery capacity is different from the displayed capacity, the above symptoms can occur. To realign the displayed capacity with the actual capacity, discharge and recharge the battery.

System does not operate though the battery is fully charged

The surge protector in the battery might be active. Turn off the computer for one minute to reset the surge protector; then turn on the computer again.

CD and DVD drives

CD and DVD drive is not reading the discs?

Verify the disc media used.

Try multiple original discs (not burned copies) which are clean and free of scratches.

Note: Dark colored discs such as black may be more difficult to read.

Verify that the disc is seated properly in the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD drive.

Verify that the drive is seated properly in the Zenith Laptop by reseating the drive.

If another similar machine is available, then verify that the drive works in the other machine and that the other drive works in this machine.

Note: Shut down, remove the power cord, and remove the battery from the Zenith Laptop before removing the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD drive.

Verify that the latest firmware updates for the drive have been installed.

Test the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD drive for errors

Notes:
-	Diagnostic testing will require an audio or data CD.
-	Run the diagnostics.

Verify that the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD drive is detected by Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Verify the drive is identified with no conflicts in Microsoft Windows Device Manager.

a.	For Windows 2000, click Start, select Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click System. For Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance and then click System.
b.	Click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button.
	Example:

c.	If the device is "conflicted" (indicated with a red "X" or yellow "!"), uninstall the driver in Windows Device Manager and restart the system or scan for hardware changes. To scan for hardware changes, right-click the drive and select Scan for hardware changes.

Open the My Computer icon on the desktop. If the drive is detected, then the list of drives should include Compact Disc (X:) or disc title where X is the drive letter.

Example:

DVD movie playback trouble shooting

Note: This section assumes the drive is functioning properly.

Verify the drive is capable of playing DVD movies.
DVD should be written on the outside cover of the drive.

Verify that the latest drivers are installed.

Verify that the latest audio, video, and Microsoft DirectX drivers for the operating system and Zenith Laptop have been installed properly according to the install instructions and read me from the software and device driver files.

Try a different drive or different brand of DVD media.
Due to the variance in DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW media, some movies or data on DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW media may not be read by some drives.

Verify that the latest DVD player software is installed.
Verify that the latest version of the preloaded DVD player software has been properly installed and configured, including Region codes if applicable.

Notes:
-	Do not change Region codes unnecessarily. All drives have a limit as to the number of times Region codes can be changed.
-	The DVD player software available for download is for upgrade purposes only and requires the original version to be installed on the system.
-	Not all Zenith Laptops shipped with the DVD player software. If shipped with your system, the full version of this software can be found in the C:\ibmtools\apps directory. This only applies if you are using the preloaded software image as shipped.

Verify that the DVD movie playback is shown on the primary display.

- For Windows 2000, click Start, select Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Display.
- For Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Click Appearance and Themes and then click Display.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click the Advanced button.
- Click the Displays tab to adjust the primary display.

Problems with CD and DVD recording?

Note: This section assumes the drive is functioning properly.

Verify the drive is capable of recording a CD or DVD.
CD-RW, Multi-Burner, or Multi-Recorder should be written on the outside cover of the drive.

Verify the disc is the correct media format supported by the drive.

Notes:
-	In some cases, trying a different brand of media may be helpful. Some brands of "R" or "RW" media may function differently than others with your drive. Trying a different drive may also be helpful.
-	Dark colored discs such as black may be more difficult to write.

Dark colored discs such as black may be more difficult to write.

When recording data, ensure all other applications are closed.

Performing other tasks may divert system resources and cause recording failures.

If recording was unsuccessful, try writing at a lower speed.

Performing other tasks may divert system resources and cause recording failures.

If recording was unsuccessful, try writing at a lower speed.

Ethernet networking

Having trouble with Ethernet networking?

Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test for network connectivity after performing each step.

Verify that the network adapter is properly seated.

Verify that the network adapter is being seen by the operating system.

To check Device Manager and look for an icon that appears as Network Adapters and see if the network card is installed:

a.	Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.
b.	Click the Hardware tab and press the Device Manager button. The network card should appear under Network Adapters.
	Note: An exclamation mark over a yellow background is an indication that the card is experiencing a problem. Proceed to step 10.

Verify that TCP/IP (or other appropriate protocol) is properly installed.

