How to Extend Laptop Battery Life

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Learn to single-task.

   PC memory that is in-use takes more power to hold data.
   
   Also, using more memory might mean using more swap or virtual memory space on your laptop hard drive.
   
   All of this puts an additional drain on your laptop battery.
   
   Instead of leaving multiple applications and windows open, use only what you need at any given time.
   
   If your laptop has plenty of memory, then keep multiple applications open to avoid loading repeatedly from the hard drive.
   
   Close all the applications that run in the background on your computer like your PDA syncing software or USB hard drive backup software.
2. 2

   Step 2: Run simple applications that don't use much RAM

   Use a basic text editor rather than the processor and RAM heavy Microsoft Word.
   
   Heavy applications like games or movie watching are especially hard on the battery. , On Windows XP, click "Power Options" in your control panel.
   
   On a Mac, look for "Energy Saver" in System Preferences. , For Mac laptops, there is a button for powering on and off your wireless device is found on the toolbar at top. , If you don't use this feature, you can safely disable it to avoid draining your laptop battery. , Standby continues to drain energy to keep your laptop ready to go when you open the cover. , Disabling unused ports and components, such as VGA, Ethernet, PCMCIA, USB, and yes, your wireless, too.
   
   You can do this through the Device Manager or by configuring a separate hardware profile (see next step). , Configure your laptop for the various scenarios in which you use it (on a plane, at the coffee shop, at the office, and so on).
   
   You can do this through the Hardware Profiles menu by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Preferences or by using a freeware utility such as SparkleXP. , The more fragmented your hard drive is the more your hard disk needs to work.You do not need to do this on a Mac, as they do this automatically by themselves when needed.
   
   Also, do not do this if your computer uses a solid-state drive, as this will actually make it slower! , If you use your laptop in a well lit area or outdoors on a sunny day, try setting it at two or three bars. , The method for doing this will depend on your laptop make.
   
   Right click on the desktop in Windows
   7.
   
   Select the Screen Resolution.
   
   Turn down the resolution. , OLED screens consume a lot less power displaying blank. ,, Batteries rely on basic chemistry and will die faster at extreme temperatures.
   
   Try to charge and use the battery at room temperatures., But if it's a USB pad then don't use it as it will most likely use up more battery rather than to conserve it. ,,, If you store a copy of data you need on an optical disc, copy it to your laptop hard drive or a thumb drive before traveling.
   
   Optical drives consume large amounts of power to spin up CDs and DVDs.
   
   Try to avoid applications that keep your hard drive or optical drive spinning.
   
   Need to play music? Try to use your handheld MP3 player, rather than playing songs on your computer.
   
   Playing songs on your computer will keep the hard drive working which uses energy.
   
   Turn off the auto save feature on MS Word or Excel.
   
   Constant saving will keep your hard drive turning and using energy. ,, Clean the battery's metal contacts with rubbing alcohol on a damp cloth.
   
   Clean contacts increase the energy efficiency. , Batteries leak power if they aren't used fairly soon after charging.
   
   If you use your "full" battery 2 weeks after you last charged it, you may discover it is empty. , Instead of charging the battery to 100% each time, fix the maximum charge limit to 80-85%.
   
   This will help in the long run by reducing the battery degradation with time.
   
   Sony VAIO has inbuilt option to set this.
3. 3

   Step 3: disk drive

4. 4

   Step 4: or processing power.

5. 5

   Step 5: Use the power management settings on your computer that come built in.

6. 6

   Step 6: Switch off the wireless card if you do not plan to access your network or Internet connection.

7. 7

   Step 7: Disable Bluetooth.

8. 8

   Step 8: Shut down or hibernate the laptop rather than using standby

9. 9

   Step 9: if you plan on not using it for a while.

10. 10

    Step 10: Turn off unused ports.

11. 11

    Step 11: Create Power-Saving Hardware Profiles.

12. 12

    Step 12: Defrag your hard drive.

13. 13

    Step 13: Reduce the LCD's brightness level.

14. 14

    Step 14: Turn down the screen resolution.

15. 15

    Step 15: If your laptop has an OLED based display

16. 16

    Step 16: avoid displaying white images.

17. 17

    Step 17: Turn the volume level down

18. 18

    Step 18: or mute it

19. 19

    Step 19: if you do not plan to use it.

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    Step 20: Avoid extreme temperatures.

21. 21

    Step 21: Use a cooling pad when using a notebook computer on your lap.

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    Step 22: Avoid propping your laptop on a pillow

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    Step 23: blanket

24. 24

    Step 24: or other soft surface that can heat up.

25. 25

    Step 25: Unplug external devices such as a USB mouse or an external drive.

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    Step 26: Avoid using a CD or DVD.

27. 27

    Step 27: Eject external devices such as pen drives

28. 28

    Step 28: hard disks

29. 29

    Step 29: if not in use.

30. 30

    Step 30: Clean the battery contacts.

31. 31

    Step 31: Keep the battery fresh.

32. 32

    Step 32: Do not charge all of the way.

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