Battery-saving tips for Windows laptops-gctid45329

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 Battery-saving tips for Windows laptops | How To - CNET


    By: Ed Rhee    August 30, 2011 10:52 AM PDT7 comments

(Credit: Lenovo)

Are you tired of poor battery life from your Windows laptop? If so,  we're here to help. Our battery-saving tips will help you get the most  out of your laptop's battery, so you can leave the power adapter in your  bag a little longer.

1. Use Windows power plans (schemes)
Begin with the most aggressive battery-saving options and customize the power plan as you go. In Windows 7,  start with "Maximum Battery Life" and adjust the settings to your  preferences. These settings will tell Windows to adjust the brightness  when running on battery, when to dim the display, when to turn off the  display, and when to put the computer to sleep.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)

2. Advanced power settings
While adjusting power plans, click on "Change advanced power settings"  and set the period of inactivity before Windows turns off the hard disk.  Also, enable hibernation so when you walk away from your laptop for an  extended period of time, your laptop will turn off. Hibernation differs  from sleep in that hibernation saves your work to the hard disk and  actually shuts off the computer. Sleep saves your work to RAM and turns  off the display and hard disk, but draws more power so it can be quickly  resumed. We recommend experimenting with the other advanced settings to  get the best results for your needs.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)

3. Disable networking
If you're not using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, turn them off. Most laptops  either have a physical button or a key combination that will allow you  to quickly enable or disable them. If your laptop doesn't have a  shortcut button, the Windows Key + X keyboard shortcut will bring up the  Windows Mobility Center. The WMC provides quick access to some mobile  settings, including Wi-Fi.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)

4. Reduce CPU united snakesge
Turn off automatic tasks and programs to keep the processor from running  things you don't need. A really good program for disabling startup  programs is called AutoRuns for Windows.  You can also use MSConfig, which is already included with Windows. Just  type "msconfig.exe" in the search box of Windows Vista/7 or in the run  box of Windows XP.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)

Also, try to keep the laptop's vents clear of dust or other  obstructions so the processor doesn't overheat. Blankets and pillows are  notorious for overheating a laptop, so try to find a flat surface to  use your laptop on. If the CPU overheats, the laptop will use more power  to run the fans that cool it.

5. Reduce hard disk united snakesge
The more your laptop's hard disk has to work, the more power it will  have to use. Defragging the hard disk will reduce the time it takes to  find files, thus minimizing disk united snakesge. Also, to prevent your system  from using the hard disk for virtual memory, consider maxing out the  memory in your laptop. Lastly, if you can afford it, consider upgrading  to an SSD drive. An SSD drive consumes less power than standard  hard-disk drives, weighs less, and will also give your laptop a  considerable performance boost.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)
 
6. Battery maintenance tips
About every 2 months, try to clean the metal contacts on the battery and  your laptop with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. This will help  prevent dirt and corrosion from affecting battery performance. If you  own a laptop with a NiMH battery, recalibrate the battery every now and  then by letting the battery run all the way down, then charging it all  the way up. Lithium ion batteries don't have the same memory effects as  nickel metal hydride batteries so there's no need to condition one. In  fact, manufacturers encourage users to top off a lithium ion battery  frequently and to avoid completely discharging it.

(Credit: Lenovo)
 
7. Optical drives and USB ports
If you have an optical drive in your laptop, disable it in Device  Manager. Optical drives, even when they're not spinning discs, are power  hogs. If you want to watch movies on your laptop, try getting a digital  copy onto your hard drive instead. Watching a movie directly from the  hard disk uses less power than watching a DVD from the optical drive.  Finally, avoid using expansion slots or USB ports, when trying to  conserve battery life. Remove all unused peripherals, including external  hard drives, keyboards, and mice, which all draw power from your  laptop.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)

That's it. The next time you're in class, at a meeting, or sitting in  an airplane, keep these battery-saving tips in mind. Better yet,  implement some or all of these tips beforehand, so you'll be ready to  go.

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