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Mobile Computing
Monitoring battery power
If the AC power light flashes amber during charging,
either a battery pack is malfunctioning, or it is not
receiving correct input from the AC power supply.
HINT: Be careful not to confuse the AC power light/
Battery light ( ) and the power button ( ) light.
When the AC power light/Battery light or power button
light flashes amber, it indicates that the system is
suspended (using the Windows
operating system Sleep
command).
(Sample Illustration) Power and battery light locations
Determining remaining battery power
Wait a few moments after turning on the computer before
trying to monitor the remaining battery power. The
computer needs this time to check the battery’s
remaining capacity and perform its calculations.
Move the pointer over the power icon in the notification area,
see “Finding your way around the desktop” on page 98 for
more information on the notification area. A pop-up message
displays the remaining battery power as a percentage.
With repeated discharges and recharges, the battery’s
capacity gradually decreases. A frequently used older
battery does not power the computer for as long as a new
battery, even when both are fully charged.
NOTE