Notebook battery problem?

[Edifice]

I use my big 17" notebook as a desktop replacement and 99% of the time it is plugged into the AC power and the other day I thought I would use it without the ac power to check my email and when I turned the notebook on, the Windows XP logo would show and then the computer would just suddenly turn off.

I did this again and the same thing happened. I the got the message that Windows XP encountered a problem and I chose to start Windows normally again and then 'poof', it happened again.

Once I plugged it back into the ac power, everything was fine.
As mentioned, I rarely if ever, use the notebook on battery power alone.

Could something be wrong with the battery?

 

[thirdtime]

What's the make and model of notebook?

 

[Anynym]

Could something be wrong with the battery?

If you bring up the battery meter (while it's plugged in, of course - you'll probably have to wander through your Control Panel to find it), does it give you any useful info? There should also be some "battery diagnostics" on there, allowing it (for example) to recalibrate the amount of time it thinks you have left on battery power.

 

[The Bandit]

How old is the notebook, have you ever given it a complete charge? That's the problem with never using the battery, maybe you've killed it by never letting it run on a battery and draining it.

 

[sled1132]

When using your laptop where there is an electrical outlet available, always use the ac adapter for power and remove the battery. Only use the battery when power is not available. If you leave the battery in the laptop it will recharge or go through a cycle.

I find that a laptop battery loses life capacity the more often you recharge the battery. This may lead to less and less time usage from the battery, cause from it getting recharged more often.

They only have a cycle life of anywhere from 150 to 175 charges. The end result is one dead battery (check Ebay for a new laptop battery, prices are OK for OEM battery, never buy used)

 

[Robio]

Edifice, I found this thread interesting because I have a wired note book problem with an IBM ThinkPad. My battery was on the way out but I could use it for 30 min or so. It did shut down all of a sudden with a Click sound when the battery seemed full charged and the AC adaptor was plugged in. I discovered when I used the AC adaptor and took out the battery it no longer did this sudden shut off. I thought it was the battery so I got the battery rebuilt at some place now the battery lasts longer but I get the Click shut off but less often. I just pull the battery out when using the AC adaptor to prevent this for now. Funny thing it does not do this when just using the battery without the AC adaptor, just both at the same time it fails .

 

[WoodPeckr]

Interesting thread.
Does anyone know for certain how to get the maximum life out of a laptop battery?
A cycle life of anywhere from 150 to 175 charges is not very impressive at all. If you mainly use the AC adapter should you pull out the battery after it is fully recharged?
How long will a battery last if properly handled?
I've had VHS camcorder batteries last for several years before dying.
Are laptop batteries as durable?

 

[cypherpunk]

Interesting thread.
Does anyone know for certain how to get the maximum life out of a laptop battery?

This is a bit sciency, but it seems to be spot-on:

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

There are simple guidelines at the bottom.

 

[WoodPeckr]

cypherpunk

Great battery link, very informative.