Using Power Manager

The power manager lets you disable devices you are not using and create power profiles.

1. Click on the Battery icon and choose launch power manager.
   

   Note: If the Battery icon is not in the system tray, choose Start > All Programs > Thinkvantage > Power Manager.

2. Follow the steps in the Power Manager to set battery options.

   Some especially useful settings are:

   Step 3: Viewing Battery Status. This screen lets you set the Battery icon to appear on the Taskbar.Click on Options then check Show power manager gauge in taskbar

   

   Step 6: Setting Power Schemes. This screen lets you choose a default power scheme.

   

Troubleshooting ThinkPad Battery Problems

If your battery isn't working properly, try the following steps in order:

1. Make sure your battery is fully charged
   1. Click on the Battery icon and choose launch power manager.
      

      Note: If the Battery icon is not in the system tray, choose Start > All Programs > Thinkvantage > Power manager .

   2. If the remaining power is low, plug in the computer.
2. Make sure you are using a battery-saving power profile.
   1. Click on the Battery icon.
   2. If necessary, select a power saving profile.
      
3. Check the battery's health.
   1. Click on the Battery icon and choose battery information.
   

   If the battery health is not good, go to battery maintenance and adjust settings or you can reset the battery gauge.

   If the battery health is good, click ok

4. If the battery health is not good:
   1. “Deep cycle” the battery once by discharging and then fully recharging it.

      Sometimes the battery pack's microprocessor begins misreporting battery information, and deep cycling the battery pack can recalibrate the microprocessor.

      Important note: This is the only time you should deep cycle your battery pack, and you should only do it once. Unlike older ThinkPad’s batteries, which need to be deep cycled regularly, the current ThinkPad’s batteries work better if they are not discharged any more than absolutely necessary.

      To prolong the battery's life, keep the computer plugged in as much as possible. The battery wears out after a certain number of recharge cycles, and keeping the computer plugged in when you can will keep you from wasting cycles.

   2. Check the battery health again. If it is still not good, contact the Help Desk or fill out a Problem Report Form.
5. Charge the battery fully, then unplug it from AC power.

   Does the battery indicator light start blinking orange immediately? If so, “deep cycle” the battery once by fully discharging then fully recharging it.

   Sometimes the battery pack's microprocessor begins misreporting battery information, and deep cycling the battery pack can recalibrate the microprocessor.

6. If none of these steps help, contact the Help Desk or fill out a Problem Report Form.

ThinkPad Battery Tips

The ThinkPad has a lithium-ion battery pack which includes a microprocessor that regulates battery use and communicates the battery's status to the computer.

• New Batteries
• Understanding the ThinkPad's Battery Indicator Light
• Checking Battery Health
• Maximizing Your Battery's Life
• Power Saving Modes

New Batteries

When purchasing a new battery, you may find that the battery is at or near 0% capacity. This will be due to the length of time the battery has been in stock and does not affect the quality of the battery. If the battery is at 0%, it may take up to 12 hours of continuous charging.

Understanding the ThinkPad's Battery Indicator Light

The battery indicator light below the screen indicates your battery's status.

Checking Battery Health

For those machines that have the IBM ThinkPad Battery MaxiMiser and Power Management Features installed, you can verify the health of the system battery.

1. left click once on the battery Icon on the taskbar and then click Power Manager. The Battery Information window will appear. (NOTE: if you do not have your battery showing on your taskbar go to the start menu click on all programs. click on Thinkvantage then click on Power manager)
   
2. Click the Battery information button to view the condition of the battery.
   

NOTES:

• Status of the battery:
  • Green means good condition
  • Red means the battery needs to be replaced, if in warranty. All ThinkPad system batteries have a one year warranty.
• More information is available in the battery information help guide, which can be accessed by clicking the Battery Tips button.
• Remaining time is calculated based on the current remaining capacity divided by the average current battery consumption (wattage). Depending on the current battery wattage consumption, remaining time calculated can change. For example, with the system running at the Maximum Performance setting for the processor, the system consumes more battery power, so the remaining time is shorter. A good analogy would be driving a car. When you drive faster, you use more gasoline; slower uses less. If you speed up and slow down frequently, it is more difficult to estimate how much driving time you have left.

Maximizing Your Battery’s Life

The ThinkPad's Lithium Ion battery pack is an intelligent battery. It contains a microprocessor to monitor its capacity. Information about the remaining battery capacity is passed to the system from the battery pack, and the system indicates the capacity in 1% steps from 0% to 100% with high accuracy.

You can check the status of your battery using the Battery MaxiMiser Gauge in the taskbar tray.

The rate at which you use battery power will determine how long you can use the battery of your ThinkPad computer between charges. Because each computer user has different habits and needs, it is difficult to predict how long a battery charge will last.
There are two main factors:

1. How much energy is stored in the battery when you begin to work.
2. The way you use your computer: how often you access the hard disk drive, how bright you make the computer display, etc.

