Laptop Battery Life

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Evening,

Just a quick question really on battery life on laptops. Mine is a little temperamental, however if I am lucky, with wireless, bluetooth etc turned off I can just about get 45 minutes out of my battery.

I was testing my abililty to submit pics from pitchside at a football match yesterday and think I must have got about 30 minutes out of it.

I am pretty sure that this isn't normal, however am interested to see what people do actually get out of their batteries.

The laptop is a Dell 510m and I normally only use PS Elements and Photomechanic. I wonder if there are any other programmes running in the background? If so, any technically minded people know how I might go about finding out and fixing it?

Oh - just re-read it....wasn't a quick question! Sorry - hope you can forgive me!!

Happy New Year!

Paul

[cdifoto]

Your battery might be shot. 45 minutes is sad. I get anywhere between 3 and 6 hours on my Latitude D820 depending how I have things configured. 3 hours means everything is crankin' full tilt.

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Your battery might be shot. 45 minutes is sad. I get anywhere between 3 and 6 hours on my Latitude D820 depending how I have things configured. 3 hours means everything is crankin' full tilt.

45 minutes is depressing, sad would be an improvement :D

Then again, its made my workflow ultra efficient and quick!!

Thanks for letting me know, might see if I can source a new battery and go from there.

[rhys]

My Compaq gave me 3 hours battery life then the battery life declined to 45 minutes over about 8 months. Then I phoned Compaq and they exchanged the battery for me as it was faulty. My niece-in-law has the same problem with a Compaq and her battery doesn't work at all. I don't know how long my replacement will last but I'm keeping an eye on it.

[Zilly]

if you plug the laptop into the mains wonce the battery is rechardged the pc will still send the power threw the battery this damages the battery the best thing to do is once it is recharged remove the battery

try refresing your battery. try googling "how to refresh a laptop battery"

this might work

[Eagle]

I get at least four hours out of my Gateway MX3228. Go in to mscinfig and turn off all the **** that starts on boot up. Most anyhow, some you have to keep running.

[Eagle]

You can buy an extended life battery also.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I get about 4-5 hours from my E1505. Any less than 3 hours and something's wrong. Even with bluetooth and wifi on, brightness all the way up, a DVD running, and photoshop in the background, I still get about 2.5 hours.

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Thank you to everyone for the answers you've posted - have ordered a new battery and also heeded some good advice that I found on another forum.

I'll post the link as its got some quite good info on there:

http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about52490.html

Thanks again - I promise to use my battery responsibly in the future!!:D :D

[rhys]

My Wife's Dell is left plugged in continually. Her battery life does not seem to have suffered.

[DarrenL]

This reminds me that I need a new battery for my D610 as well. I'm lucky to get 45 minutes as well.

I however get an Dell XPS laptop from work very soon :D

Darren

[August 15 Photography]

Depending on what I am running at one time I get about 3-5 hours on my MacBook Pro

[Jaime]

I have a Dell 620 and I also get between 4 and 6 hrs.

[Tall_Paul_2000]

This reminds me that I need a new battery for my D610 as well. I'm lucky to get 45 minutes as well.

I however get an Dell XPS laptop from work very soon :D

Darren

Darren,

Is that the 12" XPS? Was having a look at those the other day - would be interested to hear your thoughts on it though.

[DarrenL]

Not sure yet Paul. It's more likely the 17" as I need it for other things at work. I'm keeping my D610 though (it's only 18 months old) for photowork in the field. All I need is a nice big Canon sticker for it now :D

Darren

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Not sure yet Paul. It's more likely the 17" as I need it for other things at work. I'm keeping my D610 though (it's only 18 months old) for photowork in the field. All I need is a nice big Canon sticker for it now :D

Darren

Lucky sod!!

And am with you on the Canon stickers - quite keen to get one of those for the lens hood of my 300mm, might protect it from the odd knocks

Am going to give the hard drive a spring clean and try the new battery option before I start looking at laptops.

I regularly defragment the hard-drive etc, however someone mentioned the msconfig - who/where/what/when?! :confused:

Any other cunning plans for optimising running speed? (apart from not running things on it, which is what some wise chap suggested who I work with!)

[acura nsx pilot]

Has anyone seen that samsung has just come out with a fuel cell for there laptop with a one month rating.

[DarrenL]

Paul,

Msconfig is good for somethings, but unless you know what you are doing it's best avoided. The same can be done in the registry but once again, I'd avoid it unless you know what you are doing.

The easist and biggest gain is a regular rebuild. I try and rebuild my laptop at least once a year (usually twice), it's amazing how slow they get constantly installing, uninstalling software. A defrag is only good to put files in the right place. When you uninstall software, it rarely gets fully removed.

If you build your laptop as usual, get everything installed, licenced and working, you can then create an image with something like Symantec's Ghost software, and place it on a DVD. Next time towant to rebuild, just boot off the DVD and go get a cuppa.

