Known as lazy battery effect or battery memory, is an effect observed in nickel cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries that causes them to hold less charge. It describes one very specific situation in which certain NiCd batteries gradually lose their maximum energy capacity if they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. The battery appears to "remember" the smaller capacity. This memory effect is caused by buildup of crystalline formations on the cell plates which increase resistence and lower the voltage of the affected cells. 1. Test the NICAD batteries using the battery tester to determine whether the NICAD batteries are fully discharged. 2. Locate the negative and positive nodes on the NICAD rechargeable battery. The negative node is on the flat end and the positive node is on the raised, bumpy end of the battery. 3. Put on all recommended safety gear. 4. Attach and hold the black clamp from the 12-volt battery charger to the negative end of the NICAD battery. 5. Rap the positive end of the battery with the red clamp from the 12-volt battery charger. This may cause the battery to emit sparks. It is part of the process of resetting the NICAD battery's memory. 6.Hold both the black and the red clamps on the appropriate negative and positive ends, respectively, of the NICAD battery for 1 to 3 seconds maximum. Release both clamps. 7.Retest the NICAD battery with the battery tester to determine whether the NICAD battery's memory has been fully reset. 8. Repeat the NICAD battery resetting process if necessary ...... DVOM or regular meter will work just fine Thanks, Hybrid Guru. JKS

My circle of friends use mostly Yahoo messenger and it reallly is amazing how many ask fix it for me lately with problems. I've learned to just take over their pc remotely and quickly install/run ccleaner and run revouninstaller in advanced mode - followed with a quick reboot and then the 'custom' reinstall on yahoo messenger and they're good to go.

Hi Caroline, I did a search here, and see you were having the same problem in May. Has it ever been resolved since then? Good luck...it does indeed sound quite maddening. After reading an IM, I either reply, and then 'X' it out to the tool bar, or drag it aside out of the way...something which I'm guessing you cannot do. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: Yahoo IM question and answer board.

Does that mean a 'purple Y/grinning face'? Yes that should indicate "Yahoo Messenger" is running. You double click it to start it. And right click it for other options also. When you sign in user id is your Yahoo mail as in joe At yahoo.com, replace At with (@) The password for me is the same as my yahoo mail.