Dell Latitude D520: Checking the Battery Charge Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Check the Battery Charge Check the Battery Health
Checking the Battery Charge Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Check the Battery Charge Check the Battery Health: Dell Latitude D520
Table of contents
- Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Contents
- Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- Setting Up Your Computer
- About Your Computer Front View
- Left Side View Right Side View Back View
- Bottom View
- Using a Battery Battery Performance
- Checking the Battery Charge Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Check the Battery Charge Check the Battery Health
- Low-Battery Warning Charging the Battery Removing the Battery
- Storing a Battery
- Troubleshooting Lockups and Software Problems The computer does not start up A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears
- Other software problems BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY. Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
- Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD
- Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Option Function Tab Function
- Tab Function
- Index
- 24 Index
CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture, incinerate,
disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 60°C (140°F). Keep the battery away from children.
Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury
or equipment damage.
Checking the Battery Charge
The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, the
battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery
charge.
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter
If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter. The Battery
Meter displays status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your
computer.
For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar, and click Help.
®
®
Microsoft
Windows
Power Meter
The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-
click the icon on the taskbar.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.
Charge Gauge
By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the charge gauge on the battery, you
can check:
• Battery charge (check by pressing and
releasing
the status button)
• Battery health (check by pressing and
holding
the status button)
The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of
charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. That is, a battery can
show a status of "charged" but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).
Check the Battery Charge
To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate
the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For
example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no lights
appear, the battery has no charge.
Check the Battery Health
NOTE: You can check battery health in one of two ways: by using the charge gauge on the battery as described
below and by using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet. For information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in
the taskbar, and click Help.
14 Quick Reference Guide