To check this:

a.	Right-click the My Network Places icon and select Properties. The network card should be present as Local Area Connection.
b.	Right-click the appropriate Local Area Connection and select Properties. In the Properties window, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is installed.
c.	If TCP/IP is not installed, click Install, click Protocol, and then click TCP/IP.
d.	Once installed make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically, and Obtain DNS server address automatically are checked (if using DHCP). To verify this, highlight the TCP/IP protocol, and select Properties.
Note: Only use a Static IP Address if your network/Service Provider requires one.

Verify the TCP/IP address.

a.	Click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
b.	Type the command, ipconfig. This will list the IP address for the local machine.
c.	If this returns a 169.x.x.x or 0.0.0.0 address, then type the following commands, ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew. You should then receive a TCP/IP address appropriate to your network, along with a Default Gateway address.
d.	Try to communicate with it by typing this command ping x.x.x.x where x.x.x.x is the IP address of the Default Gateway.
e.	If this does not give a reply or you did not receive a TCP/IP address, go to the next step.

Ping the loopback address.

Click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

Type the command, ping 127.0.0.1. This will send a message to the internal network stack on the machine. You should see a response like this:
Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milliseconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

Hangs

Is your laptop freezing or hanging often?

Note: Intermittent problems, including system hangs, cannot be consistently repeated and are therefore some of the most difficult problems to diagnose. Solving intermittent problems requires a patient, systematic process of elimination approach to troubleshooting. These intermittent problems can be caused by hardware or software, so it is very important to note any newly added accessories, applications, or updates.

Some of these steps may not apply to your laptop. Test the system after performing each step.

Remove and reseat all hardware (power supply, battery, cables, adapters, memory, etc.).

Notes: Remove all of the hardware from the system first, and then wait for 30 seconds before reconnecting any of the hardware.

Disconnect the AC adapter.

Remove the battery pack.

Remove the system memory.

Remove the Mini PCI and Communications Daughter Cards that are customer replaceable.

Remove the system hard drive.

	Notes:
	-	Although the hard drive can be upgraded, it is not designed to be removed and reinserted on a regular basis. Repeated and frequent removal, for purposes other than to upgrade for greater capacity or problem determination, can cause damage to the system.
	-	Shut down, remove the power cord, and remove the battery from the Zenith Laptop before removing the hard drive.

Remove any other external hardware.

Remove unnecessary hardware devices for testing purposes.

Remove hardware (and associated drivers) that is not required for normal system operation. This includes added memory.

If you suspect a particular hardware device is causing the problem, swap the suspect device with an identical, known good, device, if available.

Remove all surge protectors, cable extensions, switch boxes, etc. and use direct connections to power and phone lines.

Install the latest Software and device drivers for the Zenith Laptop devices.

Apply critical Microsoft Windows updates and patches. Visit the Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com.

Scan all the files on the system with Antivirus software using the vendor's latest virus definitions.

Scan the system for spyware using the anti-spyware software's latest definitions. Perform a Web search for spyware software for more information.

Ensure the machine meets the hardware and operating system requirements of all installed software and hardware.

Monitor your system's memory use & processor utilization

Hard Drive Unable to access your hard drive?
1.	Check that the hard drive is recognized in BIOS, and is properly set up in the startup sequence. To access the BIOS Setup Utility and verify that the Hard Drive is recognized in the BIOS. If the drive is recognized, then test the hard drive for errors. If the drive is not recognized, then reseat the drive once and then check the BIOS again. If the drive is still not recognized after reseating the drive, then contact Support.

2.	Reseat the drive. Note: Although the hard drive can be upgraded, it is not designed to be removed and reinserted on a regular basis. Repeated and frequent removal, for purposes other than to upgrade for greater capacity or problem determination, can cause damage to the system. Shut down, remove the power cord, and remove the battery from the Zenith Laptop before removing the drive. If another similar system is available, then verify that the drive works in the other system. In the event that the hard drive does work in another system, the original Zenith Laptop is probably at fault. Test the hard drive for errors in the working configuration to ensure proper operation. Then, contact Support.
3.	Use FDISK to verify the drive is partitioned and active. Note: This requires a bootable or startup diskette and the FDISK.EXE utility. Option four on the FDISK menu will display the current partition information for the hard drive.

Modem

Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test the modem after performing each step.

1. Verify that the modem line is connected to a RJ-11 phone jack

Verify that the modem line is connected directly to an outlet.
Eliminate any devices like a Telephone, answering machine, surge protector, or line splitter. Test with another phone cable and a different wall outlet, if available.

Verify the presence of a strong dial tone on the same telephone line that modem is attempting to dial out on by connecting a telephone handset.

