computer on or off

I have a laptop computer that I have been powering off ever since I got it.
But now is reconsidering whether to leave it on whenever I get off the
internet. I get tired of pulling the power chord out of the power strip.
And it may not be saving my battery. Overtime I Power up the battery shows
low power. So is it best to keep the laptop power up, making it easier for
start ups? What are your opinions?

Oh, you are going to love this.............everything, and I do mean
everything, you would ever want to know about charging the batteries in a
laptop:
(conveniently stolen from http://www.1800mobiles.com/howtohanbata.html )

BATTERY CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Battery Do's:
.. A new battery comes in a discharged condition and must be charged before
use (refer to the devices manual for charging instructions). Upon initial
use (or after a prolonged storage period) the battery may require three to
four charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.
.. When charging the battery for the first time the device may indicate that
charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal
phenomenon with rechargeable batteries. Remove the battery from the device,
reinsert it and repeat the charging procedure.
.. It is important to condition (fully discharge and then fully charge) the
battery every two to three weeks. Failure to do so may significantly shorten
the battery's life (this does not apply to Li-Ion batteries, which do not
require conditioning). To discharge, simply run the device under the
battery's power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning.
Then recharge the battery as instructed in the user's manual.
.. If the battery will not be in use for a month or longer, it is recommended
that it be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.
.. It is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and
discharging.
.. A charged battery will eventually lose its charge if unused. It may
therefore be necessary to recharge the battery after a storage period.
.. The milliamp-hour (mAH) rating of the Hi-Capacity battery will often be
higher than the one on the original battery. A higher mAH rating is
indicative of a longer lasting (higher capacity) battery and will not cause
any incompatibilities. A Hi-Capacity battery will, in most cases, outperform
the original by 30% to 50%.
.. Actual battery run-time depends upon the power demands made by the
equipment. In the case of notebook computers, screen brightness, the use of
the CPU, the hard drive, and other peripherals results in an additional
drain upon the battery, effectively reducing the battery's run-time. The
total run-time of the battery is also heavily dependent upon the design of
the equipment. To ensure maximum performance of the battery, optimize the
computer's power management features. Refer to the computer manual for
further instructions.
Battery Don'ts:
.. Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit may cause severe damage to the
battery.
.. Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the
exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.
.. Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.
.. Keep battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not
incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.




