Laptops are the most popular type of personal computer, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s one simple, portable package that does the job for most people. However, one major sacrifice you have to make compared to a desktop is upgradability.
Does that mean you can’t upgrade a laptop at all? No! However, upgrading an old laptop may not be worth the cost and effort, depending on what you need it to do.
Battery Discharge Issues
In an old laptop, the battery may fail, manifesting as a near inability to function without the charging cable or, in severe cases, a failure to power on even when connected to a 220V electrical source. This signals potential battery deterioration.
The primary causes of a faulty battery are its age and improper usage.
Battery aging occurs after numerous charge and discharge cycles, common during extended laptop usage. Unfortunately, every battery has a finite lifespan calculated by the number of charge and discharge cycles. How do I choose a laptop battery? Simply write your laptop model in the search box in the online store. This is the easiest way. You can also take the battery out of your laptop and specify the battery model online.
Improper usage involves frequent or excessive discharge, or extended periods of inactivity where the battery is completely depleted. Alternatively, continuous connection to a 220V power source, even when the laptop is turned off, accelerates wear for older laptop batteries lacking protective features against overcharging.
For new laptop batteries, continuous connection to a 220V power source is less detrimental, thanks to built-in safeguards. However, for older laptop batteries, this constant connection expedites their deterioration.
Battery Charge to 100%
To be more precise, overcharging the battery per se doesn’t occur. A battery can’t surpass its designated 100% charge. However, consistently keeping an old battery at a 100% charge while simultaneously connected to a 220V source leads to the battery involuntarily and gradually discharging slightly (due to internal self-discharge processes) to a level just below 100%, then recharging back to 100%.
Each such subtle discharge and recharge equate to a complete battery discharge and charge cycle in terms of its operational lifespan. Therefore, such battery usage with constant charging from 220V accelerates the depletion of its precious resource, leading to battery failure.
If a laptop doesn’t power on due to battery wear, it’s advisable to remove the battery and operate the laptop solely on 220V power. If the so-called “alive” battery quickly discharges, fails to hold a charge, and offers no assurance of reliable battery-powered operation without 220V, it’s better to permanently remove such a battery from the laptop. Subsequently, you can transition to using the laptop as if it were a desktop computer, solely relying on 220V power. It may be a bit inconvenient, but it works!
Battery Discharge
For those who leave an old battery in an old laptop and continue working either on 220V or from the battery, the only wish is for the battery to last as long as possible.
For older rechargeable batteries, it’s better to set a higher low-charge warning threshold. New batteries typically set the warning threshold at 5-10%, while for an old one, it’s preferable to set it between 25-35%. This adjustment considers that a deeper battery discharge might lead to a laptop lenovo shutdown due to the diminished capacity of the already considerably worn-out battery.
Low-charge warning levels are configured in the power settings. The power settings program can be launched from the taskbar by right-clicking on the battery icon or from the Windows Control Panel by double-clicking the Power icon.
Once the laptop signals a low charge to a critical level (25-35%), it’s best to reconnect it to 220V to charge the battery to 100% (or slightly lower, like 95-98%). Only after a complete (or nearly complete) battery charge can you disconnect the laptop from 220V to continue working on battery power.
When operating an old laptop on 220V, if the old battery remains inside, it’s absolutely unacceptable to leave the laptop in a turned-off state while simultaneously connected to 220V. Connecting to a 220V outlet should only occur from the moment of turning on the laptop to the moment of turning it off. As soon as you turn off the old laptop, immediately disconnect it from 220V—this ensures the prolonged life of its old battery.
All these recommendations make sense if the rechargeable battery of the old laptop is still functional, and the laptop can operate for some time on the battery without being connected to 220V.
Laptop Battery Wear
A completely faulty battery must be removed from the laptop. Subsequent operation of such a laptop is only possible with the use of a charging device (power adapter). However, the laptop ceases to be a portable device; it can only be used where there is a connection to 220V.
An old or malfunctioning battery can be replaced with an identical one if the means and desire are available. Unfortunately, when replacing a battery with an analog claimed by the seller, you might miss the mark, and the new battery may not be suitable. However, if replaced with an exact match, you can once again enjoy the autonomy of the aging laptop from the rechargeable battery.
In other cases, it’s better to remove the battery from the laptop and use it as a desktop computer near 220V outlets. By the way, after removing the battery, the laptop becomes significantly lighter…
External Hard Drive
A straightforward approach to dealing with an outdated internal hard drive is to leave it be and opt for an additional external hard drive connected to the laptop through a USB port.
USB-Connected External Hard Drive
These external hard drives already boast capacities exceeding 1000 GB (1 TB https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Portable-External-Drive-WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN/dp/B07X41PWTY/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=external+usb+drive&qid=1702481493&sr=8-2), ensuring ample storage for the long haul.
External Hard Drive with Power Supply
When purchasing an external hard drive, it’s crucial to consider whether it comes with its power supply. Typically, devices with memory capacities of 3 TB and above include power supplies, while those with smaller capacities draw power directly through the USB port.
The latter option, powering directly from the USB port instead of an additional power source, is preferable. Laptops are often used in locations without electrical outlets, relying on their batteries. In such cases, an external hard drive requiring a connection to a household power source becomes impractical.
After selection, acquisition, and connection of an additional external hard drive, all user-specific files should be transferred from the laptop’s internal hard drive to the external one.
It’s advisable to leave only the operating system and essential applications on the internal hard drive. This cleanup ensures prolonged usage, facilitating the installation of system updates, new applications, and more.
External hard drives, with minimal effort, significantly extend the lifespan of a laptop that has almost run out of space on its internal hard drive.
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