Darren

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Paul,

Msconfig is good for somethings, but unless you know what you are doing it's best avoided. The same can be done in the registry but once again, I'd avoid it unless you know what you are doing.

The easist and biggest gain is a regular rebuild. I try and rebuild my laptop at least once a year (usually twice), it's amazing how slow they get constantly installing, uninstalling software. A defrag is only good to put files in the right place. When you uninstall software, it rarely gets fully removed.

If you build your laptop as usual, get everything installed, licenced and working, you can then create an image with something like Symantec's Ghost software, and place it on a DVD. Next time towant to rebuild, just boot off the DVD and go get a cuppa.

Darren

When you say regular rebuild, do you mean pretty much uninstall everything, format and then start again? I have a fairly good knowledge of PCs etc, as long as it doesn't involve too much tinkering!!

Feel free to PM me if you want to take this offline....then again, a "how to" might benefit other people too.

What do people think?

[DarrenL]

Paul, a rebuild does mean EVERYTHING on your laptop inc. all software (Canon Drivers, printers, office, PM, Photoshop, elements, backup all your favourites, any e-mail data Outlook pst files, Outlook Express DBX, thunderbird, the list goes on).

For some it might be over kill, but I've got so quick at a rebuild I can automate most of it now and for me it makes a big difference. However, I am sure I can to get everything exactly the way it is now even after a rebuild.

Darren

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Eek!

Actually, that might not be too bad, a while back the hard drive died on the laptop and I had to rebuild from scratch, so at least that part I know and understand!!

Its the "unbuilding" bit that I need to be careful with. I assume much of the backing up can be done on an external hard drive? And do you need to go as far back as reformatting the hard disc and then reinstalling windows? (or that a step too far?!)

[rhys]

When you uninstall software, it rarely gets fully removed.

This is something I detest. It's entirely down to sloppy programming and the desire to hide registration keys in strange places. There's a place to store registration keys and that's in the passwords section of the registry. OK it's a sod to get into and the ROT-13 encryption isn't the best but it'll keep most script kiddies out.

When I write software, normally I cut and paste code instead of using .DLLs and my software is one item - not .DLLs registered and put in various locations. I also rarely use the registry as I know the installation packages rarely remove registry junk. Instead I prefer to use local text files for program data storage.

My mother-in-law's computer was running like a dog yesterday. No wonder - I found several "uninstalled" war games and several yet-to-be uninstalled war games on her system - all installed by my 8 y/o stepson (who's been told many times not to download junk from the internet and why he shouldn't). In fact, he's trashed her system several times doing that.

I recall at one point finding that 40GB of a 70GB hard drive was full of downloaded junk he'd put on the system. That was pretty good going for an 8-y/o!

As I stated elsewhere, I would have loved to have used Linux on the family desktop. The problem is that the PC I want to use as the family PC only has 128mb and a 1.5Ghz CPU. It will replace the existing 400Mhz 64mb Windows 98 PC. In the end the versions of Linux I tried either ran like dogs or required logins. If I'm going to have to login then I'd rather set up XP with a user account and an administrator account, password the admin account and leave the user account unpassworded but with restrictions such as - no software installation.

[DarrenL]

Paul, almost all of the contents of your primary drive (assume C:\) can be copied off your current PC and then copied back over again. Actual software will need to be re-installed however. Things like PM, photoshop, Office etc. but they are very simple. It's the settings of the programs that take time to restore.

It's all the silly things, like enabling ClearType fonts, disabling all the unneeded 'features' in XP, copying your favourites back, getting actions in Photoshop restored, restoring your e-mail accounts, and files, FTP client settings etc.

It's not something to embark on if you have a project coming up. The last thing you want is to find that you forgot to install something and you need it ASAP.
Wait until the footie season is over.

Darren

[DarrenL]

This is something I detest. It's entirely down to sloppy programming and the desire to hide registration keys in strange places. There's a place to store registration keys and that's in the passwords section of the registry. OK it's a sod to get into and the ROT-13 encryption isn't the best but it'll keep most script kiddies out.

When I write software, normally I cut and paste code instead of using .DLLs and my software is one item - not .DLLs registered and put in various locations. I also rarely use the registry as I know the installation packages rarely remove registry junk. Instead I prefer to use local text files for program data storage.

My mother-in-law's computer was running like a dog yesterday. No wonder - I found several "uninstalled" war games and several yet-to-be uninstalled war games on her system - all installed by my 8 y/o stepson (who's been told many times not to download junk from the internet and why he shouldn't). In fact, he's trashed her system several times doing that.

I recall at one point finding that 40GB of a 70GB hard drive was full of downloaded junk he'd put on the system. That was pretty good going for an 8-y/o!

As I stated elsewhere, I would have loved to have used Linux on the family desktop. The problem is that the PC I want to use as the family PC only has 128mb and a 1.5Ghz CPU. It will replace the existing 400Mhz 64mb Windows 98 PC. In the end the versions of Linux I tried either ran like dogs or required logins. If I'm going to have to login then I'd rather set up XP with a user account and an administrator account, password the admin account and leave the user account unpassworded but with restrictions such as - no software installation.