GENERAL BATTERY INFORMATION
What Are The Different Types of Rechargeable Battery
Chemistries/Technologies?
Batteries in portable consumer devices (laptops and notebooks, camcorders,
cellular phones, etc.) are principally made using either Nickel Cadmium
(NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) technologies.
Each type of rechargeable battery technology has its own unique
characteristics:
NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) and NiMH (Nickel Metal):
The main difference between the two is the fact that NiMH batteries (the
newer of the two technologies) offer higher energy densities than NiCads. In
other words, pound for pound, NiMH delivers approximately twice the capacity
of its NiCad counterpart. What this translates into is increased run-time
from the battery with no additional bulk to weigh down your portable device.
NiMH also offers another major advantage: NiCad batteries tend to suffer
from what is called the "memory effect". NiMH batteries are less prone to
develop this dreaded affliction and thus require less maintenance and care.
NiMH batteries are also more environmentally friendly than their NiCad
counterparts since they do not contain heavy metals (which present serious
landfill problems).
Li-Ion (Lithium Ion)
Li-Ion has quickly become the emerging standard for portable power in
consumer devices. Li-Ion batteries produce the same energy as NiMH batteries
but weigh approximately 35% less. This is crucial in applications such as
camcorders or notebook computers where the battery makes up a significant
portion of the device's weight. Another reason Li-Ion batteries have become
so popular is that they do not suffer from the memory effect AT ALL. They
are also environmentally friendly because they don't contain toxic materials
such as Cadmium or Mercury.
What is the "Memory Effect"?
NiCad batteries, and to a lesser extent NiMH batteries, suffer from what's
called the "memory effect". What this means is that if a battery is
repeatedly only partially discharged before recharging, the battery
"forgets" that it has the capacity to further discharge all the way down. To
illustrate: If you, on a regular basis, fully charge your battery and then
use only 50% of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the
battery will become unaware of its extra 50% capacity which has remained
unused. The battery will remain functional, but only at 50% of its original
capacity. The way to avoid the dreaded "memory effect" is to fully cycle
(fully charge and then fully discharge) the battery at least once every two
to three weeks. Batteries can be discharged by unplugging the device's AC
adapter and letting the device run on the battery until it ceases to
function. This will insure your battery remains healthy.
Is it Possible to Upgrade the Device's Battery to a Newer Chemistry?
NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion are all fundamentally different from one another and
cannot be substituted unless the device has been pre-configured from the
factory to accept more than one type of rechargeable battery technology. The
difference between them stems from the fact that each type requires a
different charging pattern to be properly recharged. Therefore, the portable
device's internal charger must be properly configured to handle a given
type of rechargeable battery.
Refer to the owners manual to find out which rechargeable battery types the
particular device supports or use our QuickFind search engine to find the
device in our database. It will automatically list all of the battery types
supported by the machine.
The New Battery Isn't Charging. What's the Deal?
New batteries are shipped in a discharged condition and must charged before
use. We generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve
hours). Refer to the user's manual for charging instructions. Rechargeable
batteries should be cycled - fully charged and then fully discharged - two
to four times initially to allow them to reach their full capacity. (Note:
it is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and
discharging).
New batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully
charged and are therefore "unformed". Sometimes the device's charger will
stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens,
remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle
should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery
charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.
How Can I Maximize Battery Performance?
There are several steps you can take to insure that you get maximum
performance from the battery:
Break In New Batteries: New batteries come in a discharged condition and
must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge
and discharge the new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its
maximum rated capacity.
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 do not suffer from the memory effect.
Keep the Batteries Clean: It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts
with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection
between the battery and the portable device.
Exercise the Battery: Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of
time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks.
If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new
battery break in procedure described above.
Battery Storage: If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more,
we recommend storing it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal
objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during
storage; remember to break them in before use. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)
batteries must be kept at full charge during storage. This is usually
achieved by using special trickle chargers. If you do not have a trickle
charger, do not attempt to store SLA batteries for more than three months.
For Notebook Users: To get maximum performance from the battery, fully
optimize the notebooks power management features prior to use. Power
management is a trade off: better power conservation in exchange for lesser
computer performance. The power management system conserves battery power by
setting the processor to run at a slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning
down the hard drive when it's not in use and causing the machine to go into
sleep mode when inactive. The notebook users guide will provide information
relating to specific power management features.
How Are Batteries Rated? (What Are Volts and Amps?)
There are two ratings on every battery: volts and amp-hours (AH). The AH
rating may also be given as milliamp-hours (mAH), which are one-thousandth
of an amp-hour (for example, 1AH is 1000mAH). The voltage of the new battery
should always match the voltage of your original unless the batteries are
different chemistries (NiMH and Li-Ion batteries have different voltage
ratings, even if they're for the same laptop). Some Hi-Capacity batteries
will have higher amp-hour ratings than the original battery found in the
device. This is indicative of a longer run-time (higher capacity) and will
not cause any incompatibilities.
How Long Do Batteries Last (What is the Life Span of the New Battery)?
The life of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is
generally between 500 to 800 charge-discharge cycles. This translates into
one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As the
rechargeable battery begins to die, the user will notice a decline in the
running time of the battery. When a battery that originally operated the
notebook for two hours is only supplying the user with an hour's worth of
use, it's time for a new one.
Should I Recycle the Old Battery? How?
NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries should be recycled. Be environmentally
conscious - do NOT throw these batteries in the trash. If you don't know
where your local recycling facility is, call the Portable Rechargeable
Battery Association at 1-800-822-8837. They will provide you with the
address of the recycling center nearest to you.




