10 ways to save lap battery life

Laptops tend to lose their charm quickly when you’re constantly looking for the nearest power outlet to charge

up.  How do you keep your battery going for as long as possible?  Here are 15 easy ways to do so.

1. Defrag regularly -  The faster your hard drive does its work – less demand you are going to put on the hard

drive and your battery.  Make your hard drive as efficient as possible bydefragging it regularly. (but not while it’s

on battery of course!) Mac OSX is better built to handle fragmentation so it may not be very applicable for Apple

systems.

2. Dim your screen – Most laptops come with the ability to dim your laptop screen.  Some even come with ways

to modify CPU and cooling performance.  Cut them down to the lowest level you can tolerate to squeeze out

some extra battery juice.

3. Cut down on programs running in the background.  Itunes, Desktop Search, etc.  All these add to the CPU

load and cut down battery life.  Shut down everything that isn’t crucial when you’re on battery.

4. Cut down external devices – USB devices (including your mouse) & WiFi drain down your laptop battery. 

Remove or shut them down when not in use.  It goes without saying that charging other devices (like your iPod)

with your laptop when on battery is a surefire way of quickly wiping out the charge on your laptop battery.

5. Add more RAM - This will allow you to process more with the memory your laptop has, rather than relying on

virtual memory.  Virtual memory results in hard drive use, and is much less power efficient. Note that adding

more RAM will consume more energy, so this is most applicable if you do need to run memory intensive

programs which actually require heavy usage of virtual memory.

6. Run off a hard drive rather than CD/DVD - As power consuming as hard drives are, CD and DVD drives are

worse.  Even having one in the drive can be power consuming.  They spin, taking power, even when they?re not

actively being used.  Wherever possible, try to run on virtual drives using programs like Alcohol 120% rather than

optical ones.

7.  Keep the battery contacts clean:  Clean your battery’s metal contacts every couple of months with a cloth

moistened with rubbing alcohol.  This keeps the transfer of power from your battery more efficient.

8. Take care of your battery – Exercise the Battery.  Do not leave a charged battery dormant for long periods of

time.  Once charged, you should at least use the battery at least once every two to three weeks. Also, do not let a

Li-On battery completely discharge. (Discharing is only for older batteries with memory effects)

9. Hibernate not standby – Although placing a laptop in standby mode saves some power and you can instantly

resume where you left off, it doesn’t save anywhere as much power as the hibernate function does.  Hibernating

a PC will actually save your PC’s state as it is, and completely shut itself down.

10. Keep operating temperature down - Your laptop operates more efficiently when it’s cooler.  Clean out your

air vents with a cloth or keyboard cleaner, or refer to some extra tips by LapTopMag.com.

11. Set up and optimize your power options – Go to ‘Power Options’ in your windows control panel and set it

up so that power usage is optimized (Select the ‘max battery’ for maximum effect).

12. Don’t multitask – Do one thing at a time when you’re on battery.  Rather than working on a spreadsheet,

letting your email client run in the background and listening to your latest set of MP3′s, set your mind to one thing

only.  If you don’t you’ll only drain out your batteries before anything gets completed!

13. Go easy on the PC demands – The more you demand from your PC.  Passive activities like email and word

processing consume much less power than gaming or playing a DVD.  If you’ve got a single battery charge – pick

your priorities wisely.

14. Get yourself a more efficient laptop -  Laptops are getting more and more efficient in nature to the point

where some manufacturers are talking about all day long batteries.  Picking up a newer more efficient laptop to

replace an aging one is usually a quick fix.

15. Prevent the Memory Effect - If you’re using a very old laptop, you’ll want to prevent the ‘memory effect’ –

Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks.

Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries (which most laptops have) which do not suffer from the memory effect.

Bonus Tip #1: Turn off the autosave function.  MS-Word’s and Excel’s autosave functions are great but

because they keep saving regular intervals, they work your hard driver harder than it may have to. If you plan to

do this, you may want to turn it back on as the battery runs low. While it saves battery life in the beginning, you

will want to make sure your work is saved when your battery dies.

