- The power plan determines in part the computer's behavior with electric consumption and performance (other factors affecting that include "advanced system settings" and themes).
- Type "power plans" in the start menu and click "Choose a power plan".
Note: this Control Panel screen includes a "Screen brightness" slider at the bottom.
- Choose a plan: "Power Source Optimized" is designed for desktop computers and laptops used mostly plugged in. "Power Saver" is ideal while on the go, working off a generator, and other power-scarce situations. But both can be customize for power and battery scenarios.
Tip: click on the dropdown arrow next to "Show additional plans" for seven more advanced plans, which can also be customized: "Balance", "Energy Star", "High Performance", "Maximum Battery Life", "Maximum Performance", "Timers off", and "Video Playback". - Click the "Change plan settings" link next to your selected plan (see "close laptop lid").
- Configure your power settings on the left when running on battery, and when plugged into an outlet on the right (some laptops come with power managers that ignore these settings).
- "Dim the display" controls when the screen goes dark, without shutting down anything else.
- "Turn off the display" shuts down the screen (off power until you hit a key / move your mouse).
- "Put the computer to sleep" puts Windows 7 into a state of low power consumption - good both for battery life, and to increase the longevity of your PC (no moving parts are active).
- "Adjust plan brightness" customizes your monitor's brightness on and off battery: to test in both cases, move the slider a notch and click "Save Changes" (bottom right).
- Clicking on the "Change advanced power settings" link gives you fully granular access to most every power-consuming function and hardware: power-users only!
- "Restore default settings for this plan" reverts all your customizations to original options.
- Once you are done, click on the "Save Changes" button at the bottom.
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