Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Power Management

One of the goals of mobile computers is to run off the battery for as long as possible. Therefore, the mobile computers use components that typically use less power than components that you would find in a desktop computer. For example:

• Mobile computers use processors that run on a lower voltage and consume less power.
• Mobile processors, including Intel SpeedStep and AMD PowerNow, have the capability to adjust voltage and the capability to throttle (temporarily run at a slower clock speed) to use even less power when running off the battery.
• LCD monitor can be dimmed so that it consumes less power.
• Mechanical Hard drives can be spun down when not in use.

Note: Although Solid State Drives (SSD) are based on a relatively new technology, SSDs are starting to replace traditional mechanical devices. Because Solid State Drives do not contain mechanical parts, they consume less power, allowing for a longer battery life.

Power Plans

A power plan (formerly known as a power scheme in earlier versions of Windows) is a collection of hardware and system settings that manages how your computer uses and conserves power. You can use power plans to save energy, maximize system performance, or balance energy conservation with performance.

Windows 7 includes three default power plans:

• Balanced: Offers full performance when you need it and saves power during periods of inactivity.
• Power saver: Saves power by reducing system performance. This plan can help mobile PC users get the most from a single battery charge.
• High performance: Maximizes system performance and responsiveness. Mobile PC users might notice that their battery doesn't last as long when using this plan.

If a default plan doesn't meet your needs (even if you change some settings), you can create your own plan by using a default plan as a starting point.

To change an existing plan, do the following:

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then clicking Power Options.
2. On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the plan that you want to change.
3. On the Change settings for the plan page, choose the display and sleep settings that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and when it's plugged in.
4. If you don't want to change any more settings, click Save changes. To change additional power settings, click Change advanced power settings.
5. On the Advanced settings tab, expand the category that you want to customize, expand each setting that you want to change, and then choose the values that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and when it's plugged in.
6. Click OK to save the changes and then click the Close button on the Change settings for the plan page.

To create your own plan, use the following steps:

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then clicking Power Options.
2. On the Select a power plan page, in the task pane, click Create a plan.
3. On the Create a power plan page, select the plan that's closest to the type of plan that you want to create.
4. In the Plan name box, type a name for the plan and then click Next.
5. On the Change settings for the plan page, choose the display and sleep settings that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and when it's plugged in and then click Create.

If you created power plans that you no longer use or need, you can delete them. To delete a plan, do the following:

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then clicking Power Options.
2. If the active plan is the one that you want to delete, make a different plan the active plan.
3. On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the plan that you want to delete.
4. On the Change settings for the plan page, click Delete this plan.
5. When prompted, click OK.

Note: You can't delete any of the three default power plans (Balanced, Power saver, or High performance).