techie question

[lobelia321]

I have an iBook G4 laptop. When I first got it 2 years ago, I could work at least 4 hours without it being plugged into the wall. Now, the battery-life is about 20 minutes.

What is causing this? And how can I get the battery-life to go back up to 4 hours??

Any suggestions from you techie wizzes out there gratefully received!

Comments

[yellow-oranges.livejournal.com]

Perhaps your Power Management Unit needs resetting?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thanks loads! The power management unit actually was not the problem but clicking my way through other articles on that page got me to the solution! :-)

Hey, Quail, wasn't it you who had that Sims addiction a while back...? I am totally gripped by that now....

[yellow-oranges.livejournal.com]

It was! I need to go play some more!

[miso-no-tsuki.livejournal.com]

You need a new battery, hun. That battery has a life expectancy of 18 months.(That one's dying and if you haven't backed up anything valuable to a USB stick/outboard HDD or similar *Do IT NOW!!* because that sucker is going to die on you at the least convenient moment. Or stay plugged into the mains 24/7. Your call.)
Battery should be flip out replaceable and should cost between £17 and £60.
Search on your iBook model number for availability on the web.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think I will buy a new battery. Although on the Apple page I found a whole lot of advice on how to maximise battery life by dimming the screen, running the laptop mostly off the battery (apparently they don't like being plugged into the mains, a thing I didn't know), turning off Airport when not needed and so forth. Yesterday I squeezed 2 1/2 hours out of the battery!

Anyway, your words about losing all my stuff frighten me! i will spend money!!