Problem with a IBM R40 Battery?

Question

My laptop is plugged in all the time, but it randomly has started dropping to 5% power. I have been unplugging and plugging it back in until it reads 100% power again, but I don't know what's causing it. I am running Windows XP Professional on this machine, and it is four years old. It has been suggested to me that it may be a battery issue, so I'm wondering if anyone has had this problem before. Is it an age problem, or is it overheating, etc.?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

I own R51e laptop.. actually I don't see power going low while computer is ON.. but surely if I shutdown the machine and unplug the cord, I loose battery power. When I hibernate/standby machine and even AC is plugged in battery looses power. I asked IBM, they said even in shutdown, machine consumes some power due to leakage in the machine components.

Other than that I would suggest some thing here... seems to me that your laptop battery has completed its cycles. I would say to order new battery and take care of following:

Keep AC cord plugged in most of the time and use thinkvatage software that allows you to set threshold. That means you can configure when to start recharge.

Normally what I do, I set threshold to 65 %.. so when battery goes below 65 % percent, charging would start. Till that time, even battery has been descharged upto 35 % charging would not start. That way, I reduce charge-discharge cycles. And the most important, unplug cord from AC source till your battery goes to 0 % once atleast a month. That will keep your battery healthy.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Ibm R40 Battery

Answer 3

It is very bad to leave a laptop plugged in all the time when the battery is in it. You have probably screwed your battery up by doing this. I would say get a new battery...but if you are going to leave it plugged in all the time and don't move it, just remove the battery and use the AC power only.

Answer 4

Let your Thinkpad think for a solution. Kidding, contact Lenovo asap