Hi Extreme930,
Battery Maintenance pertains to how you maintain your battery. The following are basic rules that I follow to prolong the life of my battery.
How to maintain your batteryCharge your laptop's battery to its full capacity before first using it, unless it has already been fully charged by the manufacturer.
Unplug your laptop, and run it on battery power to discharge the battery once a week or every other week.
Run the battery down to almost 0 percent. This will help extend the battery life, believe it or not.
Pay attention to power loss. If you find that your battery power drops suddenly from a high percentage to a low percentage, get a new battery. It has lost its ability to hold a charge.
Wrap your battery in a towel and store it in a cool, yet dry, dark place when you use your AC Adapter. Fully charge it before storing it.
Tips & WarningsA heavily used battery will probably require replacement in about 18 months. Be prepared to buy a new one if you rely heavily on your battery.
Keep a spare battery on hand if you rely on battery power a great deal. Might save you from losing your work!
Batteries that don't charge to 100 percent are probably starting to have issues with recharging. It will probably need to be replaced soon.
If your computer manufacturer issues a recall for your battery, do not hesitate to send it back for a replacement. You don't want your laptop melting down on you, and that's meant in the literal sense. People can and have had their laptops melt or explode because of defective batteries.
Use your laptop on a raised surface, such as a book to prop it up, or a portable desk made especially to keep your laptop cool. Batteries can get very hot, and if your laptop cannot vent properly, it can cause problems with the processor.
Also, here's a link for
Power Management in XP Laptops. Please, read it thoroughly.
Edited by DonnaB, 02 June 2010 - 09:15 PM.