Thinkpad R61i - Battery warning message

[Maureen]

Hi to all on this Forum,

This morning, I came across your site by Googling and wished I'd found it sooner!! Just thought I'd say this so you can tell I'm a newbie!

As I mentioned above, I use a Thinkpad R61i, and for the past 2 weeks (I think) my low battery warning message doesn't appear any more, although I've re-checked and the boxes are ticked.

I use Wnds XP Pro, SP3 and apart from my battery needing replacing, everything else on my laptop works fine.


Look forward to hearing from someone,
Many thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
Does the battery still work, i.e. can you run the laptop just off the battery?
Also, try taking the battery out and in a few times, maybe there is some corrosion on the terminals.

[Maureen]

Hi realBlackStuff
Yes, I can work from the battery but only about 25 minutes, or so. It depends on what I have runnning, otherwise it will drop significantlly.

I will try taking out the battery but will not have anything else running at the time because it won't last long.

Will get back to you.

[Maureen]

I've just taken out the battery and restarted (it was 100% on the mains supply). I let the batery run down but no message appeared to tell me to switch over to mains.

Also, a few weeks ago I wanted to make a backup to DVDs but after waiting 2 hours, nothhing happened. It used to work because I have a couple of backups made a year ago. It doesn't seemed to work anymore.

[RealBlackStuff]

You could try reinstalling Power Management drivers.
You're definitely in for a new battery.

[Maureen]

Hi and thank you for your reply. Yes, I know I need a new battery but the thing is, I never take my laptop (notebook) anywhere. I have had many Thinkpads and only with the A21p, did I buy a replacement pack. They never seem to last long and it's much easier for me to just flick the mains switch on (A/C power).
Mind you, today's newer batteries would probably last a lot longer.

I would have replied sooner but our server's been down for serveral hours. Incidentally, I'd been deleting the Thumbs/db files and assumed I had deleted some of the 'wrong' ones because this morning I had a Lenovo Runtime error, R6025 Pure Virtual Function. What with this and not being able to get online!!! So I restored my system back but I've noticed the low battery message still doesn't appear! Still, I suppose it won't matter for very much longer because soon I will have to use the mains supply for all time until I get another machine.

I've tried going to Lenovo update site but I find it a bit complicated. Many a time I've tried updating my system but ended up leaving it. Have they changed the way customers can update their computers, please?

Many thanks for your reply, it is very much appreciated.

[RealBlackStuff]

To update, Lenovo now uses SystemUpdate V3.14 for XP and Vista, and V4.00 for W7.
Both require MS DotNetFx.
If you are still using the previous IBM Software Installer, that is no longer supported.
Rather than buy a new laptop, consider using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which would make having a battery inside the laptop redundant.

SystemUpdate: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-66956
Drivers/software for R61/R61i here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 67856.html

[Maureen]

Do you know, I was just writing back to you but after going online using a separate tab, all was lost!!!!

Never mind!!! Yes, I know update support has been stopped some time ago, which I thought a great shame. I will try and download the drivers using the latest SystemUpdate. I also have the latest Netframework so I should be OK.

With the UPS do you mean the CMOS battery? How does this affect the internal battery, please?

[craigmontHunter]

A ups is like a powerbar with a battery in it - it provides a battery back-up 120v outlet, which you then plug your computer into. If you don't need to travel with your laptop but just need a battery in case of a power loss, a UPS is probably your best bet, it will give your system some battery life, then tell it to shutdown when the reserve power is getting low. It would not affect the internal battery at all.

the CMOS battery is just to power the BIOS, it does not have enough juice to run the system, or even keep it in standby, which is a third battery some old laptops had.

[Maureen]

Hi,
I've just installed that update and have gone over to battery power to see if the message will appear.
I'm sure my BIOS needs updating too, unless this is included with the update?

I've just tried running the battery down but the low battery message still doesn't appear!!! Oh, well, never mind.

[Maureen]

I've just tried to install the BIOS update but it didn't work. The the first option said the BIOS image file cannot be found and the second update with Model No had the same results.
It was so easy before when you just connected and the updates downloaded automatically. All you had to do was choose which you wanted.

Perhaps I've done it wrong?

[RealBlackStuff]

Just found this info re battery messages:
* Access the Windows Start Menu and go to the Control Panel, from there go to:
* Thinkpad Configuration > Power Manager > Power Scheme
* On the Power Scheme screen click "Options" and then check the box with "Periodically show messages about battery charge capacity"
* Click "Ok" to accept and save the changes

As to System Update, are you sure it has been downloaded AND installed?
Check in Start/Programs/Thinkvantage that you have SystemUpdate in there.

If you do need a BIOS update, it should be done via a bootable CD rather than in Windows.

[Maureen]

Oh, you are wonderful!!!! No, I hadn't installed the packages! I know Lenovo were talking about reintroducing the auto-update but I hadn't looked into it for ages now. So glad you pointed me in the right direction. All is now installed and the only thing it points out is of course my battery status. All other areas have now been addressed.
I notice I now have 2 Toolbox icons in the system tray. Not sure how to exit one of them because whatever I do, it launches it!!! Any ideas, please?

I have just switched over to battery power to see if the low battery message will appear but it doesn't. I checked out what you suggested regarding periodically charging the battery charge capacity and I do have this box ticked.

I always thought that the UPS was for when you get power blips, like when we have lightning?

I can't get over this ThinkPad update. It takes me back to my first laptop 368D (?) I can't remember now wha the model was but it had this clock ticking away as it retrieved the info.

Thank you so much for your help, I'm elated xx

[RealBlackStuff]

You're welcome!

The UPS is for supplying power when you have a blackout or brownout in your area.
It has sufficient power for 10-15 minutes, to give you time to save your work and switch off before that UPS also loses its power.
Usually they also have surge protection to 'catch' power spikes.
See e.g. http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=13

I don't have the Toolbox installed on any of my laptops, but check this out: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=90318

[Maureen]

Thank you for your reply and the link regarding the Toolbox was interesting. I have now uninstalled this item. I will have a go at backing up to discs and hopefully this will now work. Not sure why it suddenly decided not to? I will also check into buying an UPS and maybe our local IT shop/store will have one.

Well, Bill, thank you once again for all your invaluable help.

Maureen xxx

[RealBlackStuff]

Bill (Morrow) is the name of the website owner.
Mine is Dominic.

[Maureen]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

D'know, I hesitated several times before writing Bill !!!!

Btw, I was going to insert my picture but the avatar is disabled. Is it because I'm new, I wonder?

Thanks, Dominic, for your help.

[RealBlackStuff]

You're welcome.
This forum does not believe in avatars (except for moderators, who all get to pick a bird of some sort).
The rest gets 0 - 4 feathers, depending on your number of posts.

[Maureen]

Oh, I've never heard of this before.

Just come back online after spending at least an hour trying to make a backup to disc but still nothing happened. Perhaps I ought to give up on this. However, it should work, shouldn't it? Can're really remember how long it used to take but it certainly wasn't this long!!

[RealBlackStuff]

You should post about your backup problems in your other thread.
Personally I would dump R&R and get Acronis TrueImage.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/pr ... index.html

[Maureen]

Yes, I could try it that way but the thing is, I only have 180 GB HDD and now only 66.5 left!!

I do have a second external HDD but I keep this for extra backups. I suppose I could get myself another one just for the image?
I will have to have a think and decide what to do.

Anyways, thank you for all your help.

Maureen xx