laptop battery damage

[421]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very suddenly
decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and now sometimes it won't
even last through a one hour lecture.

Is it possible that I somehow damaged the battery or
something?...because I remember that the problem seemed to have
started when I accidentally knocked my backpack (with the laptop)
against the wall. Or could it be something else? Is there any way to
fix it?

 

[paulmd]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very suddenly
decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and now sometimes it won't
even last through a one hour lecture.

Is it possible that I somehow damaged the battery or
something?...because I remember that the problem seemed to have
started when I accidentally knocked my backpack (with the laptop)
against the wall. Or could it be something else? Is there any way to
fix it?

I wouldn't go looking for ways to blame yourself. Laptop batteries
lose their charge as they age. It sounds like you just need a new
battery.

 

[meerkat]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very suddenly
decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and now sometimes it won't
even last through a one hour lecture.

Is it possible that I somehow damaged the battery or
something?...because I remember that the problem seemed to have
started when I accidentally knocked my backpack (with the laptop)
against the wall. Or could it be something else? Is there any way to
fix it?

Fully discharge the battery, then fully re-charge it.
Sometimes helps.

 

[Rod Speed]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very
suddenly decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and
now sometimes it won't even last through a one hour lecture.

Is it possible that I somehow damaged the battery or something?...

Its much more likely that it just happened as the battery aged.

All laptop batterys do that eventually.

because I remember that the problem seemed to have started when
I accidentally knocked my backpack (with the laptop) against the wall.

Or could it be something else?

Yep, normal aging of the battery.

Is there any way to fix it?

Get a new battery.

 

[kony]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very suddenly
decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and now sometimes it won't
even last through a one hour lecture.

Is it possible that I somehow damaged the battery or
something?...because I remember that the problem seemed to have
started when I accidentally knocked my backpack (with the laptop)
against the wall. Or could it be something else? Is there any way to
fix it?

It is expected that the capacity will drop, though this
tends to happen more linearly over time and recharge cycles.

It is doubtful that knocking a backpack containing a laptop
containing a battery, would damage that battery, but a
direct shock against the battery could (like dropping the
pack alone onto a concrete floor). Even so, if you can
isolate the scenario enough that you are near 100% sure your
battery has suddenly gone from 4 hours to one, I would be
concerned about the health of the pack and replace it as a
safety measure.

Otherwise I would wonder if the system has had some power
management change like screen brightness and CPU speed to
reduce the runtime, or something running in the background
(app or virus, may not depend which it is) that is now
consuming much of the processor's idle time, using a lot
more power.

If you are regularly using this battery it's lifespan will
of course be shorter no matter what else is going on, it
could be time to get a replacement pack.

 

[421]

Thanks for all the replies.

I understand that the batteries do age with time. After all, I've had
this for about two and a half years now. But I'm still wondering if
there could be some sort of other problem, because it was a very
sudden thing. I'm always able to get through a few lectures with my
laptop without bringing the AC adaptor. All of a sudden, one day, it
shut off on me before the first hour was even over. And it's not like
I haven't used it for a long time or anything and didn't notice the
aging problem, because I bring my laptop with me fairly often.

 

[paulmd]

Thanks for all the replies.

I understand that the batteries do age with time. After all, I've had
this for about two and a half years now. But I'm still wondering if
there could be some sort of other problem, because it was a very
sudden thing. I'm always able to get through a few lectures with my
laptop without bringing the AC adaptor. All of a sudden, one day, it
shut off on me before the first hour was even over. And it's not like
I haven't used it for a long time or anything and didn't notice the
aging problem, because I bring my laptop with me fairly often.

Relax. 2 1/2 years is a pretty normal life. Don't worry about it, just
get a new battery.

 

[GT]

I've recently noticed that my laptop's battery life has very suddenly
decreased. It used to last around 4 hours, and now sometimes it won't
even last through a one hour lecture.

Was it a very boring lecture - perhaps the battery just decided it was too
boring to listen any more.