Note: A no dial tone error message may be due to the software not handling a certain dial tone rather than a specific hardware fault. Around the world there is a variance in the signal quality of the dial tone which causes a report of no dial tone detection. Disable the dial tone detection to correct no dial tone detected by modem error.

Mouse

Is your mouse pad not working?

Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test the pointing device or mouse after performing each step.

Verify that an external mouse is connected properly A USB port and an operating system with USB support is required to attach a USB interface external mouse to a Zenith Laptop.

Note: The following is an example image of a Zenith Laptop USB port.

Verify that the external mouse is working properly.

•	Connect the external mouse to another computer and test its functionality.
•	Cleaning your mouse may help improve pointer movement with some mice that have a ball that tracks movement.
•	Replacing the batteries in your mouse may help improve pointer movement with some mice that are wireless.
Verify the latest driver from the manufacturer is installed for the respective mouse.

Power and Power Management

No Power at All?

Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test for network connectivity after performing each step.

•	Verify the power status indicator.
•	The power status indicator is illuminated whenever the computer is on and is not in standby or hibernation mode.
•	Check all power connections, and remove any power strips and surge protectors to connect the AC adapter directly to the AC power outlet.
•	Inspect the AC adapter.
	Check for any physical damage, and ensure the power cable is firmly attached to the adapter brick and the system.
•	Verify the AC power source is working by attaching another device to the outlet.
•	Remove the Zenith Laptop from any docking station or port replicator.
•	Remove all devices and then test for system power with minimal devices attached.
•	Replacing the batteries in your mouse may help improve pointer movement with some mice that are wireless.
	Disconnect the AC adapter. Remove the battery pack. Remove any externally installed options and other devices.
Verify the latest driver from the manufacturer is installed for the respective mouse.

Power management

some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test the system under normal operating conditions to verify the power management settings after performing each step:

Adjust the power management settings according to your preferences and environment.

Verify the health of the system battery.

Notes:
-	If your battery needs to be replaced, then contact the Support Center for buy a replacement.
-	Remaining time is calculated based on the current remaining capacity divided by the average current battery consumption (wattage). Depending on the current battery wattage consumption, remaining time calculated can change. For example, with the system running at the Maximum Performance setting for the processor, the system consumes more battery power, so the remaining time is shorter. A good analogy would be driving a car. When you drive faster, you use more fuel; slower uses less. If you speed up and slow down frequently, it is more difficult to estimate how much driving time you have left.
-	The Power scheme settings can also be adjusted to improve battery life and performance.

Disable any screen savers in the operating system.

a. Right- click on the desktop background of the Microsoft operating system and then click Properties. The Display Properties window will be displayed.

b. Click the Screen Saver tab.

c. Select none from the pull-down list and then click OK.

Disable any terminate and stay resident (TSR) applications.

Notes:
- These TSR applications may prevent some power management functions because they are constantly monitoring the computer.
- Select the icon for an application from the system tray and click exit or disable from the menu.

Scan all the files on the system with Antivirus software using the vendor's latest virus definitions.

Scan the system for spyware using the anti-spyware software's latest definitions. Perform a Web search for spyware software for more information.

Remove any attached hardware and device drivers. For testing purposes, temporarily disconnect any devices one at a time. Ensure all attached hardware is Advanced Power Management (APM) or Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) compliant. This can be verified in the hardware device User's Guide from the manufacturer.

Load the original or an earlier configuration.
Save current settings using System Restore, and then load the original or an earlier configuration. To open Microsoft Windows XP System Restore, click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select System Tools, and then click System Restore.

USB

Some USB devices are not APM/ACPI friendly and may not operate properly after resuming from Standby or Hibernation. Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test the attached USB device after performing each step.

1.	Verify that a USB port and an operating system with USB support are being used to attach a USB interface external device to a Zenith Laptop.

	Note: The following is an example image of a Zenith Laptop USB port.

2.	Verify that the USB device and any required drivers were installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This may require removing the USB device and the drivers, and then reinstalling the USB device and the latest drivers.

3.	Verify the USB device works on another machine, if available.

4.	Verify another USB device, if available, works on this machine.

5.	Verify that the USB device is USB 1.1 or 2.0 compliant. Plugging specific USB 1.1 compliant devices into a USB 2.0 compliant port will cause an error message dialog box to appear. That dialog box details that a non- high speed device has been attached to a high speed port. The device should function normally, but at a slower speed than if a 2.0 device is attached to 2.0 port. Most USB 1.1 devices will function normally in USB 2.0 ports.