I know what you mean and agree. It's sloppy programming.

Da
rren

[grego]

My Compaq gave me 3 hours battery life then the battery life declined to 45 minutes over about 8 months. Then I phoned Compaq and they exchanged the battery for me as it was faulty. My niece-in-law has the same problem with a Compaq and her battery doesn't work at all. I don't know how long my replacement will last but I'm keeping an eye on it.

Your computer was still not under warranty, was it? Yeah, I think i have the same problem as you. My laptop can barely make it through one 1 hour, 15 minute lecture.

[rhys]

Your computer was still not under warranty, was it? Yeah, I think i have the same problem as you. My laptop can barely make it through one 1 hour, 15 minute lecture.



It's a 1-year warranty. :)

[tsaraleksi]

hey, don't feel bad guys, my MacBook Pro right now has a battery life of 5 seconds. Unplug it accidently, then fumble pathetically as your work dissapears. It's possible that the new battery I'm getting under warrenty is waiting for me at my University's tech support desk, but the chances are slim (seeing as I first went in about it in November. )

[August 15 Photography]

Is there an actual Apple store in your area? I had a bad battery for my MBP as well and it took 5 min to get it replaced.

[grego]

It's a 1-year warranty. :)

Argh, crap, a year has just passed for me. But it only recently has regressed horribly.

[rhys]

Argh, crap, a year has just passed for me. But it only recently has regressed horribly.

Try an independent battery. They cost a ton less and you can get a bigger capacity batter for less than Compaq charges.

[grego]

Try an independent battery. They cost a ton less and you can get a bigger capacity batter for less than Compaq charges.

Yeah, i was thinking of upgrading to the 12 volt version because its supposed to be better. Sadly the battery has always sucked, but just got even suckier as time went by.

Any sites you'd recommend for finding these batteries?

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Paul, almost all of the contents of your primary drive (assume C:\) can be copied off your current PC and then copied back over again. Actual software will need to be re-installed however. Things like PM, photoshop, Office etc. but they are very simple. It's the settings of the programs that take time to restore.

It's all the silly things, like enabling ClearType fonts, disabling all the unneeded 'features' in XP, copying your favourites back, getting actions in Photoshop restored, restoring your e-mail accounts, and files, FTP client settings etc.

It's not something to embark on if you have a project coming up. The last thing you want is to find that you forgot to install something and you need it ASAP.
Wait until the footie season is over.

Darren

Thanks for this Darren - I will put my thinking cap on and start trying to list all the preferences that I have and go from there!

Half tempted to just put Office, PM, PS, NN, DPP on there and leave everything else off!!

[rhys]

Yeah, i was thinking of upgrading to the 12 volt version because its supposed to be better. Sadly the battery has always sucked, but just got even suckier as time went by.

Any sites you'd recommend for finding these batteries?

I think you mean a 12-cell version. I'm pretty sure a 12-volt version would blow the circuits in your laptop - lol.

I can't recommend any website in particular. I've never bought a laptop battery. If mine goes then I'll have to hunt for one, myself. I don't envisage doing that though before I get a MacBook.

[atch]

someone mentioned the msconfig - who/where/what/when?! :confused:


I use msconfig to remove programs that starts up automatically when the computer powers up. Click start>run>type in msconfig and hit ok>startup tab. Just uncheck lines that you don't want to startup when xp boots up (like stuff on your system tray), just google the file that's being run if you don't know what it does. You'll be surprised how much unneeded stuff is placed in there. The benefit from this is you'll boot up faster and will have more free memory.

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Thank you for that advice - had a good trawl through the msconfig menus for start up and managed to considerably cut down the files that slow down the computer. Its working a lot better already, much much quicker at start up and when opening programs too.

This site: www.bleepingcomputer.com (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com) was fabulous for checking the .exe files that were in the menu and working out whether or not I could disenable them from running on startup. Very useful database indeed.

Haven't tried any highly memory intensive processes yet, however am assuming that they should work a little more quickly too!

Thanks again for the advice - now off to order the new battery to go with the "new" laptop!!!

[wallisj]

My laptop is only a couple of years old but the battery was getting to the point where it would last around 45 mins ...

A colleague of mine lasted just long enough to start Windows before battery would die ....

Just replaced the battery on mine and get around 2 hours now, more if i slow the CPU down (Pentium M)

[layclerk]

I have a 9 month old Dell Lappy and noticed that its battery life has declined since new, so put a complaint in to Dell Tech. and they have sent me a new one! And left me with the old one.

L;)

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Think that I might have used up my goodwill with Dell..........last April they very kindly replaced my screen foc even though it was 3 months out of warranty!

Compared to that I don't mind spending £50 on a battery!!

[DarrenL]

Dell only give you 1 year warranty on a battery, although you may have 3 years warranty on the laptop it's self.

Darren