Calibrating Your Notebook / Laptop Battery

You should calibrate your notebook or laptop PC battery at least once every 3 months under normal use. Short discharges and recharges do not fully synchronize the battery’s fuel gauge with the battery’s state-of-charge. This can result in the amount of power available in one cycle being less than expected or the battery meter being inaccurate. It is normal for the battery to hold less power over time but these simple instructions will help you get back some of this loss.

1. Disable the Windows Power Management
   1. In Windows, right-click the Desktop and select Properties in the menu list.
   2. Click the Screen Saver tab and then click the Power button.
   3. Under Power schemes, select Always On in the drop down menu.
   4. Under Settings for Always On power scheme, select Never in each of the drop down menus.
   5. Click OK on the Power Options Properties window and then click OK on the Display Properties window.
2. Fully charge the battery
   1. Connect the AC adapter to the notebook.
   2. Charge the battery until the Windows battery meter is at 100%.
3. Fully discharge the battery
   1. Remove the AC adapter.
   2. Keep the notebook on until the battery has completely drained and the notebook automatically turns off.
   3. Connect the AC adapter to the notebook.
      Note: in some cases you may have to take the battery out and put it back in the notebook / laptop before it will charge again.
   4. Keep the AC adapter connected to the notebook until the battery has completely charged.
4. Enable the Windows Power Management
   1. In Windows, right-click the Desktop and select Properties in the menu list.
   2. Click the Screen Saver tab and then click the Power button.
   3. Under Power schemes, select Portable/Laptop in the drop down menu.
   4. Click OK on the Power Options Properties window and then click OK on the Display Properties window.

Other tips for conserving battery power on notebook and laptop PCs:

1. Reduce the brightness of the screen
2. Remove peripherals when not in use. External hard drives, CD-ROMs, Zip drives, PC cards, and other peripheral devices can draw power from your battery even when they are not in active use. Disconnect them when you have finished using them.
3. Reduce the speed of your processor. The faster your computer works, the more quickly it uses up the supply of power. By cutting down on processor speed, you can extend the charge of your battery. Methods to reduce processor speed vary from model to model, and your manual should provide instructions for doing so.
4. Turn off the Wireless On-Off button when it is not in use. If your notebook has one, press the Wireless On-Off button so that the light turns off.