why does my laptop battery only power for 30 minutes when it used to last for 3 hours?
954423
That's the reason. It's old.  Batteries don't last forever. Sounds like you need a new one.
133155
if you got it used. then the batt is dead. if you got it new ans under 2 years. then i would also have you systemboard checked out. some dells systemboard for laptop came from compal systems. that did make systemboard that where bad contacts that charge the batt.
122926
All you have to do is go out and buy a new one because most likely the battery you got come just be a sample like mine was in my dell inspiron B120 or dell just could have gave you a weak battery like my brothers. So just go out and buy a new one.
322242
my brother's gateway has the same problem...after a while pc batteries run out of power...you drain a battery by using the laptop not plugged in until the computer goes to sleep because it has no power...
934414
try going to control panel and then performance and maintenance and then power options. there's settings here that prolong the life of the battery so try changing your power scheme if it's set for max battery maybe?
994883
That is exactly what happened to mine.  It was supposed to be a "memory - free" battery, but.....\nOnce it's fully charged, unplug it and let it drain completely before you charge it again.  I left mine plugged in and eventually it wouldn't hold a charge at all, and it was only two years old.
795561
This does nto seem to make much sense unless the battery is so old that even at a full charge it does not have enough battery power to run all of the necessary parts of your laptop. You can try this. go into: START, CONTROL PANEL, POWER OPTIONS, under POWER SCHEMES you can pick PORTABLE LAPTOP, then you can check the options below of how you want the laptop to run while plugged in to AC and how to run plugged in to BATTERY POWER.  Hope this helps...\n\nIf neither of these situations fixes your issues, then you may need to go into your SYSTEM Properties and check out to make sure all your devices are performing okay..
985659
Its better u plugged ur battery out...!\nEvery battery has LifeTimer..! when u left it plugged in, it will decrease its LifeCycle. \nTo ensure lasting ur battery, from time to time, try to charge it nearly 8hrs without turning on ur LapTop.!\nenjoy it ;)
878972
You can actually conduct a simple test on your battery. Leave the laptop on for about half and hour and after charging fully. See if the battery drains fast. If yes then you have to change your battery. Is yours a new note-book or seasoned one. If new then you can actually contact your vendor and inform him and see what he can do for you.
827370
Ok, let's start with the thing it isn't.  It is NOT the battery.  Although that is not to say the battery isn't also bad.  Chances are your A/C Adapter has gone bad and/or the connector inside the laptop(known as the D/C plug) has also gone bad.\n\nYour best bet is to find a local notebook repair shop that can take a look at it and give you a free(or relatively cheap) estimate.  The problem with your description is that there is one major component you've left out...\n\nSoftware.  You'd be surprised, but your o/s could be infected and could actually cause immediate shut-downs.  The question I'd ask is whether or not it shuts down or just IMMEDIATELY shuts off, there is a HUGE difference.  If it shuts down and not off, then it's the o/s and/or software and I HIGHLY recommend taking it into the Geek Squad to have them take a look at it.\n\nIf you have any more information for me I might be able to better evaluate the situation and give you a better answer.  For now, get it looked at by a professional.\n\n-Geek Squad Double Agent...
5115
If the laptop or the battery are powering up when the adapter is plugged in then, the LED may be faulty.  If the laptop does not power up or the battery doesnot charge then the adapter is definitely faulty.  Also try plugging the adapter into different wall socket.  If your adapter has a detachable "kettle lead" with plug, then try chaning this lead.\n\nBattery Wizard\nhttp://www.ComputerBatteries.co.uk
923871
It could be a ton of things.  Try these first:\n\nPop the battery out and plug in directly to the wall.  If it powers on, you have battery problems.  If not, jiggle the power cord in the back of the computer and keep pressing the power button.  If no luck, try doing the same while jiggling the cord to the wall or to the power brick.  You either have a bad motherboard or a bad power adapter.  Try another adapter if you can.  Is it on warranty? \n\nI just sent my laptop out yesterday with exactly the same problem...and it's either a fried motherboard or bad power adapter.
78476
There should be a battery inside your computer that powers the BIOS. Try replacing it and see what happens.
529100
It is possible that the new AC adapter's charging system is not working.  This is rare, but still possible.  It is also possible the power or charger board within the laptop is bad.  \n\nThere is also a battery meter that can be found by going to control panel and clicking on Power Options.  You and turn on the meter and see if the AC adapter is charging the battery.  \n\nYou could buy a used battery on ebay for $25 or $30 and have a back and verify that the issue is not the battery and then you would have back up battery.\n\nIf it is still on Dell warranty call their tech support and have them troublshoot the problem.  Be patient but persisten, as Dell can be somewhat frustrating to get anything done with.
612013
I had the same issue with my computer.  Unfortunately, the battery has died and you need to replace it.  When you get your new one, try these things to preserve it:  use the charger whenever possible even if the computer is charged, never leave the charger connected when unplugged (it drains power) and shut the computer off when not in use.  These should help to preserve the battery next time!
667262
Because your CMOS battery is probably dead. It needs to be replaced with a 3V lithium CR-2032 battery found at most department stores or electronic stores. It is about the size of a quarter and is on the motherboard in the computer. Remove the old one (which is easier said than done) carefully with the aid of a tiny flathead screwdriver. Replace.
1032109
Plugged in or not plugged in?\n\nIf it's not plugged in, there should be a battery meter that'll let you know how much battery power you have left. Some computers (like Macs and Linux machines) will translate that into hours and minutes for you, some (like the few Windows laptops I've had) won't.\n\nIf you're asking how long you can run it when it's plugged in, it's really up to you. If you can keep the ventillation going (laptop is a misnomer- there's little viable ventillation going on when the computer's on your lap) and the air temperature is not too hot, you can theoretically run it as long as you need to. I think we've run our laptops 10-12 hours at a stretch sometimes when something's uploading, downloading, or compiling.