Jai Normous

What you describe happened to me a while ago.

When I looked into it, I found that somehow a large portion of the disc space had been allowed to be used for saving restore points.

I deleted all but the last restore point and then adjusted the amount of space restore points could be saved to. This gave me back a lot of space on the disc.

Thanks. I did what you mentioned. It freed-up 50 GB of space instantly.

Cheers.

I'm not an IT guru, far from it. This forum has been of assistance to me in the past. For the first time, I am happy to be able to put back in and contribute.

You are welcome.

I would have suggested checking the screen resolution as well, but others say this is not it.

Before you rush out and get a new screen, maybe do a system restore back to before the problem happened. It can't hurt.

Yea...my bad....do not plug the computer back into the wall after reinserting the battery....leave it unplugged after reinserting the battery...then check battery charge the next morning....see if it drained off more than a couple percent. This is all done to ensure the computer is completely powered down.

Win 7 does not have Fast Boot...Fast Boot is in Win 8 and later.

Ok. I'll try this soon.

Do you know what holding down the on/off button for a few seconds does when the laptop is not on the wall charger and doesn't have a battery?

Would you suggest doing this as well?

What you describe happened to me a while ago.

When I looked into it, I found that somehow a large portion of the disc space had been allowed to be used for saving restore points.

I deleted all but the last restore point and then adjusted the amount of space restore points could be saved to. This gave me back a lot of space on the disc.

If you haven't tried already I would just recommend one more thing. Check the battery charge percentage...remember it. Now, turn off the computer and ensure you are not just letting it go into sleep or hibernate mode....completely power down the laptop.

Now, also unplug the laptop from the wall and remove the battery. After about one minute, plug the computer back into the wall power and reinsert the battery, but do not power up the laptop. Just go to bed...get some sleep...and check the battery charge the next morning.

The next morning turn the laptop on and see what the charge level is. If it didn't discharge any except maybe a percent or two, then maybe the problem is your computer is not truly powering down 100% even thought the power-on lite goes out.

I know you have Win 7 installed but from some googling where other folks had similar problems with Win 8 and 10 which has "Fast Boot," some of them said by disabling Fast Boot fixed their battery drain with computer powered off problem. Fast Boot was truly not letting their computer power down 100% versus just saving some Fast Boot files which allow faster bootup when turning the computer back on.

Some folks could even turn back on Fast Boot after accomplishing one power down with Fast Boot disabled.... and thebattery drain problem didn't reoccur.

I know with one of my laptops (a Lenovo) when running Win 8.1 (I now have Win 10) on about 1 out of 20 power downs the computer would not "completely" shut down...the power lite button would stay on even though the computer was dead. I would then have to press and hold down for approx 15 seconds the power button to get the laptop to completely power off. Fortunately, my power button is lighted and I easily noticed when the computer just didn't shut down 100%, but I know a lot of laptops the power button is not lite or a separate tiny light on the side/front of the computer which might be hard to see. A person selects Shut Down in Windows, the computers appears to power down, and unless you confirm the computers power light is off (which might be hard to see) a person may not notice the computer is not shutting down 100%.

Anyway, I disabled Fast Boot, powered down, the computer completely shut down, and over the next few days I intentionally shut down the computer numerous times to see if I got the problem again....never got the problem again...computer would always, always completely power down. I then re-enabled Fast Boot and the problem stayed away...didn't come back.

Reading up on Fast Boot it indicated Fast Boot can cause a variety of problems, including intermittent problems, on some computers. And some so called computer experts recommended disabling Fast Boot periodically (for one power down & power up), powering down which clears Fast Boot files when Fast Boot is disabled, turn the computer back on, re-enable Fast Boot, turn computer back on which recreates the special Fast Boot files that helps to boot your computer faster if using Win 8/10. Now, just as periodic maintenance I disable and re-enable Fast Boot every couple of months just for gee-whizzes since doing so fixed the problem I had and apparently fixed the problem other Win 8/10 users had.

Once again, I know you are not running Win 8/10, but running Win 7. This Fast Boot tale was just mean to show an example of the computer not truly powering down 100%.

