Battery percentage different between Battery Maximiser &

[Purcy]

Windows Power Meter. I have been using the little "plug" icon in my systemtray to see the battery percentage left, even though I use my T22 only on A/C. It is always at 100% and charges as soon as it hits 97%. I recently downloaded IBM Battery Maximiser and it put a new little icon on my toolbar which I leave running. It showed that my battery was degraded and suggested a reconditioning which I did this morning by unplugging the A/C and discharging the battery. After it went into standby I plugged back in and am now recharging the battery. However, the icon for the Battery Maximiser reads 97% charged and the icon for the Windows Power Meter reads 79% charged. Why would there be a difference? I know when I unplugged the A/C cord this morning, the Battery Maximiser still read 46% left while the Windows Power Meter showed 4% left and went into standby. How can I get them to read the same thing? Thank you and sorry for the long post.

[dsigma6]

Let the battery run down in BIOS until it shuts off.

[Purcy]

Thank you for your reply, but you are dealing with a blithering semi-idiot here. Could you kindly explain what letting it run down in BIOS means. It also could be that I just need to buy a new battery, as I bought this used and it says my battery was first used in 2001 and has cycled 99 times! It seems that my Windows Power Meter has stopped at 80% charge, so I am assuming that is all that is left in battery. Thank you so much.

[Purcy]

Well, I recalled just now that I never re-booted Windows after installing the Battery Maximiser (I hardly ever re-boot, only use hibernation and standby) so I shut down the computer and took out the battery for a few minutes and put it back it. After the computer booted, it appears that my Battery Maximiser and the Windows Power Meter read identical, both at 100%. But my battery capacity is a little more than 50% of what it had at manufacture, so I guess I need a new one soon.

[jdhurst]

Batteries wear out. So regardless of what the meters say, if it is giving you less than 90 minutes of service on battery, then, yes, it probably is time for a new one. ... JD Hurst

[Kyocera]

I've had similar issues working on other brands of Laptops and IBM, clean installing windows etc. The windows power management to me, seems to be a generalization whereas battery utility software designed for that purpose will give better info.

[Purcy]

Thank you both for your replies. I am putting it in the budget for a new battery also, probably when I upgrade my hardware (new HDD and more memory)

Mr. Hurst, I love your avatar.