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The Kitchen Table

Computer Question

9 years ago

I know you should drain your battery on a laptop at least once in a month. I regularly run it down to 10%, but I'm afraid to run it dry. I have visions of not getting all my data back. Worse yet, that it won't begin the recharge because it is so low. Can someone ease my mind. I'm old and I don't take change well. Don't even ask how I'm doing with a new president, and one not of my choosing.

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Comments (5)

Pawprint
9 years ago
How old is your laptop? Most new phones & laptops don't need to have the battery run completely down.

I do know what your talking about, as the older batteries had what's called a memory.

I will occasionally run my laptop & phone down like you described, but not to the point it shuts down.

Sounds like your doing good, don't run it dry is my opinion.
PKponder TX Z7B
9 years ago
I run my laptop and phone batteries down occasionally, but usually when I get the 'low battery' alert, I plug it in. Most manufacturer batteries are warrantied for only 12 months and potentially could reach the point of not accepting a charge after that time frame. If it runs completely down, you always have the option to plug in the electrical power to bring your laptop back to life. Your data is safe :-) Data is stored on the hard drive, which could be accessed from another computer if the laptop dies. Do you know how to copy your files from the computer onto a USB flash or thumb drive? Then you could save your data in two places, or better yet make a third backup of important data and keep it in your safe deposit box.
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In theory, yes. In actuality, mostly no. From one brand and model to the next, most PCs operate at the same voltage, plus or minus a bit, and use mostly the same hardware inside purchased from the same suppliers, batteries included. What can vary in batteries is the physical size, location and type of connectors, storage capacity and hardware/software for communication and control. Batteries tend to be of custom size by brand and model to fit into the compartment available, Also, some brands do have proprietary battery firmware. Can you put a Ford engine into a Chevy? Sure, but the size, the connections and the management is going to take a lot of effort to get it to work. Cheaper and easier to put a Chevy engine into a Chevy. Same with batteries. For both PCs and phones, there are aftermarket batteries for some models that may fit and work. They don't tend to be of the same quality as an OEM part and frequently have less storage capacity (fewer mAh). You have to be careful when you order an extra battery from a third party seller, sometimes there's an obvious reason why what you're looking at is cheaper than what the manufacturer sells.
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No you are not infected. Somehow you simply opened the log. It's just a file that logs the activity of background processes that keep your system running. It is helpful to tech support to access this list if your computer should develop a problem. Basically it's the entire history of your system. You can clean up the useless files but it basically a system that allows one to troubleshoot.
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Just for the record! And to extrapolate on what Maifleur has contributed. When you "save as" a photo or any piece that you find on the internet that you want to use for your own or post to a thread...please...change the name or number of the photo or piece to your own name [i.e. "winters woof"] or number [winter 123] when you "save as". Otherwise...you're stealing bandwidth and that is not only technically illegal...it's considered very bad manners by the internet community as a whole. Some copyrighted material is coded so it won't allow linking but not all. Some sites are careful with their material and they move it around from time-to-time. If you saved it and didn't "own it" by giving it a new name...wherever you used it...the vision will suddenly disappear from view. Read through the info linked below. It will explain much more than space allows here. And...you'll be a much more appreciated internet user. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inline_linking
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Maybe try hitting F11? Or maybe there's something in this video... I think if it were me and I needed to stick with Windows, instead of resetting to a no longer supported OS, I'd try upgrading to Windows 10 for free. Will it activate? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. How to get Windows 10 for free Personally though, being a Linux user, I'd download Linux, write the ISO to USB Flash, boot it up and install Linux. I use this one but there are many good ones. Linux wouldn't be much good for a gamer but for almost everyone else it would probably be fine. Especially coming on a free computer. :-)
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
It's not necessary to totally drain them these days what you are doing is fine. Don't worry about changing lol
User
9 years ago
Computer batteries don't have memory.....no need to drain them.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
9 years ago
You people rock! I always learn very useful things coming here. I have been amazed at being able to revive seemingly "dead" electronics. Technology is a marvel.

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