Personal Computer User Manual

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 37
When the computer exits from a power conservation mode (Standby or
Hibernate), the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it
entered the power conservation mode.
Windows Vista has three main default power management modes:
• Balanced
• Power Save r
• High Performance
Dell has added a fourth, Dell-Recommended, mode that sets power
management to the most typical settings for the majority of Dell customers.
This is the active power plan.
Standby Mode
Standby mode is the default "off" state for Windows Vista. Standby conserves
power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When
the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was
in before it entered standby mode.
To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of
inactivity:
1
Click Start and click Control Pane l.
2 Under Pick a category , click System and Maintenance .
3 Under System and Maintenance , click Power Options .
The next dialog box shows three power plans. The top option, Dell
Recommended, is the currently active plan. To display additional power
plans, click the arrow at the bottom of the list.
To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click
Start and click the off button icon. Windows Vista sets Standby as the
default off state.