Laptop keeps turnning off - why?

[Ian B]

Everytime I run my laptop from batteries it turns itself off after about ten minutes, and the on switch will not turn it back on.

I've checked my power settings and its set to turn off after one hour if running on batteries. I'm not aware of altering any other settings (but may have doen so inadvertantly) and the laptop used to stay on for an hour before turning off.

What do I do to get it to stay on for an hour on batteries? Help please!

[Scubamad]

Originally Posted by Capel diver

Everytime I run my laptop from batteries it turns itself off after about ten minutes, and the on switch will not turn it back on.

I've checked my power settings and its set to turn off after one hour if running on batteries. I'm not aware of altering any other settings (but may have doen so inadvertantly) and the laptop used to stay on for an hour before turning off.

What do I do to get it to stay on for an hour on batteries? Help please!

Capel

If it does not switch itself off when plugged in then it sounds like you may need a new battery.

[dry suit diver]

first of all what operating system are you using?

are all the settings in power management set to 1 hour?

is the battery holding a full charge? to find this out look at power meter in the power settings when running on battery only and see how quickly they charge level drops if it drops very quickly then battery probably suffering from memory effect.cannot think how to discharge it properly if laptop is switching off after a few minutes

[Garf]

battery is going

[Narked@50]

Check the following for your settings in xp/2000:

right click on desktop
left click properties
left click screen saver
left click power settings
left click power schemes
set these to whatever you like
left click hibernate, turn the bugger off!

Hope this sorts it, if it doesn't, and your bettery is fully charged at start, it's new battery time.

James

[Ian B]

Thanks all

I've just tried cancelling hibernation but it didn't work. Looks like its a new battery, which means dipping into my LIDS fund. $*@&

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Capel diver

Thanks all

I've just tried cancelling hibernation but it didn't work. Looks like its a new battery, which means dipping into my LIDS fund. $*@&

Get the club to buy you a new one

[Fiji Dave]

Originally Posted by Capel diver

Everytime I run my laptop from batteries it turns itself off after about ten minutes, and the on switch will not turn it back on.

I've checked my power settings and its set to turn off after one hour if running on batteries. I'm not aware of altering any other settings (but may have doen so inadvertantly) and the laptop used to stay on for an hour before turning off.

What do I do to get it to stay on for an hour on batteries? Help please!

It's just the computer's way of telling you to go diving instead!!!

[NeilB]

If it is the battery the machine would tell you. Normally you get lots of bleeps and messages telling you to shut down or risk losing your work. You can also watch the battery gauge in the task bar and it will drop rapidly if the battery is faulty.

Don't discount the bios. Some laptops can have power settings in the bios that affect when the shutdown whilst on battery.

Other than that don't forget that Maplins and RS Components sell a lot of laptop batteries so you don't need to go to the manufacturer.

<edit>
Just noticed that you said it did NOT turn back on when you pressed the switch. Assuming it does power on when you press the switch for a second time then it sounds like it is in hibernate mode.....
If it does not power up until you connect mains power to it then you have a dead battery.

Neil
One of Big Blues biggest engineers......

[berticus]

I had a similar problem with my laptop. The damn thing switched itself off every time I dialled-in to the company network. I eventually tracked it down to a faulty clip which was no longer holding the battery firmly in place.

My laptop is now held together with brown packing tape...