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GD2000 User Guide
Identifying power wasting programs
The following will help you determine if your system is running
applications or processes that are keeping the CPU busy:
Start the
Task Manager Utility
„
For Windows
XP:
®
Windows
Task Manager
Open
®
Taskbar
space on the
, and then click
Process
the
tab to view running processes. Click on the
mance
tab to view running applications.
Watch the CPU Usage. It is okay if the processor usage is occa-
sionally 100 percent, but if it is 100 percent most of the time, this
may indicate a problem.
What to do if applications are keeping the CPU busy
If possible, close applications that keep the CPU busy when you
„
are not using them.
Turn off or suspend your computer whenever you are not using
„
it (this will help to conserve power).
Your organization's help desk may have an updated version of
„
the application.
Tip 3. Calibrate your battery
Over time, the accuracy of the Windows
may be affected by repeated charging and discharging of the
battery. Calibrating the battery every 3 or 4 months helps to
keep the gas gauge accurate. For information on calibrating the
battery, refer to
Battery
Calibration.
Tip 4. Get a good charge
Your computer will charge more quickly if it is turned off or
„
suspended.
In warmer or cooler temperatures, your battery can take much
„
longer to fully charge.
If your battery is charged in a cold (less than 41°F/5°C) or very
„
warm (greater than 122°F/50°C) environment, it is possible
Battery Charge LED
that the
stopped; however, this does not necessarily mean that your bat-
tery is fully charged.
Tip 5. Prevent data loss
Follow these guidelines to prevent data loss when removing
your battery or storing your computer:
You will lose data if you remove the battery while the computer
„
is operating or suspended. To prevent this, shutdown your
computer or put it into
Hibernate
removing your battery.
If you plan to store your computer for more than a few days,
„
shutdown your computer or put it into
move the battery before storing the computer.
General Dynamics Itronix 72-0139-001
.
by right-clicking an empty
Task Manager
. Click on
Perfor-
battery gas gauge
®
will indicate that the charge has
(suspend-to-disk) mode before
Hibernate
mode. Re-
Tip 6. Clean terminals
Dirty terminals can be a cause of charging problems. Clean
battery terminals with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alco-
hol. Make sure that the alcohol has evaporated before reinstall-
ing the battery.
Tip 7. Storing batteries
Stored Li-Polymer or Lithium-Ion battery packs gradually dete-
riorate, particularly if they are not stored in ideal conditions,
and their life expectancy decreases. When storing Lithium-Ion
battery packs for extended periods, consider these recommen-
dations:
When storing batteries for extended periods, it is recommended
„
that you store them between 3°C to 7°C (38°F to 45°F) to retard
self-discharge and battery aging.
note
If you store batteries at normal ambient tempera-
tures, use the following charging policy to maintain battery
pack condition:
ƒ
ƒ
Charge installed batteries every 21 days to maintain their charge
capacity.
ƒ
ƒ
Charge uninstalled batteries every 6 months.
Unused or stored batteries can lose power over time. When you
„
install a battery that has not been used recently, connect external
power to the computer and fully charge your battery.
Fully charged Li-Polymer or Lithium-Ion batteries deteriorate
„
faster than partly discharged ones. For ideal storage, charge the
battery to 100% and then discharge them to 50% charge before
storing.
Do not allow stored Li-Polymer or Lithium-Ion batteries to
„
discharge completely, as this may permanently damage them.
Stored batteries should be recharged to 50% capacity every six
months.
Battery Power
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Troubleshooting
