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Dell Notebook, I seldom use it in Battery mode, usually use it plugged into AC.

For quite some time, even after allowing cooling periods, shutting system off, etc. I quicky get a green followed by 4 orange blink sequence from the battery signal light. Is there some setting to deal with this situation ?  Not sure if there's some way to adjust a setting in Power Management that will override this signal. Directions are pretty ambiguous.  If the battery is overheating, how can I avoid this from happening ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

How old is the battery.    I fried a notebook voltage regulator once.     Now my battery won't work at all.  I think it needs replaced.   They generally last a few years and that's it.    It probably died from lack of use.    That happens too.    They are made to charge and discharge.    If they don't get to do that much, they go south.

Thanks Bigdog,

   I bought the notebook just about 2 years ago, but use it for hours daily (in AC mode), however what you say makes sense.  Rechargeable batteries do go bad whether used (or not) given time. I suppose whether never charged, or always charged (and recharging) like all batteries, they don't last indefinately.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Hp recommends to take the battery out if it is to remain docked all the time. Nicads have memory, and after a while will only hold a surface charge.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

Here is what I know about laptop batteries. Universal knowledge is that no battery lasts forever. They stop holding full charge after a while. There are ways to make them last longer.

Typically, there are three types of batteries used for laptops. First is Ni-Cad battery, which stands for Nickle Cadium. They are older technology and seldom used anymore. One thing about Ni-Cads were they had "memory" problem. That is if you don't drain the battery all the way between uses, they will set it's charge capacity to less than full and you won't get a full charge. One remedy is to "recondition" the battery, which is to let it drain it all the way down to nother and recharge. This often will break the memory problem but again, they won't last forever.

Second type is NiMH battery, I believe it stands for Nickle-Metal-Hydride battery. They are better than Ni-Cads, they don't have memory problem and they are higher density charges. However, they have tendency of losing charge over time whether being used or not. They do recharge quickly so that's one advantage but they are susceptible to overcharge. Over charging will shorten the battery. What you need to do is to keep the NiMH batteries topped up all the time. Once in a while you do need to deep charge, which is drain it completely and recharge fully before using again. Only do this once in a while, not often.

Last type is Lithium Ion batteries. The characteristics of Lithium batteries are similar to NiMH. The differences are they are higher density, thus lasts longer but has shorter overall life than NiMH. They also need to be kept topped most of the time and once in a while need to be deep charged. I hear Lithiums will last 50% - 100% longer than NiMH with same size but that's just what I heard.

As with any battery, typical battery will last about 2-3 years then need to be replaced. Some batteries like NiMH and Lithium Ion can be sent to be factory reconditioned to be like new but not sure about the cost involved. One thing is you should never throw away the battery in garbage, specially Ni-Cads since they contain heavy metal that can contaminate the ground and possibly water supply.

Just quick synopsis of what I know.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Yeah Eben,  I suppose for $100 I can get another battery, yet I don't even use the battery.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I bought my laptop used and it didn't even come with a battery. However, it works great so I don't bother with it. You are probably ok without it if you are using it for a gig. However, if you use it for home use, batteries come in handy, specially when you are traveling.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Then why do you buy the lap top in the first place? A PC with an LCD monitor will do if you are not that mobile. I will send you my spare car battery for your use. Guarantee to last you 1 year.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Yeah Jian,  and by the time it arrives 1/2 way across the world the cells will no longer be good, say around 2008 after it manages somehow to get thru customs..

I need the laptop because sitting on this desktop typing all day and night ocassionally tires me out from the rigorous physical exertion.  So when I need to take a break from the anarobic workout. I lay down in bed, and type in the dark with a portable hospital tray over the bed.....  I need to tone down gradually.  If I just stop cold, my fingers will go into spasms, so it's important that I spend a few hours prior to bed decondiitioning the rugged bulky musculature in my fingers... I have this fear of ending up too buff like Arnold..  and developing an Ischemic cardiac muscle from over exertion.   So I'm learning about moderation.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

To me it's about portability. I don't have to carry extra keyboard and monitor around as well as the mouse. I will eventually move to rackmount computer since it's more configurable. Then I will have to buy rackmounted monitor/keyboard/mouse. They go for around $400 to $2000 that fits in to the rack and slides out when using. Laptop then will become my backup.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

The wife and kids use lap top here but I can never figure out how to use those pad. I still need a mouse.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I just wanted something smaller to use either sitting outside, in the bedroom (which is where I use the notebook), or where-ever.  I got the two systems at extremely good prices.  So I couldn't resist.  Dell wasn't particularly happy doing business with me. So being the sweet guy I am,  I looked at it this way


Dell can bite  __  ___  :hug:

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".