6.	Verify that external power is attached if required. Some USB 2.0 devices will require additional power from external sources or an additional USB port to function correctly in USB 1.1 compliant computers.

Verify that the latest Microsoft Windows Service Pack has been installed for the operating system installed on the computer. There are updates and fixes to USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 available in Service Packs

Video (Display, Monitor or TV)

No Display on the LCD

1. Verify the Zenith Laptop is powered on.
If the Zenith Laptop power status indicator is not illuminated

2. Ensure the system is not in suspend mode

3. Toggle between the internal LCD display and an external CRT display
by pressing the relevant keys simultaneously on the Zenith Laptop keyboard.

4. Disconnect any external displays.

5. Power down the system.

If the system is attached to a docking station or port replicator, then remove the Zenith Laptop.

6. Verify that the display works on startup

Power on the computer and see if you startup sequence is displayed.

7. Contact your local Support Center if there is still no video display on the Zenith Laptop LCD. Your Zenith Laptop may need service.

Unsatisfactory Display

Verify that the display panel is cleaned to prevent distortions.

Verify that the latest video drivers for the operating system and Zenith Laptops have been installed properly according to the install instructions and readme from the software and device driver files for your Zenith Laptop.

Check display settings for resolution (screen area) and color depth. The wrong settings may cause the Zenith Laptop LCD panel to appear to have a black border when a resolution is used that is smaller than the actual LCD screen size.

a	For Microsoft Windows 2000, click Start, select Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Display. For Microsoft Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Click Appearance and Themes and then click Display.
b.	Click the Settings tab.
c	In the Screen Area box, increment the slider one position at a time to increase the size and click Apply until the screen is filled. Note: The most typical screen area size for Zenith Laptops is 1024x768.
d.	Click the Advanced button to verify the advanced display settings for Monitor, Refresh rate (frequency), and Hardware acceleration.

Check the brightness setting.

A lowered brightness setting may cause the display to appear dim. Press and hold the Fn key and then press relevant key combination to increase the LCD brightness setting.

A small number of missing, discolored, or lit all the time dots or pixels is characteristic of thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) technology due to manufacturing process for such technology irrespective of manufacturer. If your LCD has defective pixels, it should not be considered faulty until the number of defective pixels meets or exceeds the number listed in the Pixel policy criteria.

External Monitor Issues

1. Connect a known good external monitor and press the Fn and relevant key combination simultaneously to change the display mode.

2. Verify the cabling and connections between the external CRT monitor and the Zenith notebook external monitor port.

3. Remove any signal cable extensions and switch boxes.

Note: Signal cable extensions and switch boxes are not supported.

4. Ensure the external display is setup and configured according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

5. Verify the external display passes any applicable self tests according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Verify the external display works on another system if available.

Wireless Networking

Having issues with your wireless network?

For the purpose of this guide, the term Access Point is used for whatever wireless connectivity device is being used. This can be a wireless home gateway or an actual Access Point. Some of these steps may not apply to your computer. Test for network connectivity after performing each step.

Verify that the network adapter is being seen by the operating system.

Check Microsoft Windows Device Manager and look for an icon that appears as Network Adapters and see if the network card listed in Mini-PCI information table is installed:

a. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.

b. Click the Hardware tab and press the Device Manager button. The network card should appear under Network Adapters.

Verify that the radio is enabled.

It is possible to disable the transmitter of the wireless card without Device Manager showing any problems. Most wireless cards will put an icon in the system tray (the line of icons in the lower right corner of your screen). Right click this icon and it may have a menu option to enable/turn on the wireless radio.

Check for association to an Access Point.

If you double-click the previously mentioned system tray icon, the configuration utility of the wireless card will appear. This utility will be able to show the status of the wireless card, showing what channel the card is using and what signal strength is being received. It may be difficult to maintain a connection if signal strength is low due to either interference or distance. For example, interference can be caused by 2.4GHz cordless phones, other Access Points in the area, and physical structures such as load bearing walls or metal partitions.

Note: The utility can be used to configure the wireless card settings, but if using Windows XP Zero Configuration or Access Connections, you will need to use those programs to actually configure the wireless card as they will overwrite the setting of the utility.

Check the SSID (the Network name of the wireless network you are trying to connect to) and security settings.