Bonus Tip #2: Lower the graphics use. You can do this by changing the screen resolution and shutting off fancy

graphic drivers. Graphics cards (video cards) use as much or more power today as hard disks – Thanks Andrew

_______________________________________________________1. Turn off Wi-Fi and BlueTooth - Most laptops have shortcut keys to instantly disable wireless networking.

2. Don't play computer games, music or DVD movies - Multimedia activities drain laptop batteries.

3. Disconnect all external device like PC Card modems, Firewire, USB devices and optical drives. Use the notebook touchpad instead of an external mouse.

4. Adjust your screen brightness - Dimming your display saves battery power. 

5. Tweak Windows Power Options - Choose a Laptop power scheme that turns off the notebook monitor and hard disk after 10 minutes of inactivity.

6. Decrease or mute the Laptop Speaker Volume.

7. Turn off all scheduled tasks.

8. Turn off Auto-save features in Microsoft Office and other applications.

9. If your PC has a built-in wireless card, turn it off or disable it when not in use.

10. Programs that are run from a CD or DVD can be copied to and run from the hard drive, which typically consumes less power than an optical drive.

Looking for the longest battery life laptop ? Actually, many factors affect the amount of time that a laptop battery can deliver power before it must be recharged

________________________________________________________How to optimize battery power on your laptop

Have you ever run out of battery power on your laptop, notebook, or netbook during

a meeting or a class? Sufficient battery life is a persistent challenge for mobile PC

users. You can take simple maintenance steps to extend the life of your laptop

battery. The Windows operating system also offers several ways to help maximize

the battery life of your mobile computer.

In this article, I'll introduce some tips that you can use to recharge a battery and extend laptop battery life, and

I’ll discuss how to take advantage of Windows settings to manage power more efficiently.

Treat your battery right

For on-the-go computing, your battery is your best friend. Knowing how it likes to be treated is the first step to

keeping both of you happy.

Keep battery contacts clean. Battery contacts can get dirty or corroded over time, reducing the effective

delivery of power. With your mobile PC turned off and unplugged from its external power source, remove the

battery. Use a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol to wipe the metal contacts on the battery and

inside the device. Allow them to dry completely before reinstalling the battery and reconnecting to a power

source. Repeat this procedure every two to three months.

Charge your battery correctly. When you're on the road, be sure to carry a power cord and plug your

computer in whenever you have the chance. Unlike the older-generation rechargeable batteries like nickel-

based (NiMH) batteries (see next paragraph), modern lithium ion batteries can be partially discharged and

recharged repeatedly with no harmful effects, but you should avoid fully discharging lithium ion batteries.

Consult your owner’s manual for more specific tips on charging, and never use an AC adapter (power cord) or

battery charger not approved by your device’s manufacturer.

Completely drain nickel-based batteries periodically. If you're using an older laptop (at least three

years old) with a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, be sure to completely drain it and recharge it (every

one to three months—consult your owner’s manual) to ensure that it will hold a full charge. (Most newer

mobile PCs use lithium ion batteries, which don't need to be drained to maximize their capacity.) To drain a

NiMH battery, simply turn on your computer, unplug it from its external power source, and let the computer

run. To speed things up, you could start several applications, turn the screen brightness to its highest level,

and ignore all of the great power-saving strategies below. After the power is completely drained, recharge

the battery fully. This may take up to 12 hours.

Cool it. Your mobile computer generates heat, and higher operating temperatures reduce your device’s

efficiency, which in turn demands more battery power and can shorten battery life. Make sure that your

computer can “breathe”: Don’t let clothing, lint, or other obstructions block the cooling vents. See How to

clean your computer for more tips on keeping your computer spotless and running smoothly.

Carry a spare. Buying an extra battery is a good investment for your peace of mind. Battery prices vary

widely. You can significantly increase the power available to you if you're willing to splurge a little. Contact

the manufacturer of your mobile PC to find a replacement battery, or search here.

Store it properly. If you don’t expect to use your mobile computer for a week or more, it’s a good idea to

store the battery, discharged to about 40 percent of full capacity, in a cool place. Click the battery status

icon in the notification area of the Windows taskbar to check the current charge. Avoid storing a fully

discharged—or fully charged—lithium ion battery for extended periods, as this can diminish battery life.

