Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: How do I charge the battery on this notebook?

A: The battery recharges while it is installed and the computer is connected to AC power.

  • In Windows® XP, while the battery is recharging, the battery charge indicator turns on and the battery icon on the taskbar has a lightning bolt.

    Note: If the power cord Power Cord icon or battery Battery icon icon does not appear on the taskbar, click the show hidden icons Show Hidden Icons button button. If the icon still does not appear, verify that Always show icon on the taskbar is checked on the Power Options Properties Advanced tab.

  • In Windows Vista™, while the battery is recharging, the power cord and battery icon Plugged in and charging is in the taskbar animating a charge.

    Note: If the power cord Plugged in and charging or battery Using battery icon does not appear on the taskbar, click the show hidden icons Show hidden icons button.

    Hover the mouse pointer over the power cord icon Plugged in and charging or battery icon Using battery in the taskbar. A dialog box opens displaying the remaining battery time and the current power plan.

    On battery

To get maximum performance from your notebook battery, we recommend that you initially condition (fully charge and discharge) your new battery a few times during the first several weeks of use, to let it reach its maximum rated capacity. Over the long term, use the battery at least once a month, even if it was kept in a cool, dry place for storage, but avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for a lithium-ion battery than one complete discharge, and recharging a partially charged lithium-ion battery does not cause harm because there is no memory. Closely monitor the battery charge. When the battery charge gets low, change the battery or connect to AC power immediately to prevent losing any unsaved work.

If your notebook unexpectedly goes into Standby mode while you are using it but the battery charge is not low, you may need to recalibrate your battery. You should also recalibrate the battery periodically to maintain the accuracy of the battery gauge.