So you might want to run the steps I mention at the beginning to ensure your Win 7 computer is definitely completely, completely powering down. If the steps and ensuring battery charge check indicates the computer was not completely powering down, now you need to work the issue of why the computer does not completely power down which would result in battery drain.

Easy enough to try...maybe worth a try...good luck.

Pib, thanks for your detailed reply.

I have a couple of questions.

I power off the laptop, then remove the charger from the wall and the battery, then after a minute or so plug in the wall charger, and then insert the battery, but I don't understand what information this will give me. The wall charger will just charge the battery and it will be full in the morning.

Am I missing something, or do you mean shut it down, remove wall charger and battery, then only replace battery? This way I will know there was no power to anything except coming from the little BIOS battery, and the battery should be in a completely shut off laptop.

When the battery and wall charger are out, would it help to hold down the on/off button for a few seconds?

Next question is, does Windows 7 have something similar to Windows 8 and 10 Fast Boot. If it does, what is its name and can I disable it?

Probably not the solution you are looking for, and a little labor intensive, but I take the sim card out of the dongle and put it in a phone, then load up more credit with the scratch card or receipt from 7/11, then put the sim card back in the dongle.

Update.

Laptop battery was removed for 4 full days. After 4 days it only lost 2% of power. Looks like the battery is ok.

Do members know of any other features or processes that might run whilst the computer is off?

The computer time & BIOS setting are kept by a separate lithium battery usually about the size of a baht coin and installed on the motherboard...a battery similar to like you see in wrist watches. And usually it's also rechargeable which means it can last many, many years. The main/large laptop battery is not in play in the BIOS/real time clock maintaining it's settings.

So, is there any problem just taking out the main battery for short term storage, or long term storage, for that matter?

Nope...no problem.

Ok. I have looked into the things that members have suggested and tweaked or disabled some features.

If the battery is fine, and the things I have done doesn't stop the rapid discharge, I will just have to keep removing the battery for storage. No big problem, but still a mystery what is draining the charge.

OP, here's an experiment:

Some night, when you shut down the laptop, take note how much charge the battery has. Then remove the battery. Then next day run the laptop off the mains. Try to not use the battery for 24 hours (arbitrary number, of course, but try to make it at least 12 hours). Then put the battery back in and see how much charge it has. You can use a VOM if you have one instead of putting it back in. Rapid discharge without a load means the battery is going, and fast. This is how I check on my rechargeables.

Thanks for this suggestion. I completely forgot the laptop will work without the battery connected.

I've taken it out and will leave it out for a few days. After this, I should have an idea if the battery is dying or not.

If the battery is fine, that means something in the laptop is fast draining the battery when it is shut down. What could use so much power is 12 days when shut down?

The computer time & BIOS setting are kept by a separate lithium battery usually about the size of a baht coin and installed on the motherboard...a battery similar to like you see in wrist watches. And usually it's also rechargeable which means it can last many, many years. The main/large laptop battery is not in play in the BIOS/real time clock maintaining it's settings.

So, is there any problem just taking out the main battery for short term storage, or long term storage, for that matter?

You do not need to worry about Fast Boot since you are on Windows 7. Fast boot is on Windows 8 and above.

From a quick search on the net, it looks like a BIOS issue/corruption. You have to be brave and update it I guess.

Modern BIOS upgrade is so easy now compared to a decade ago. Just make sure you get the correct BIOS for your model.

I opened the HP Support Assistant program and checked for updates. It was a couple of days ago but I remember there was an audio update, a graphic update, and for sure a BIOS update. I have no idea what any of these updates did because I haven't noted any changes in functions.

I considered the BIOS update carefully before proceeding. I also made sure I had my current settings backed up.

All the updates went through without a problem.

See how it goes when next I leave the computer for a week or more without using it.

Your battery is knackered. Get a new one or better still buy a MacBook (I know Apple are a horrible company, but their computers are good). I bought an HP for the wife a few months back, the screen detaches to become a tablet. I regret the purchase and she won't use it. Windows 10 is a shambles, a dreadful operating system. I had to buy her a MacBook.

