Laptop Battery Issues

Karinna

I have a Lenovo thinkpad x200 and I just recently replaced the AC adapter and batteries. I also just did a format and clean install of windows xp.

The issue is that the computer is shutting down with 24 percent battery life remaining. I have a power alarm set for a 10 percent battery life standby, but not a 24 shut down!

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

You could check in the BIOS in case there is a shut down setting.

Also, have you checked to see if this is a known issue that might be corrected by a BIOS update - the support page on the Lenovo website will tell you if there is a new BIOS (but don't update the BIOS if this is not listed as a known problem).

closed

Have you installed all the drivers in device manager?

The replacement battery was brand new?

Why did you replace the ac adapter as well, what's the history behind this?

Karinna

Thanks, I will check in the BIOS again.. I looked on the support page a few days ago, but I couldn't find anything about this issue.

@ closed: yes, I installed all the drivers... I lost the power cable / ac adapter whilst moving - so when I bought new ones I bought new batteries too.

[Deleted User]

I had a look at the latest BIOS update and it lists the following as one of the updates:

(Fix) Fixed an issue where the computer might hang when the battery was low.

Did you update the BIOS? It might be a good idea after all if you didn't (but I should point out that there is of course always a very small risk with a BIOS update, just so I don't get blamed if it goes wrong).

buglawton

Try leaving it unplugged from charger but in bios mode (so with the bios menu displayed) and see if it now discharges fully.

(I did a similar trick the other way around recently with a Lenovo which refused to charge past 40%, leaving it charging in bios mode charged it back to 100%.)

Karinna

@tentonine: I updated the BIOS and everything is ok now..thanks a lot!:beer:

[Deleted User]

Great - I'm glad it worked.