Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
(OP)
I have a Compaq Presario Model 1650 computer with a battery that I think needs replacement; but it could also be that compter battery meter is in-correct and cauing computer to alarm and shutdown. I have a Lithium battery and a replacement is like $130.
What is the best way to determine if a battery is bad or not? Is there some way to re-condition a bad battery?
I have tried dis-abeling all power saving features and have repeatedly tried to recycle the battery from no charge to full charge. The computer meter I've managed to get up to 100% charge. But if I let it sit for 2 days it drops to 80 or 90% and if I run if on battery it runs out of charge per the meter and alarms. Yet if I try to re-boot, it alarms and the screen will stay bright for up to an hour before the computer really runs out of power. This is why I'm not so sure the battery is really the culprit?
What is the best way to determine if a battery is bad or not? Is there some way to re-condition a bad battery?
I have tried dis-abeling all power saving features and have repeatedly tried to recycle the battery from no charge to full charge. The computer meter I've managed to get up to 100% charge. But if I let it sit for 2 days it drops to 80 or 90% and if I run if on battery it runs out of charge per the meter and alarms. Yet if I try to re-boot, it alarms and the screen will stay bright for up to an hour before the computer really runs out of power. This is why I'm not so sure the battery is really the culprit?
The more you learn, the less you are certain of.





RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
The more you learn, the less you are certain of.
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
The HP laptops have internal fans that provide on-demand cooling. Maybe that's an option if it's a heat problem
TTFN
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
The more you learn, the less you are certain of.
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
On the HP, the battery meter runs through a rather longish routine to calibrate the meter to the battery. If you want a half-way accurate estimate of battery life, you'll need to run the calibration. If the laptop does not have a calibration mode, it might explain the problem with incorrect estimate of battery life.
Even then, it's still somewhat of a crap shoot in any case, since batteries do have individual quirks.
TTFN
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
1. Start your laptop, and immediately drop into the BIOS setup.
Don't make any changes to the BIOS settings !!
2. Insure that the laptop is unplugged from the wall, and let the laptop run until it completely shuts down while in the BIOS mode. This will not harm the laptop, and you will not lose any information or data.
3. After the laptop has shut itself down from a lack of power, plug your laptop adapter back into the wall, leave the laptop OFF, and let it charge for 12 hours. Try and be as close to the 12 hours as you can.
4. Restart the laptop, and check to see if the Windows OS, and Compaq APM have re-sync'd. Then unplg the laptop and see if how long the battery last's.
Just a chance, but this is one of the procedures that we use to re-calibrate the power values between the laptops circuits and te battery circuits.
Again, don't make any changes in the BIOS.
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
Recalibrating the laptop to battery, as per the instructions has no effect. I've tried the bios trick, and just a few minutes ago I tried to break into the battery to disconnect and reset the 'board', but I couldn't get into the thing.
I'm now convinced that it's the battery's onboard circuitry that needs calibrating but it's proving a tough nut to crack. Anybody got a chain saw?
Ian
RE: Verifiying Battery for Portable Notebook Computers
If so I'm going to get that cooling pad (from TigerDirect or another place) for my HP ZT1175. The battery life seems to be shorter than I'd like, of course I don't use powersaving, and I like playing music while I work on it.
A program comes up all the time wanting to calibrate my battery. I've done it once, but it always wants to do it again, so I set it back another 15 days each time.