Using a Battery 25Using a BatteryBattery PerformanceCAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructionslocated in the Product Information Guide.NOTE: Charge the battery for 3 hours before using the computer without the AC adapter.NOTE: Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial time period of the limitedwarranty for your computer. For more information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see theProduct Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate yourDell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. Use a battery to run thecomputer when it is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standardequipment in the battery bay.NOTE: Battery operating time (the time it can hold a charge) decreases over time. Depending on howoften the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a newbattery during the life of your computer.Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to,the following:• Using DVD, DVD-R, and CD-RW drives• Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, or USB devices• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programssuch as 3D games• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Power Management" in theDell Inspiron Help file for more information. To access the help file, see page 9.NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to aCD or DVD.You can set power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low.CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace thebattery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. Do not use a battery from other computerswith your computer.