Windows 10 is perfectly fine. Those who rant about it never come with factual reasons as to why it's so bad. And that's because they dislike the OS not because of its performance/features but because of the (admitedly very bad) way it was pushed to the users.

On another hand, buying a Macbook might not be the greatest idea if the user never had any experience with Mac OS. Pretty big/frustrating learning curve there.

Macbooks are an easy recommendation because they are indeed good laptops, just a bit overpriced.

But if you take a few minutes researching before buying, you'll find a lot of good laptops that even have more chance of having the combination of price/features you actually care about. usually these research end up telling you not to buy HP Kind of sad to see such an iconic brand so low now. Almost all of their PCs have issues. Amongst the most solid brands currently are Asus and Lenovo... but don't think too much about brand and research each model individually.

"Windows 10 is perfectly fine." You think ?

How long before you think they "might" fix the SD card reader problem ???

Sorry OP, for hijacking your post.

Ok, without getting into the is Windows 10 good or bad debate, I will quickly say that after getting completely shafted by Windows Vista installed from factory on a high end machine, I vowed to always wait for either Service Pack 1 to be released or the "point 1" (.1) to be released.

It happened with Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 being released. It happened with Windows 8 with Windows 8.1 being released.

I'll wait for Windows 10 Service Pack 1 or Windows 10.1 or Windows 11 before I change my OS and I am not concerned about the free Windows 10 before the 29th July. Windows 7 will still be supported until 2020 so I am in no hurry.

I didn't even jump to Windows 8.1 because Windows 7 meets my needs and Windows 8 and 8.1 were not around that long anyway.

Now, back to this battery issue.

There are a few scenarios that I could think of that might cause this IMHO,

Scenario 1: USB 3.0 with charging function (lightning sign) when laptop is turn off. But I do not think this will drain much in 12 days if nothing is attached to it.

Scenario 2: Power button was press. Default Windows for Power Button press is Hibernate. I normally configure all of mine to Shutdown.

Scenario 3 : Windows did not shutdown completely when screen was close. This is common as I have personally seen many users close/push the screen down after clicking Shutdown. This will cause the laptop to enter hibernation mode or sleep mode. Need to check setting for Lid Close action. You need to give some time for it to shutdown, whether it is optical drive or SSD.

It looks like it is most likely Scenario 3 as it enters Hibernate and since there is no activity for 12 days, the battery slowly drain until it hit the Critical Battery threshold where it permanently shut off.

I know that Windows 10, by default (Fast BootUp/StartUp On), it will look like it has Shutdown with the screen power off/goes black but if you look closely in the middle of the screen, the LCD is still active with a Gear spinning. I normally leave my laptop open, the screen up so no issues for me.

This is my best guess without looking at the laptop.

I have laptops with batteries in it for about a months and there was not much battery drain. My newest is an Asus, 2 years old. Both my Asus and MacBook Pro will not deplete its battery completely in a months.

This laptop does have an always on USB charging port so it can be used like a power bank. I suppose that would use some power but like you say I doubt it would use all the power in 12 days.

I'm a bit confused with your Scenarios 2 and 3. I shut the laptop down by clicking on the start button and then clicking on the shut down button. I wait for the screen to go black and all the lights to go off, then I close the lid, then I remove the charging cable and anything in a USB port. Are you saying that when I close the lid to put it in its cover that there could be a setting that the lid closed switch turns the laptop back on and into hibernate mode?

I didn't know closing the lid could override a laptop that was shut down. I will check this out and report back.

Did op have anything plugged into usb port? That would have discharged it

Nothing plugged into a USB port. Everything disconnected and stored in its laptop sleeve to keep any dust off.

I wouldn't worry about it myself if it still recharges and is otherwise usable. If it bothers you, take it out of the computer and store it in the refrigerator before going away.

I occasionally fully discharge it when I am using it laying on the lounge. I believe the occasional full discharge is good for the battery. It doesn't look like it has hurt the battery or the laptop in anyway.

It was just a mystery to me where all that power could go in 12 days.

