28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, click Tu rn  
Off Computer, and then click Stand by.
To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
  NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.
Hibernate Mode
Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then 
completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is 
restored to the state it was in
 before it entered hibernate mode.
To activate hibernate mode:
1
Click the 
Start
 button, then click 
Control Panel
.
2
Under 
Pick a category
, click 
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Under 
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click 
Power Options
.
4
Define your hibernate settings on the
 Power Schemes
 tab,
 Advanced
 tab, and 
Hibernate
 tab (see 
"Power Options Properties" on page 28).
To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from 
hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of 
hibernation because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate 
mode.
Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the 
contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before 
shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates 
the hibernate file automatically.
Power Options Properties
Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the Power 
Options Properties window.
 To access the Power Options Properties window:
1
Click the 
Start
 button, then click 
Control Panel
.
2
Under 
Pick a category
, click 
Performance and Maintenance
.
3
Under 
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click 
Power Options
.
4
Define your power settings on the 
Power Schemes
 tab, 
Advanced
 tab, and 
Hibernate
 tab.
Power Schemes Tab
Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows 
schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-down menu. The 
settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings 
for starting standby or hibernate mode and for turning off the monitor and hard drive.