T22 wireless recommendation-battery in freezer trick

[awais318iS]

hi folks

I just bought a thinkpad T22 model , from gumtree , it needs a bit of TLC and upgrade - so far Iv replaced the CMOS battery not a big job ,
but the laptop battery will not hold charge and when the mains is connected the battery light indicator flashes yellow ,as soon as remove the mains cable the laptop shuts off.

has anyone tried the battery in the freezer trick does it work?

also is it hard to install a wirless card and internall antenna or is it just easier to use a wireless usb adaptor as the transfer rate can be the same 54MBPS

any ideas greatly apreciated
thanks

[doctor bloomquist]

Hello chap

Download mobmeter http://www.cs.rit.edu/~rjy2985/mobmeter.html

Amongst other things it should let you know the state of the battery's ability to hold charge.
I've installed internal wireless in a T21 and a T23, but not a T22. The T21 was the more challenging, as there's no dedicated hole in the motherboard to pass antennae cables through from the PCI card. In that case I had to remove the CPU to gain access. If it's the same story on the T22, get some heatsink compound beforehand. Bear in mind the thinkpads can be fussy what cards they use, if you go on eBay, make sure it says T series compatible.

Also, the T21's original pci card controlled the lan port, so I had to get one that slots into the side of the laptop (what's that called again?)

You might want to get an external wireless card, its less hassle, though less cool

These are very well thought out laptops in terms of taking them apart etc, and one of the mods here has a very good guide to DIY internal wireless here http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_t2x/t23_wireless/

The only battery in the freeser trick I know of is to discharge to about 15% then put it in a ziplock in the freezer, if you're not going to be using it for many months.

[bajaman61]

You might want to get an external wireless card, its less hassle, though less cool

Purchased an external wireless for less than 5 of your euros, $7 US Dollars. Worked "out of the box" on a T21. I thought being frugal was "cool" in Scotland.

The only battery in the freeser trick I know of is to discharge to about 15% then put it in a ziplock in the freezer, if you're not going to be using it for many months.

Yes, I think that the "trick" applies to storing batteries long-term and slowing the natural self-degradation inherent in all batteries. Less heat (more cold) means slower chemical reactions and so less loss of stored energy.

I do not think the "trick" can rehabilitate a battery that has lost its capacitance from prolonged but normal use and recharge. Your T2X battery is probably rated at 10.8 Volts and 4.0 Ampere Hours. If the tests downloaded above show that it is well below that number (4.0 ampere hours or 4000 milli-Ampere Hours) then you are looking at spending cash for a new battery and the freezer is not going to help. Wish it were otherwise.

Slainte.

[awais318iS]

thanks guys for the help

just took the battery out of the freezer last night was in there for 2days,, left overnight to get to room tempreture,, tried it this morning and well .........no joy the laptop battery indicator still flashes amber.

I know your suppose to let it charge up but the signs are not good.

can anyone confirm when the battery light flashes amber , I take it that means the battery is not charging is this correct?

Looks like I will need new battery.

Oh and decided not to open the T22 to install wireless card and antenna, I think it will be alot wiser just to purchase a wireless PCMIA Card.

...its a good thing I only paid £55 pounds for the laptop... looks like the TLC it needs is going to put the cost total cost of the laptop to £85 ,,
oh well alteast everything should be new and provide a hassle free operation for some time..touch wood

[doctor bloomquist]

awais318iS - I think when the battery light flashes amber, it means ,in the case of a fresh battery, there is next to no charge in it, and in the case of a duff battery, the SMART wizardry is telling the laptop its been through too many cycles.

If you use mobmeter, look under the heading 'wear rate'. Your battery sounds like its 90% worn or something. It will also show the remaining charge capacity.

bajaman61, the coolest solution, as a Scotsman, is obviously to only use one's laptop in a walk-in freezer, to prevent splashing out on new batteries like an American with too many dollars in his pocket

[RealBlackStuff]

Now if you REALLY want to be frugal, you use the laptop of somebody else!

[doctor bloomquist]

Hah! Quite right. In fact, ideally laptops should be banned, and everyone make do with some kind of Victorian steam-abacus. With at least 12 calculations per farthings' worth of coal.