Store the battery in the fridge. Really? The laptop was stored at room temp in Asia, so pretty warm climate.

HP Software is complete junk! They cannot even make a decent download page to update your software / firmware, it is like looking through a forest trying to find a tree! Their website is junk!

I mainly bought this HP laptop for its build quality. It's built like a house brick. This one is all metal, no plastic lid and case. I normally travel with it, that's why I wanted a sturdy laptop that can take some knocks.

I am usually away for long periods of time, and use it everyday at home, so I have never had a chance to notice this issue.

Pib, I appreciate your reply, but if you read my post again, you will see the battery discharged to 7%, so it discharged 93%, not discharged only 7%.

If it only discharged 7% and kept 93% charge I think that would be normal for some self discharge and I wouldn't have started this thread, but it discharged to empty when it was turned off.

Do any processes run even when a laptop is turned off?

My bad...yea, you did say down to 7%. I think there is some setting regarding LAN wake-up that if set might use a little power on some computers. You might want to look into that.

http://www.howtogeek.com/70374/how-to-geek-explains-what-is-wake-on-lan-and-how-do-i-enable-it/

If not that, it's probably just the battery going bad with a high self-discharge rate which you've just never noticed till now. And just because it passes a laptop battery check which is really a very simple voltage level check and the fact it can still run a computer for a couple of hours does not mean the battery can not have a problem, such as a high self discharge rate.

Thanks for this info.

I could access this function through Windows. WoL (magic packets) was enabled. I disabled it. I can't find it in the BIOS but I will research more.

Your battery is knackered. Get a new one or better still buy a MacBook (I know Apple are a horrible company, but their computers are good). I bought an HP for the wife a few months back, the screen detaches to become a tablet. I regret the purchase and she won't use it. Windows 10 is a shambles, a dreadful operating system. I had to buy her a MacBook.

Why should the OP buy a new battery?

Discharge of batteries is normal and having 2 hours power is good.

Regarding your W 10 statement, a notebook can't be better than its user.

"You had to buy her a MacBook" sounds strange.

Yes, I think the battery is fine. I checked it with some HP software and this also confirms the battery is ok.

I don't think I need to buy a new battery.

My current Asus i3 core laptop only gets an hour and a half runtime, from the time when the powerpack cord is removed; which wasn't much worse than my other Acer i5 laptop

ho-hummm...

...simply getting used to it...

Ok, but does it discharge to empty when it is turned off?

Your battery is knackered. Get a new one or better still buy a MacBook (I know Apple are a horrible company, but their computers are good). I bought an HP for the wife a few months back, the screen detaches to become a tablet. I regret the purchase and she won't use it. Windows 10 is a shambles, a dreadful operating system. I had to buy her a MacBook.

The battery is fine. It last about two and a half hours off the charger, which is inline with HP specs for this laptop, and allowing that it is around 1 year old.

From new, the battery lasted around 3 hours, so the battery is still pretty going, and it hasn't had a hard life.

I expect it's simple aging of the battery as it is 12 months old...and the battery is acutally probably a few months older than the laptop. As battery's age their "self-discharge" rate will increase...new batteries have little...as the battery ages it increases. That is, they will discharge even when not hooked into a circuit. All batteries do that. The quality of the battery will be a factor in how soon and how bad the self-discharge rate gets, but all quality levels will experience a self discharge rate.

But even with that being said, it may self discharge less if the battery is removed from the laptop as the load it sees changes slightly.

7% is not bad for a 12 day period of non use for a year old lithium-ion laptop battery. Don't worry about it.

