Controlling Power Options

WINV-2.1, WINV-7.1.3

You can change power options properties (New!) for a portable or laptop computer to reduce power consumption and maximize battery life. For example, if you often leave your computer for a short time while working, you can set your computer to go into standby, a state in which your monitor and hard disks turn off after being idle for a set time. If you are often away from your computer for an extended time, you can set it to go into hibernation, a state in which your computer first saves everything in memory on your hard disk and then shuts down. To help you set power options, you can choose one of the power plans included with Windows or modify one to suit your needs. A power plan is a predefined collection of power usage settings. The power options you see vary depending on your computer’s hardware configuration. Windows detects what is available on your computer and shows you only the options that you can control.

Select and Modify a Power Plan

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click the Power Options icon in Classic view.

Click the power plan option you want: Balanced, Power saver, High performance, or custom.

Click Change plan settings below the selected option.

[View full size image]

Specify the amount of time before Windows turns off the display or puts the computer to sleep.

Click Save Changes.

[View full size image]

Did You Know? You can create a custom power plan. In Power Options, click Create a power plan in the Navigation pane, select a power plan close to the one you want, type a name, click Next, modify the power options, and then click Create. To delete a custom plan, click Change plan settings, click Delete this plan, and then click Yes.

Define Power Button and Set Password Protection

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click the Power Options icon in Classic view.

In the Navigation pane, click Choose what the power buttons do.

Specify the options you want when you press the power or sleep button, or when you close the lid.

Select the Require a password (recommended) or Don’t require a password option.

Click Save Changes.

[View full size image]

Set Advanced Options

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click the Power Options icon in Classic view.

Click Change plan settings below the selected power plan option.

Click Change advanced power settings.

Click the plus sign (-) and minus sign (-) icons to display the option you want to change.

Click the option list arrow, and then select a setting.

When you’re done, click OK.

Click Save Changes.