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How to Save Laptop Battery Life

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By Lyndsae Raleigh
User-Submitted Article
(2 Ratings)
Save Laptop Battery Life
Save Laptop Battery Life
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To save laptop battery life and get the most use out of your battery, follow these simple steps.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Turn it off! The first step is also the most simple: Turn your laptop off when you're not using it. Use hibernate or standby when you'll be leaving the laptop turned on for a period of time.

  2. Step 2

    Be stingy with the power. Set the power options to maximum by going to the control panel, clicking "power options" and choosing "max battery". Also try to and dim the screen to the lowest tolerable level.

  3. Step 3

    Don't charge everything. Though they seem small, portable devices like MP3 players can quickly drain battery power. Avoid using your laptop battery to charge these.

  4. Step 4

    Use it up and recharge it. Use it until you get the "low battery" warning, then charge it fully. Also, don't leave a charged battery dormant for long periods of time. The battery should be used at least every 2 weeks.

  5. Step 5

    Choose your activities. Programs like word processing and email use far less power than playing DVDs or CDs and gaming. Avoid running non-essential programs while on battery power.

  6. Step 6

    Resist the urge to multi-task. The more programs you have up and running, the more power the laptop will use. Close all the programs you're not currently using.

  7. Step 7

    Avoid extreme temperatures. Laptop batteries are designed to function properly within a few degrees of room temperature. Avoid using or charging your laptop in hot or cold conditions. Likewise, try to keep the internal temperature down by keeping the fan free and clear for proper ventilation.

  8. Step 8

    Add more RAM. Your hard drive will contribute to draining your battery. If you have insufficient RAM, the machine will be constantly writing information to the hard drive. Add more RAM to minimize hard drive access and power usage.

Comments  

the-owlet said

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on 10/1/2009 if your battery is quickly discharged, it is only a temporary solutions. in reality laptop battery should be replaced every two years.
:-)

p.s.
i sell laptop batteries over the two years, and know what i am talking about.

how2lady said

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on 8/16/2009 I really need this advice, my laptop battery needs help. Thanks for sharing 5*

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on 8/3/2009 Great advice! I currently use a laptop and will definitely keep these tips in mind. After all, laptop batteries are expensive.

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