And as FYI, ideally a lithium-ion battery such as your laptop battery will have the greatest life span if you only charge it to 90-95%. A 100% charge level places additional strain on the battery...speeds up chemical processes which shorten the battery's lifespan. Some laptops will come with a battery management utility where you can control the charge level when the laptop is primary plugged in all the time charging...that keeps it from charging to 100 but some lower level. In fact, I have one laptop (a Lenovo) with a Lenovo utility does that, but my other Lenovo laptop does not probaby due to the charging circuit being of a different design. This battery management utility allows you to turn on "Conservation Mode" which keeps/limits the battery charged at approx 60% when plugged in. If you need to go mobile with the laptop, turn off Conservation mode and it charges to 100% so you have a full charge. I have to turn the Conservation Mode on every time I turn on the laptop because intentionally it does not remember the setting. Also, you should not let a lithium-ion go into extended storage (non-use) with a 100% charge as it speeds up chemical processes that shorten battery lifespan. Battery manufacturers recommend a 40 to 60% charge level for extended storage/period of extended non-use to maximize battery lifespan.

See some more info on Self-discharge Rate...partial quote below talking a Lithium-ion battery self discharge. Note the possible 5% in the first 24 hours and 1 to 2 percent per month....adds up to the 7% your got over 12 days. But that don't mean all lithium-ion batteries discharge 5% over the first 24 hours...it varies based on design...batteries for tablets/smartphone will experience less self-discharge rate due to design but that is at expense of other battery design features.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/elevating_self_discharge

Li-ion self-discharges about 5 percent in the first 24 hours and then loses 1–2 percent per month; the protection circuit adds another 3 percent per month. A faulty separator can lead to elevated self-discharge that could develop into a current path, generating heat and, in an extreme case, initiate a thermal breakdown. In terms of self-discharge, lead acid is similar to Li-ion.

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Pib, I appreciate your reply, but if you read my post again, you will see the battery discharged to 7%, so it discharged 93%, not discharged only 7%.

If it only discharged 7% and kept 93% charge I think that would be normal for some self discharge and I wouldn't have started this thread, but it discharged to empty when it was turned off.

Do any processes run even when a laptop is turned off?

They can do.....

Asus Laptop had a charging issue, sent away to Asus to fix under warranty and now the battery is nearly always dead if not used for a couple of days. When this happened it was 2 years old.

Is it still under warranty?

Not long out of warranty. I'm happy with the laptop and I would HP again. Just this issue when leaving the laptop off for while is strange.

Where is the charge going and why?

I have a 12 month old HP laptop. The laptop has good specs, has genuine Windows 7, and I am happy with it. All the software is updated.

Recently I went away for 12 days and decided to take a tablet, not my laptop. This was the first time the laptop had not been turned on and charged for anymore than a day or two.

I came home and started up my laptop with the charger connected. When I looked at the little battery icon I saw the battery had discharged to 7%, which is about the level when the computer shuts down automatically if you were using it on battery power. For all I know, the battery could have discharged to 7% after just a few days.

Before leaving, the computer was shut down properly. There was no mistake. It was not put to sleep or on hibernate.

The battery is in good condition. It lasts about two and a half hours, which isn't long, but inline with factory specs.

A few questions for you techies about this.

What used the power while the computer was turned off?

When I go away again, should I take the battery out?

If I don't take the battery out and let the battery discharge again, would any damage be done to the battery or the laptop?

I have looked on the internet for some solutions. One was to take the battery out and hold down the on/off button. I've done this, but will not know if it has done anything until I go away again.

Another one was to test the battery and calibration. I did this an the battery came up fine.

Some other things discussed on the internet was about fast boot being turned on and updating the BIOS. I'm a bit weary of touching the BIOS.

I know laptop batteries discharge a little bit when not in use, but they shouldn't discharge to empty after 12 days, possible before.

Any thoughts from you guys?

To the moderator.  Perhaps you could move this thread to the Pattaya Forum for more local knowledge.

I thought the same and found an agent on Pattaya Klang rd - half way down on the right hand side towards the beach. Or there is a lady on first floor Big C extra on Pattaya Klang. Go upstairs and take first right opp the entrance to the supermarket and tucked in the corner is a little travel agent. I think it takes 3 working days and costs about 3000 bht! It's certainly not the cheapest way to do it but saves a lot of hassle -also depends on if you're going to Saigo or Hanoi - we waited a bit at Saigon but I hear there are smaller queues at Hanoi!

Thanks leggo.  The agent on Pattya Klang Road - is that somewhere around where there are many dental practices?