Windows 7 and laptop batteries

[MrMaxwell]

Well, windows 7 can't manage laptop batteries properly, I guess. On this one it started shutting the computer off after about 30 minutes. After I found out how to make it "do nothing" for critical battery action, it runs for another hour or more of heavy use after it gets to 0%

Then after discharging the battery completely, booting up with the battery out, and then putting the battery in and letting it charge ... everything seemed to get even better

The only thing I found that can fix the eeprom in the battery is completely confusing and I think it requires me to remove a chip from the battery? BE2WORKS or whatever it is

Here is a good question though- if I want to put a new battery in and actually have an accurate battery life meter going for me, what do I have to do? Is there an alternative to the built ACPI control thing?

[facialfreak]

You are complicating something very simple ... and Windows 7 actually manages batteries just fine. I would suspect the battery itself before the OS .... but that's just me!

I own/operate a brick and mortar computer store, and I never run into these issues you are speaking of, and I probably see 50+ windows 7 laptops a month.

If you want a really decent battery management tool for Windows that is FREE (as in beer), then go to:

http://batterybarpro.com/ (free basic version at bottom middle)

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by facialfreak

You are complicating something very simple ... and Windows 7 actually manages batteries just fine. I would suspect the battery itself before the OS .... but that's just me!

I own/operate a brick and mortar computer store, and I never run into these issues you are speaking of, and I probably see 50+ windows 7 laptops a month.

If you want a really decent battery management tool for Windows that is FREE (as in beer), then go to:

http://batterybarpro.com/ (free basic version at bottom middle)

I find that extremely hard to believe. I fix computers for people and several have brought this issue to me and I don't even do it that much. But I'm not saying you are lying, either. Everything I have read everywhere talks about Windows 7 and laptop battery issues- to be fair I think Windows DOES end up being blamed far too often. I think most people wreck their batteries by having them fully charged too often and for too long and/or storing them fully charged and/or dead.

I like battery bar but I am pretty sure it uses the windows acpi
It's like a skin type of thing, isn't it?

[AndrewX]

You should install an OS with the power plugged in and with the battery at 100%. I don't have this issue but I never charge the batteries over 80%. There's a lot of software for it.

[HomerSimpson]

My battery on dell died after 7 months (warranty was 6 months so exactly 1 month after it's warranty on battery expired)...

I've ordered a cheap replacement one for $35 from DX (with bigger capacity) and it simply rocks now... My battery life is better than with original battery and it works perfectly for over a year now...

In most cases it's not the problem with OS than with battery manufacturer making it to simply stop functioning after some period of time (planned obsolescence)

[Rochard]

I get like two hours of battery time on my huge Alienware M18x.