Unable to power OFF ?

TVBanks98 · 01-04-05, 06:51 AM

I have a brand new x50v and I cannot seem to get it to shut OFF. According to the user manual you are supposed to press and release the power button to shut the unit off and press and hold the power button to put it in "hibernation" mode. No matter what I do it always seems to be in hibernation and not completely powered off. The screen goes completely dark, but pressing the power button brings it back up INSTANTLY. No blue Dell "boot screen", just right back where I was when I tried to shut it off. Even removing the primary battery does not work as the PPC runs off the secondary/backup battery during battery changes.

Is this a "feature" or a problem? It seems to be draining the battery very quickly (at the same rate as when the unit is turned ON) even when I believe it to be turned completely off.

I searched the forums and did not see where anyone else is having a similar problem.

Any thoughts??

**Frenchy** · 01-04-05, 07:02 AM

The unit doesn't really shut down ever. restarting the unit and seeing the same last screen as when you shut down is normal. This is not a PC the data reside (except for the OS) mostly in RAM so it needs be be constantly on so data is not lost. A soft reset just clear unsave data in RAM. A hard reset bing back the PPC to its factory stage.

**Frenchy** · 01-04-05, 07:03 AM

BTW Welcome to aximsite, enjoy the community

TVBanks98 · 01-04-05, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Frenchy

The unit doesn't really shut down ever. restarting the unit and seeing the same last screen as when you shut down is normal. This is not a PC the data reside (except for the OS) mostly in RAM so it needs be be constantly on so data is not lost. A soft reset just clear unsave data in RAM. A hard reset bing back the PPC to its factory stage.

Thanks Frenchy,

Any idea why the battery drains so rapidly ? I guess I need to store the PPC in the charging cradle or buy a dozen batteries. I need it on the road where power's a concern.

**Frenchy** · 01-04-05, 07:31 AM

Get a universal charger with Car adapter for the road. I recommend to tweak the device so the battery do not drain that fast. Drop the brightness a few notch. I only have one regular battery and use my device in the train everyday.

01-04-05, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by TVBanks98

Any idea why the battery drains so rapidly ? I guess I need to store the PPC in the charging cradle or buy a dozen batteries. I need it on the road where power's a concern.

How fast is your battery draining?

TVBanks98 · 01-04-05, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by socpsy

How fast is your battery draining?

In a few hours.....3-4. I just have the 1100Mah standard battery. Perhaps the upgrade to the 2200Mah battery would have been a good idea

brobinson · 01-04-05, 11:22 AM

I sounds like you are only shutting off the backlight and not the entire screen. You should get a few days of standby without the screen on. Pressing and holding the power button toggles the backlight. Pressing and releasing shuts the screen off. As Frenchy said, the unit is never completely off, but you should get more than 3-4 hours of battery life.

TVBanks98 · 01-04-05, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by brobinson

As Frenchy said, the unit is never completely off, but you should get more than 3-4 hours of battery life.

Thanks guys, I'll run some more "controlled" tests and see what the actual times are. If I still feel the battery life is too short I'll see what Dell has to say.

RChickenMan · 01-04-05, 02:41 PM

On most Pocket PCs, as long as you don't leave the device in a drawer for weeks and forget about it, the battery used when it is "off" (which is really stand-by) is pretty negligeable.

TVBanks98 · 01-06-05, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by brobinson

I sounds like you are only shutting off the backlight and not the entire screen. You should get a few days of standby without the screen on.

Apparently so. Re-ran a test and made sure to close all apps in task switcher adn then powered off unit. 12 hours later battery was still at 95%.

One down three to go ....

THANKS EVERYONE !!!!!

benyeap · 01-07-05, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by TVBanks98

I have a brand new x50v and I cannot seem to get it to shut OFF. According to the user manual you are supposed to press and release the power button to shut the unit off and press and hold the power button to put it in "hibernation" mode. No matter what I do it always seems to be in hibernation and not completely powered off. The screen goes completely dark, but pressing the power button brings it back up INSTANTLY. No blue Dell "boot screen", just right back where I was when I tried to shut it off. Even removing the primary battery does not work as the PPC runs off the secondary/backup battery during battery changes.

Is this a "feature" or a problem? It seems to be draining the battery very quickly (at the same rate as when the unit is turned ON) even when I believe it to be turned completely off.

I searched the forums and did not see where anyone else is having a similar problem.

Any thoughts??

All PPCs cannnot be completely shut down coz applications on RAM uses power.