Optimize your power settings

The display and hard disk on your mobile PC are the two biggest consumers of battery power. By choosing a

power plan (called a power scheme in Windows XP) you can extend your battery life by automatically lowering

screen brightness and reducing other power-hungry functions. A power plan is a collection of hardware and

system settings that control how your mobile PC manages power.

Windows 7

Windows Vista

Windows XP

You can also create a custom power scheme to suit your specific needs. You can create as many custom power

schemes as you want.

Take advantage of low-power states

The different versions of Windows provide the following battery-saving states:

Windows 7. Sleep and hibernation (which is like deep sleep)

Windows Vista. Sleep and hybrid sleep (which is a combination of sleep and hibernation)

Windows XP. Standby (which is like sleep) and hibernation (which is like deep sleep)

Sleep (Standby)

In a sleep state (standby), your display and hard disk turn off, and all open programs and files are saved in

random access memory (RAM)—your computer's temporary memory—rather than to the hard disk. Information

stored in RAM is cleared when the computer turns off, so it's a good idea to save your work before placing your

system in sleep or standby mode. Otherwise you may lose data if you lose power or swap batteries or if your

system crashes.

Sleep (standby) is particularly useful when you're using your mobile PC intermittently during the day. For

example, when driving between clients' offices, put your computer to sleep or on standby to maximize the life

of your battery and to maintain quick access to open programs, files, and documents. When you want to use

your computer again, it wakes up quickly, and your desktop is restored exactly as you left it.

Windows 7

Windows Vista

Windows XP

Hibernation

In hibernation, your computer saves everything to your hard disk and then shuts down. When you restart the

computer, your desktop is restored exactly as you left it. Hibernation uses less power than the sleep state

(standby), but it takes a bit longer to resume.

Windows 7

Windows Vista

Windows XP

Hybrid Sleep

Hybrid sleep is a power-saving feature designed primarily for desktop computers. Hybrid sleep saves any open

documents and programs to random access memory and to your hard disk and then puts your computer into a

low-power state.

Find out more about hybrid sleep in Windows 7.

Find out more about hybrid sleep in Windows Vista.

Adjust screen brightness

You can also conserve battery power by reducing the screen brightness. To adjust your screen brightness, refer

to the instructions from your mobile PC manufacturer. Every computer is slightly different, but you can usually

use a combination of keys, a function key, or a software tool to dim the screen.

Even better than dimming the screen is blanking it completely when you're not using your computer. You can

further minimize power consumption by reducing the amount of time the computer is idle before the screen

goes blank. The power schemes and power plans in Windows let you adjust your power settings to turn off the

display after as little as one minute of inactivity. In addition, a number of third-party software developers

offer free applications that enable you to turn the display off and on at will.

Turn off wireless

Another significant drain on your battery power is your wireless card. You should turn off your wireless device

when you're using your mobile PC but are not connected to a wireless network. You can either remove your Wi-

Fi card or press the manual hardware button (or switch) on your computer, if you're using a Centrino-based

mobile PC. Refer to the instructions from your mobile PC manufacturer to learn where the manual hardware

button is. Other computers may require that you turn off the wireless connection using software settings. Again,

consult your instruction manual for details.

Additional power-saving tips

In addition to adjusting power settings to maximize battery life, consider the following tips to minimize power

consumption when you're away from electrical outlets.

Turn off scheduled tasks. If you use scheduled tasks to run programs or scripts, or if you schedule other

tasks to occur automatically at a preset time, specify that these tasks won't be performed when the

computer is running on battery power.

Keep the use of tools in the notification bar to a minimum. Try to minimize your central processing

unit (CPU) usage. Look at the notification area of the taskbar and close any tools (or utilities) that are not

necessary. Often, these tools are installed on the computer when you first receive it. Windows 7 users can

also click the up arrow at the end of the notification area to see tools and utilities that are hidden but

available. The notification bar, shown below, is on the bottom right of your computer desktop.

Limit power-intensive activities. Avoid watching a DVD, listening to a CD, or playing online games on

your mobile PC when you need to conserve battery power.