LAPTOP AND DESKTOP COMPUTER BATTERIES
What are Main Batteries?
The main battery (also called the power battery) is the battery pack which
allows a laptop or notebook to operate independently of an AC power source.
These rechargeable batteries are designed to operate the computer for a
certain amount of time (generally 1 to 4 hours). Click here for more info on
battery run-time.
What are CMOS or Clock Batteries?
CMOS & Clock Backup batteries perform the same function in desktop and
laptop computers: when the computer is turned off, the battery maintains the
time and date, thus insuring their accuracy when the system is once again
restarted. More importantly, the battery saves the computers BIOS setup
configuration, which allows the system to efficiently reboot once it is
restarted. The computer knows what type of hard drive it is dealing with,
etc. Not surprisingly, these batteries are known alternatively as CMOS
batteries, Real Time Clock (RTC) batteries, or simply internal batteries.
The most common CMOS battery chemistries are Lithium, Nickel Cadmium (NiCad)
and alkaline. They are usually somewhere in the 3 to 7.2 volt range and
either solder onto the motherboard or plug in via a snap-in connector
(depending upon the computer manufacturers design).
In most cases, replacement of the CMOS battery is an easy task. It is simply
a matter of locating the battery on the computer's motherboard, removing it
and plugging in a new one. As a rule, internal batteries should be replaced
by the same type of battery which was originally used in the machine or
according to the manufacturers specifications. The major exception to this
rule are older PCs which were manufactured with a NiCad battery soldered
onto the motherboard. These computers usually have a three or four pin male
plug, with two of the pins connected via a jumper (this is generally found
in the same area of the motherboard as the original battery). This plug
gives you the option of leaving the soldered battery in place and replacing
it with a plug-in lithium or alkaline battery. Removing the jumper tells the
computer to ignore the soldered battery and to look to the pins for its
power source. If the motherboard has this provision, you can install a
standard PC plug-in battery instead of removing the soldered battery and
re-soldering a new one (the standard PC plug-in battery is Battery-Biz part
number B-220 (lithium) or B-116 (alkaline). These batteries are
interchangeable). A word of warning: some computers have 4 pins on the
motherboard, whereas today's plug-in batteries come with a 3 pin connector
(one of the pinholes is closed in order to prevent the user from
inadvertently plugging the battery in with reversed polarity). If this is
the case, you should clip the pin from the motherboard that corresponds to
the sealed pinhole on the battery plug. That pin is nonfunctional and by
clipping it you ensure that future batteries will not be installed on the
motherboard with reversed polarity.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
NiCad batteries are rechargeable, whereas Lithium and alkaline batteries are
NOT. Therefore, Lithium and alkaline batteries must be replaced by
equivalent batteries of the same type. Attempting to replace these
non-rechargeable batteries with a NiCad will result in a nonfunctional
battery because the computer lacks the proper charging circuitry to charge
the NiCad battery.
If a motherboard lacks the above-discussed male pins for an external
battery, the NiCad battery MUST be unsoldered and replaced by a NiCad
battery ONLY. Attempting to use an alkaline or lithium battery in place of
NiCad on such a board could be hazardous. These batteries are not designed
to be recharged, and an attempt to do so may cause the battery to "burst",
or explode.
CMOS batteries generally last for two to three years, although some
(especially the lithium type) have been known to last much longer.
Ironically, the less the computer is used the faster the CMOS battery will
run out. This is because when the computer is turned off the battery begins
to function. It is recommended to replace the CMOS battery approximately
once every two years or when servicing the computer. If the computer has
been idle for an extended length of time it is a good idea to change the
battery. Changing the battery is a relatively easy and inexpensive task,
especially (as were sure many of you out there know) when compared to trying
to reboot and configure a computer which has lost its BIOS settings.
What are RAM or Resume batteries?
Some notebook computers are designed with a dedicated battery for backing up
RAM (random access memory) functions when the machine temporarily loses
power from the main battery. This feature allows users to change the main
battery pack without losing the current applications and settings residing
in memory. This is called a "battery hot swap" - switching the main battery
pack without having to turn off the computer.
These type of batteries are alternately known as bridge batteries, RAM
batteries, auxiliary batteries or resume batteries.
Most RAM batteries are rechargeable NiCad or NiMH and will last around 2-3
years. It is recommended that you replace your notebook's RAM battery when
replacing the CMOS battery.
How Long Will the New Main Battery Power the Laptop?
Battery run-time on a laptop is difficult to determine. Actual battery
running time depends upon the power demands made by the equipment. The use
of the screen, the hard drive and other accessories results in an additional
drain upon the battery, effectively reducing its running time. The total
run-time of the battery is also dependent upon the design of the equipment.
Generally, a new Hi-Capacity battery will run 30% to 50% longer than the old
battery did when it was new.
Is it Possible to Upgrade the Device's Battery to a Newer Chemistry?
NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion are all fundamentally different technologies and
cannot be substituted for one another unless the device has been