Follow these tips to maximize your ThinkPad's battery life:

• Do not let the battery get completely discharged. (The only exception is if you are recalibrating it, as in the troubleshooting steps.)
• Do not let your computer get too hot. For example, do not leave it in a car on a hot day, and do not set it on top of a heater.
• Use the correct AC adapter with your computer.
• Keep the computer plugged in as much as possible. The battery wears out after a certain number of recharge cycles, and keeping the computer plugged in when you can will keep you from wasting cycles.
• Use the ThinkPad's Power Saving Modes.
• Use the Battery MaxiMiser to disable devices you are not using. See Using the Battery MaxiMiser.
• Decrease the LCD brightness - The LCD panel assembly contains a fluorescent lamp which illuminates the LCD screen. This fluorescent lamp consumes a substantial amount of power. Therefore, decreasing LCD brightness helps preserve battery power.

Power saving modes

Power saving modes are recommended when the system is not in use. These modes can be used any time to conserve power without having to first exit applications or save files. The following three power saving modes are available:

To use Standby, Suspend or Hibernation mode, follow these instructions:

NOTE: In order for hibernation to work, Hibernation must be enabled. Also, hibernation uses disk space. See your User's Guide for details.

By setting the standby or the suspend timer, the system enters standby or suspend automatically when the system is not used for the time set by the timer.

When using Hibernation, you can select from several options for Hibernation from the Suspend/Hibernation/Resume icon in ThinkPad Features. For more information on those features, consult the User's Guide.

Using Microsoft Mail in Windows Vista.

• Setting Up Windows Mail Express
• Viewing the Inbox
• Checking For and Sending Messages
• Checking For Messages Without Sending Messages
• Writing and Sending a New Message

Setting Up MS Mail

1. Choose Tools > Accounts.
   
2. Click Add in the Internet Accounts window.
   
3. Select E-mail Account and then click Next.
   
4. Type your full name in the box and then click Next
   
5. Type your email address in the box then click Next.
   
6. Type pop.mail.nmu.edu for both Incoming and Outgoing e-mail server names. Click Next.
   
7. Enter your username (email address without "@nmu.edu") and password. Click Next.
   
8. Click Finish.
   
9. In the Internet Accounts window click Close.
   

Viewing the Inbox

To view the Inbox, click Inbox in the Folders list.

If the folders list is not showing:

1. Choose View > Layout.
   
2. Check the box next to Folder List, and click OK.
   

Checking For and Sending Messages

To check for new messages and send any messages that are in your Outbox, click the Send/Receive button.

Checking For Messages Without Sending Messages

To check for new messages without sending any messages that are in your Outbox:

1. Click the small triangle on the right edge of the Send/Receive button.
   
2. Choose Receive All.
   

Writing and Sending a New Message

1. Click Create Mail.
   
2. Fill in the recipient's E-mail address, the subject, and the message content.
   
3. Click Send.
   

Current ThinkPad Models

• 2008 model ThinkPad
• 2007 model ThinkPad
• 2006 model ThinkPad (retired model)

Lenovo ThinkPad R61 Series 8933-B67 (2008 model)

• Intel Core 2 Duo T5270 @ 1.40GHz
• 2MB L2 cache
• 800 MHz Front-side Bus
• 1-GB DDR2-667 SDRAM SO-DIMM (PC2-5300)
• 100GB 7200RPM SATA
• Intel GM965 Integrated Graphics
• DVD-RAM/RW drive
• Integrated SXGA camera
• Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
• Firewire (IEEE 1394)
• Broadcom NetLink Gigabit Ethernet
• 9-cell Li-ion battery
• 15.4-inch WXGA 1280x800
• Operating System - Windows XP Professional

Lenovo ThinkPad R60 Series 9457-Y3P (2007 model)

• Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.66 GHz)
• 2MB L2 cache
• 667 MHz Front-side Bus
• 1 GB 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
• 80 GB SATA Hard Drive 5400rpm
• 14.1" XGA (1024x768) TFT LCD Display
• Firewire (IEEE 1394)
• CDRW/DVDRW
• Intel 802.11A/B/G wireless
• Modem
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• ThinkPad UltraNav Pointing Device
• Li-Ion Battery
• Operating System - Windows XP Professional

IBM ThinkPad R60 Series 9457-A49 (2006 model)

• Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.66 GHz)
• 2MB L2 cache
• 667 MHz Front-side Bus
• 1 GB 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
• 60 GB SATA Hard Drive 5400rpm
• 14.1" XGA (1024x768) TFT LCD Display
• Firewire (IEEE 1394)
• Ultrabay Enhanced DVD/CD-RW (DVD Player and CD-ROM/Recorder)
• Intel 802.11A/B/G wireless
• Modem
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• ThinkPad UltraNav Pointing Device
• Li-Ion Battery
• Operating System - Windows XP Professional

This option allows you to set a maximum number of days that a message will be save in a specific folder.

1. log into MyUser
2. click on options
3. click on email cleanup
4. fill out how many days you would like to keep emails in each folder
5. click submit

This allows you to send a message to people trying to send you email while you are vacation that you are not able to read it.

1. log intoMyuser
2. click on the options tab
3. click on vacation email
4. click on enable
5. write whatever message you want to let whoever is sending you the email