WinBook Tech Article
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Subject: XL BIOS Power Management FAQ
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Tech Article Number: WBTA12100763

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Q. What is power management and why should I use it?

A. Power management is a function of the system that controls many devices of your unit and can slow or even shut them down. This allows for longer battery life by having devices power down to lessen the drain on the battery. Power management typically only effects performance on Battery, since AC provides an essentially infinite power source as opposed to the finite power of a battery.

Q. What is the difference between the Maximum and Customized settings for the Power Savings Mode?

A. The Maximum setting is a predetermined configuration that provides very aggressive power management. It shuts inactive functions down very quickly. Usually this setting proves to activate too soon for most users. Customized is a user definable selection that allows all choices to be made by the user, or to leave some settings at default and adjust other ones to a more reasonable time-out setting.

Q. What is the difference between Standby, Suspend to RAM and Suspend to DISK?

A. Standby is simply a "cat nap" mode that keeps the unit running but in a very low power setting. Pressing a key will bring the unit back up as normal. Suspend to RAM sends all of the active information to RAM and shuts down all other system functions. It uses battery or AC power to keep the RAM powered in order to keep your information intact. If all power is shut off, your work will be lost. Pressing a key will resume your session. Suspend to DISK is a full hibernation mode for the unit. It will physically write all data from RAM and video memory to a special location on your hard disk (the suspend to disk partition) and shut down all power for the unit. This mode is a more long term Suspend mode. To resume you must press the power button as you would for a normal boot.

Q. What does CPU Auto Doze do?

A. It allows the CPU to enter a low power state where it is not running at maximum performance in order to help conserve energy.

Q. What is Standby time-out?

A. Standby is a low power setting for all of the unit's functions. It shuts off the display, powers down the hard drive and places the CPU into low power mode to help conserve power but keep the unit active. This setting defines the amount of time the unit must be idle and inactive before going into Standby mode.

Q. What does Suspend mode do?

A. Suspend Mode determines the behavior of the Suspend operation. Auto - allows the system to suspend to DRAM first then suspend to DISK. DRAM allows the unit to suspend to RAM only. DISK allows for suspend to the hard disk suspend partition only.

Q. What is Suspend Time-out?

A. Suspend Time-out specifies the amount of time that the unit must be in Standby mode before the unit will then change to Suspend Mode. This time-out starts from the moment the unit goes into Standby Mode, not from the moment the unit first goes idle; They cascade.

Q. What is the RAM to DISK Time-out?

A. When Suspend Mode is set to AUTO, this setting specifies the amount of time the unit must be in Suspend mode before it will save all information from RAM onto a special location of the Hard Disk and then shut down the unit completely.

Q. What does Suspend on Low Battery do?

A. If the unit reaches a very low battery state, it will automatically suspend the unit to RAM (Or DISK if set) in an effort to conserve the remaining battery power and keep your work from being lost.

Q. What is Display Time-out?

A. This defines the amount of time that the unit must be idle before the LCD will shut down. Pressing a key will bring it back.

Q. What does Hard Disk Time-out do?

A. It powers down the Hard Disk if it is inactive for the specified amount of time. It will power back up if a program requires information to be read or written to the Hard Disk.

Q. What is Modem Ring?

A. If the unit is in Suspend to RAM and an call rings in on the modem line, it will resume the unit. This function is not available in Suspend to DISK.

Q. What are Alarm Resume and Resume Alarm Time?

A. Essentially it is an alarm clock. It will resume the unit at the time specified in Resume Alarm Time.

Q. How does Battery Calibration Work?

A. With a battery that is fully charged, calibration will drain the battery out and ensure that the battery life and maximum performance are maintained.

Q. What is Battery Reset?

A. Battery Reset should be run IMMEDIATELY after the Battery Calibration has been run and the unit is first rebooted in order establish proper battery readings within Windows 95. This MUST be run on an EMPTY battery or the battery gauge in Windows 95 will be extremely inaccurate until the battery is calibrated and reset properly.

Q. What does Low Battery Warning do?

A. When the battery reaches about 15minutes of charge remaining, the Battery Led will flash Red and a 3 tone beep will be heard to warn you of the low battery state.


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