Add memory. You can minimize the reliance of Windows on virtual memory and reduce power consumption

by adding memory (RAM) to your mobile PC. (Shop for additional memory.)

By adjusting your mobile PC settings to conserve battery power and by implementing these tips, you can

relieve the stress and inconvenience of running out of battery power

________________________________________________________

1. Ship shape with a defragRegular defragmentation helps to arrange data more efficiently thus making the hard drive work less to access the data. The quicker the moving hard drive works lesser is the load placed on the battery. Thus, your batter can last longer. The effect is minimal, but this efficiency goes hand in glove with hard drive maintenance.

2. Kill the resource gobblersEnd the background processes that are not vital. Monitor the resource usage through a“˜Ctrl-Alt-Del’ which brings up the Windows Task Manager (in Windows). If you’re not on the internet, it is safe to shut down the immediate non-essential programs running in the taskbar like the antivirus and the firewall. Weed out unnecessary programs running as start-ups by launching the System Configuration Utility from Run ““ Msconfig ““ Tab: Startup. Uncheck the programs which you don’t want to launch and reboot the computer once.

3. Pause the scheduled tasksIt may be a defrag or a virus scan, but make sure it is scheduled for a time when you are near a power outlet. If not then nix them for the moment.

4. Unplug external devicesUSB devices are the biggest drainers of battery power. Unplug all external devices like an external mouse, PC cards, Wi-Fi, external speakers, Bluetooth and even an attached iPod.

5. Empty the CD/DVD DrivesEven if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge.

6. Go localDesist using the DVD/external drives while running on batteries. Shift the content to the hard drive or run using (free) virtual drives like Pismo File Mount or even Microsoft’s Virtual CD ROM Control Panel.

7. Lower the lightsThe LCD screen of a laptop is another huge power sink. Calibrate the brightness to the lowest level you can tolerate using the Function key toggles or using the Display Settings applet in the Control Panel.

8. Kill the soundsMute the speakers and try avoiding the use of multimedia software to maximize the battery life. Installed sound schemes also drain a battery perceptibly.

9. Rid the screensaverTo maximize battery life by a little, switch off the screensaver.

10. Visit Power OptionsGet familiar with power management through the “˜Power Options’ applet in the Control Panel. Both XP and Vista come with advanced power management features which shut off components like the monitor and/or the hard drive after specified intervals. This again depends on the chosen “˜Power Schemes’ (for XP) in the same applet. For instance in XP, “˜Max Battery’ under Power Schemes can be selected for maximum battery optimization.

Similar settings can be found under “˜Mobile PC’ in the Control Panel of Vista.

11. Turn off the looks

Today’s OS’s like Windows Vista come with features like “˜Aero Glass’ which are resource guzzlers. One can turn it off and go for the “˜Classic’ appearance which consumes less power. In Vista, click on Desktop – Preferences – View Colour – Appearance – Classic Appearance and Windows Basic graphical interface. In XP it’s – Display Properties – Theme – Windows Classic.Linux and even Macintosh are better optimized for longer battery life.

12. Hibernate is better than SleepIn the Stand By mode (or sleep mode), the computer turns of the hard drive and the display but memory remains active while the CPU slows down. This draws on the battery. In contrast, hibernation mode is better because the computer saves the current state and shuts itself down completely thus saving power.

13. Get the most…work on the leastWorking on too many programs while on the battery is a sure fire power drainer. Keep use of graphic intensive applications to a minimum. Working on a spreadsheet consumes much less than playing your favourite game. To increase the life of the battery open just one or two programs concurrently.

14. Ram in more RAMAdequate RAM reduces the load on Virtual memory which by default resides on the hard drive. Though every extra bit of RAM uses up more power, it increases overall savings by short cutting access to the power hungry hard drive.

15. Keep it cleanA laptop with blocked air vents will generate more heat thus reducing the life of the battery. Clean the air vents regularly to keep operating temperatures low. Allow for open space around the vents for air to circulate freely. Keep the area around the laptop clean to avoid entry of dust.

16. Temperature is a silent killerUndue heat kills off a battery slowly but surely. Avoid leaving the laptop under direct sunlight or inside a closed car.

