Anything you can do for Laptop battery maintenance? (monitors, XP, work)

[bjh]

Does letting it run down every once in a while work to help it keep strength longer?

How often do you expect a battery to last?

Do you replace it after a year...2 years...ever?

[scarmig]

Today's batteries do not need to be run out. They work better if they are kept charged often. How long do they last? Depends entirely on use. But I would expect at least a year to two years even with heave use.

You'll know when to replace it because it will stop holding a charge as long.

[bs13690]

What type of laptop do you have? A lot of manufacturers provide a software solution for testing your battery.

[bjh]

Calls itself Compaq but it's actually an HP. Bought April 2008.

[bs13690]

If you have XP you should be able to use the battery checker here: HP Battery Health Center.

The checker does sometime tell you to calibrate it by discharging it completely and then recharging. I am not convinced that it does anything.

[collinsl]

Originally Posted by bs13690

If you have XP you should be able to use the battery checker here: HP Battery Health Center.

The checker does sometime tell you to calibrate it by discharging it completely and then recharging. I am not convinced that it does anything.

I assume the software would monitor the discharge and recharge rates and compare the current maximum voltage/charge level to the specification for the battery, or to previous readings.

Dell have now started building monitors into the actual battery units, that report to the computer, and through a series of LEDs on the battery the current charge and the current battery health.