Need Help: Laptop Battery Not Holding A Charge???

[Dan]

I'm working on someone's Compaq Presario 1622 laptop (P-200w/MMX, 80MB RAM, 2.1GB HDD). I've managed to resolve all of problems he had except for one. The indicators on the laptop and the battery itself show a 100% charge for the battery. However, when you "pull the plug" it runs on battery power for less than a minute before crapping out.

Does the battery need to be replaced? Or should I be looking for another culprit?

 

[Derango]

Yea, from the specs of that laptop, the battery seems rather old. Its useful life has probably run out. Time for a replacment.

Thats generaly what a battery does when it goes south.

 

[TheCub]

I have worked with cellular phone batteries for some time now. Sounds to me like you just need a new one. I imagine that laptop has a lithium Ion cell and the life is about 1-2 years on those if they are taken care of well.

 

[Gunbuster]

Compaq also has a firmware flash update for the battery voltage/charger board

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the fast replies! I'll tell him he needs a new battery. (Along with a recommendation that he get a new laptop.)

 

[MWink]

<< the life is about 1-2 years on those if they are taken care of well. >>



I don't believe that at all. Rechargeables can easily last far more than 1-2 years. I have some 10+ year old NICD's that still hold their full rated capacity. I have a pile of old laptop batteries that will power the 386 laptop about 2 hours. I also have a 6 year old Dell Latitude XPi P133 which has a Li-Ion battery which still lasts about 2 hours.

They only type of batteries I have seen fail at a young age are NIMH. I have a feeling that Compaq laptop probably has a NIMH battery.

 

[DKNYSprt95]

Batteries die out after 1-2 years depend on use. There ARE alternatives to spending $200 on a new battery, such as sending it to a laptop battery manufacturer. What they do is crack it open and replace the cells. Most laptop battery cells are sub c, industrial type so it's just a matter of desoldering, finding out polarity, and replacing the battery.... If you want, you can service your own laptop battery

Peter

 

[Derango]

<<

<< the life is about 1-2 years on those if they are taken care of well. >>



I don't believe that at all. >>



I don't know what world you're living in, but a laptop battery under heavy use is only going to last 1-2 years. Thats how long ever battery I've ever encoutered has lasted. I could see it lasting longer if you didn't actualy use it a lot....but then whats the point of having a battery?