17. Avoid the memory effectA problem more for the older Ni-MH batteries than for Li-Ion batteries on which most modern laptops run. Memory effect relates to the loss of battery charge when they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. It can be prevented by discharging the battery fully and then completely recharging it. Li-Ion batteries on the other hand have no problems with partial discharges and re-charges and complete discharge is never recommended for this type.

18. Update software and driversThis sounds a bit incongruous but then newer drivers and software are often designed to be more efficient (and hopefully less resource hungry).

19. Use the right adapterEnsure that the adapter you use to charge the laptop battery is an original one or one with the correct specifications. A mismatch in the wattage could cause an overload thus damaging the laptop and the battery.

20. Pack it upIf you don’t plan to use the laptop on batteries for quite some time, ensure that the charge is nearly 40 percent – remove the batteries and store it in a cool place.

A typical lithium ion battery has an overall average life of 2-3 years. With some care and caution, its mortality can be delayed.

Have you found your own way to increase battery life of your laptop? Share the “˜life giving’ tips with us in the comments

By: Intel

Ah, the laptop computer — the ultimate platform for digital enjoyment. Laptops enable you to connect, play and work wherever and whenever you want. But if you lose battery power and can't plug in on the go, your laptop is no better than an oversized coaster.

Laptop technologies have really come a long way.With advances in processor architecture and mobile-optimized technologies and software, you can experience a near-desktop experience for playing games, listening to and downloading music, and surfing the Internet — all without being leashed to the nearest outlet.

OK, you've come a long way. Now come just a little further.But even with these built-in, mobile-optimized technologies, you may still have to plug in before you’re ready. To squeeze every last drop of power out of your laptop battery, follow these tips and tricks and you'll stay mobile longer:

1. Charge the battery! Consider keeping it plugged in for 12 hours before you unplug.Tip! Over time, you may find that you have to recharge your battery more often to get the expected level of performance. If that's the case, it's time to replace your battery. Look for lithium ion (Li-Ion) replacement batteries for the greatest longevity. 

2. Switch on the optimized battery or power feature. You'll find this option — sometimes referred to as max battery mode — in your laptop system's built-in power management control panel. You can select the option to reduce the amount of time your inactive laptop stays on before powering itself down and going to sleep. 

Tip! Turning off power-draining facilities like backlights can preserve quite a bit of battery life. 

3. Check to see if your laptop has the optimum amount of RAM. You can do this by right mouse clicking on My Computer. The amount of RAM you have will appear under your System Information. RAM enables your system to run program instructions using the computer's memory instead of its hard disk drive (HDD), where it stores data. Refreshing the RAM requires less power than spinning the hard drive, so having the correct amount of RAM means less drain on your laptop battery. 

Tip! Consider 2 GB or more RAM for the best performance!

4. Remove the battery and clean the metal contacts. Wipe them with alcohol, ideally every two months, to ensure that the power transfer between the laptop and its battery is as efficient as possible. Allow the battery to dry thoroughly before replacing it! 

5. Unplug any laptop accessories you aren't using. Even if they're not in use, accessories drain power from the battery. Tips!

Turn your wireless local area network (WLAN) switch off if you don't need a wireless connection — a button or LED on your laptop usually lights up to indicate wireless activities.

Use your laptop in the best possible lighting conditions. In brighter conditions, you won't need to set your laptop screen to maximize brightness so you can save additional battery life.

6. Defragment the hard drive so your system operates as efficiently as possible. The built-in defragmenting utility included with Windows®*-based operating systems decreases the time your system must spend searching for files by rearranging file fragments, so they are closer together on the hard drive. Less time searching means less spinning for the hard drive and less use of battery power. 

Tip! Defragment your hard drive at least every two months! 

Follow these battery-saving tips and tricks and you'll be well on your way to staying unleashed longer!

ResourcesWant even more battery saving tips? Check out these sites:

View tips for maximizing battery life from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/broadband-mobility/4-tips-to-extend-the-life-of-your-laptop-battery.aspx)

Check advice on optimizing battery performance (http://www.laptop-battery.org/batterytips.html)

10 ways to extend battery life from Lifehack (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/10-ways-to-extend-laptop-battery-life.html)