Notes: The SSID and WEP key are case sensitive.
-	The connection will fail if the SSID is incorrect.
-	The most common security setting is the use of a WEP key. This involves using a 5 digit alphanumeric key for 64bit encryption or 13 digit alphanumeric key for 128bit encryption. Some systems will only allow a hexadecimal (0-9, A-F) key of either 10 (64bit) or 26 (128bit) characters. It may be necessary to convert your alphanumeric key to a hexadecimal one in order to connect properly.

Verify the hardware compatibility with the Access Point. Often, vendors of Access Points will add features to improve their product. Unfortunately, these extra features are not always compatible with all hardware. Consult the product documentation for the Access Point about the possible need to disable these features. Also, there are often new firmware updates to an Access Point that may solve some issues. Again, consult with the Access Point manufacturer for updates.

Verify that TCP/IP (or other appropriate protocol) is properly installed.

To check this:

a.	Right-click the My Network Places icon and select Properties. The wireless card should be present as Local Area Connection.
b.	Right-click the appropriate Local Area Connection and select Properties. In the Properties window, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is installed.
c.	If TCP/IP is not installed, click Install, click Protocol, and then click TCP/IP.
d.	Once installed make sure that, Obtain an IP address automatically, and Obtain DNS server address automatically are checked (if using DHCP). To verify this, highlight the TCP/IP protocol, and select Properties. Note: Only use a Static IP Address if your network/Service Provider requires one.

7 .

Verify the TCP/IP address.

a.	Click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
b.	Type the command, ipconfig. This will list the IP address for the local machine
c.	If this returns a 169.x.x.x or 0.0.0.0 address, then type the following commands, ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew. You should then receive a TCP/IP address appropriate to your network, along with a Default Gateway address.
d.	Try to communicate with it by typing this command ping x.x.x.x where x.x.x.x is the IP address of the Default Gateway. e. If this does not give a reply (see the example in step 9) or you did not receive a TCP/IP address, go to the next step.

Ping the loopback address.

Click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

Verify that the wireless adapter is properly seated.

Stop, eject, and reinsert PC Cards. This may not be possible with some integrated wireless cards. Consult the Service and Troubleshooting Guide or Help application for removal and installation instructions where available.

Install latest Service Packs for Operating System or Network Client.

It may be necessary to install Service Packs for either the operating system or for any additional network clients that may be installed. Contact the software vendor for these updates which are usually free downloads.

Tips to Conserve Power

Switching Off The Laptop And Power Conservation

Closing the lid of the laptop immediately puts it to sleep and hence there is no need to switch it off. The laptop goes to sleep in about 20 minutes on battery power and 60 minutes on mains power, if the lid is not closed. The battery continues to get charged up even if the Laptop is completely switched off, but connected to the power outlet. The newer models of laptops stop charging automatically when the battery is charged fully.

Changing The Power Saving Features In Windows Vista

The user need not change the settings on his computer. Typically the computer is preset to save energy. The monitor powers down after 15 minutes of inactivity and the computer will go into sleep mode after 60 minutes. To wake the computer up, the user may move his mouse or press any key on the keyboard. Waking should take approximately two seconds and will return the computer to the last operation the user was performing.

Changing The Default Power Settings

The user may change the default settings by accessing the Power Options in Control Panel. Using this, he can control when the screen blanks and when the computer sleeps. Besides, he can also set the actions for the systems power buttons.

To put the computer to sleep immediately, the user has to click Start on the taskbar and then click the yellow power button; alternatively, the user can also press the half-moon button, if available on the keyboard.

Screen Savers And Power Conservation

Screen savers, in reality, require higher power than a computer that does not employ a screen saver, or one that simply uses a blank screen.

Sleep Mode And Internet Connectivity

If a user has a broadband connection then putting the Computer in Sleep Mode does not disconnect the computer from the internet. Broadband is always on; once the user wakes up his computer from the sleep mode, it will automatically connect back to the internet.
However, if the user is having a dial-up connection then the internet connectivity will be lost; on resumption, he will have to re-connect to the internet.

If the user is actively downloading from the internet, his computer will not sleep before the download is completed; at times however the screen may look blank.

Turning Off The Computer At Night

If a user is employing the sleep feature, he does not need to turn off his computer every night. Typical computers use about 4W of power in sleep mode and about 2W if they are completely shut down. Of course, if the user is not planning to use the computer for an extended period of time, then he is advised to turn off his computer and remove the plug from the Socket. This is because the power adaptor draws about 0.5W Power in switched off condition too.

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