pre-configured from the factory to accept more than one type of rechargeable
battery. The difference between them stems from the fact that each
technology requires a different charging pattern to be properly recharged.
Therefore, the portable device's charger must be properly configured to
handle a given type of rechargeable battery.
Refer to the owners manual to find out which rechargeable battery types the
particular device supports or use our QuickFind search engine to find the
device in our database. The database will automatically list all of the
battery types supported by the machine.
What is a "smart" Battery?
Smart batteries have internal circuit boards with smart chips which allow
them to communicate with the notebook and monitor battery performance,
output voltage and temperature. Smart batteries will generally run 15%
longer due to their increased efficiency and also give the computer much
more accurate "fuel gauge" capabilities to determine how much battery
running time is left before the next recharge is required.
How Can I Maximize Battery Performance?
There are several steps you can take to insure that you get maximum
performance from the battery:
Break In New Batteries:New batteries come in a discharged condition and must
be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and
discharge the new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum
rated capacity.
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 do not suffer from the memory effect.
Keep the Batteries Clean: It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts
with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection
between the battery and the portable device.
Exercise the Batteryo not leave the battery dormant for long periods of
time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks.
If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new
battery break in procedure described above.
Battery Storage:If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more,
we recommend storing it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal
objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during
storage; remember to break them in before use. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)
batteries must be kept at full charge during storage. This is usually
achieved by using special trickle chargers. If you do not have a trickle
charger, do not attempt to store SLA batteries for more than three months.
For Notebook Users: To get maximum performance from the battery, fully
optimize the notebooks power management features prior to use. Power
management is a trade off: better power conservation in exchange for lesser
computer performance. The power management system conserves battery power by
setting the processor to run at a slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning
down the hard drive when it's not in use and causing the machine to go into
sleep mode when inactive. The notebook users guide will provide information
relating to specific power management features.
How Long Do Batteries Last (What is the Life Span of the New Battery)?
The life span of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is
generally between 500 to 800 charge-discharge cycles. This translates into
one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As the
rechargeable battery begins to die you will notice a decline in the running
time of the battery. When a new battery that originally powered the notebook
for two hours is only giving an hour's worth of use it's time for a new one.
The New Battery Isn't Charging. What's the Deal?
New batteries are shipped in a discharged condition and must charged before
use. We generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve
hours). Refer to the user's manual for charging instructions. Rechargeable
batteries should be cycled (fully charged and then fully discharged) two to
four times initially to allow them to reach their full capacity. (Note: it
is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and
discharging).
New batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully
charged and are therefore "unformed". Sometimes the device's charger will
stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens,
remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle
should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery
charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.
And now the disclaimer!: Any statements and data in this file are for
general information purposes. They represent the latest technical status at
the time of publishing. We reserve the right to change the data in this file
without prior notice. The technical information is given in a descriptive
way and does not guarantee any properties or enlarge any warranties given.
================================================
Heirloom, old and that ought to do it



"bradley g. wold" wrote in message
...
I have a laptop computer that I have been powering off ever since I got
it.
But now is reconsidering whether to leave it on whenever I get off the
internet. I get tired of pulling the power chord out of the power strip.
And it may not be saving my battery. Overtime I Power up the battery
shows
low power. So is it best to keep the laptop power up, making it easier
for
start ups? What are your opinions?

A word of warning - most laptops are NOT configured to be on for long
periods of time. They have poor ventilation and little ability to dissipate
heat. I would strongly recommend that you hibernate/stand-by the laptop
when not needed.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"bradley g. wold" wrote in message
...
I have a laptop computer that I have been powering off ever since I got it.
But now is reconsidering whether to leave it on whenever I get off the
internet. I get tired of pulling the power chord out of the power strip.
And it may not be saving my battery. Overtime I Power up the battery
shows
low power. So is it best to keep the laptop power up, making it easier
for
start ups? What are your opinions?