Your laptop needs a battery to keep running.
However, there are many questions that remain unanswered about the relationship between laptops and their batteries.
Today, we’re going to answer some of the most common yet most unanswered questions about laptops and batteries.
Table of Contents
Is It Safe To Use A Laptop With A Dead Battery?
It’s safe to use a laptop with a dead battery, provided it’s connected to an external power source.
Ordinarily, your laptop charger offers enough wattage to charge the battery and keep your laptop running.
With a dead battery, your laptop will start up and run using power from your AC adapter.
However, we do not recommend using a dead battery on your laptop. Instead, we suggest you replace it.
Doing so prevents you from losing documents and settings in case you experience an abrupt power cut.
It will also prevent damage to your laptop by sudden power spikes or in the unlikely event that your dead battery catches fire or explodes.
How Long Do Gaming Laptop Batteries Last?
Many modern developments on laptop batteries have led to better performance and longevity, especially on gaming laptops.
A modern gaming laptop will last you at least six to eight hours of hardcore gaming without sacrificing on performance. Some high-end ones will last up to 12 hours!
Despite a power-hungry GPU, high-speed processors, multiple fans, an RGB backlit keyboard, controllers and loud speakers, your gaming laptop will last for quite a while before needing a recharge.
Can A Laptop Run Without A Cmos Battery?
Your laptop doesn’t need a CMOS battery to start up and run, but that comes with two minor disadvantages. You’ll lose your real-time clock and non-volatile BIOS memory settings (on older computers).
The purpose of the CMOS battery is to provide a small amount of charge to the CMOS when you turn your computer off. This battery will keep your real-time clock running.
Without it, you’ll have to set your clock afresh every time you start your computer.
If you have an older system, your CMOS battery also maintains the non-volatile BIOS memory, which keeps your BIOS settings intact in between boots.
If removed, you’ll lose your BIOS settings, leading to startup problems.
Does A Laptop Battery Charge When A Computer Is Off?
Your laptop battery will continue to charge, even when you turn your computer off. In fact, it will charge faster when off.
Under normal circumstances, your AC adapter splits power to charge your battery and power your laptop simultaneously. Splitting power allows you to operate your computer safely, even as your battery charges.
When you turn off your computer, all the power goes to charge your battery.
Doing this is safe. You cannot ‘overcharge’ modern batteries or damage them because of charging. Instead, once full, your battery will stop charging.
Do Laptops Have A Removable Battery?
Many laptops have removable batteries, but as laptops get thinner and lighter, these batteries become harder to remove and replace.
Newer lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are lighter and thinner. They also store energy for longer, which means you can get up to 16 hours of use out of the best ones.
They also degrade slower than removable batteries from older laptop models, so they can last you three to five years with proper maintenance.
For this reason, removable batteries have become less common, except for select gaming laptops.
You may not easily change them unless you’re an expert or if you seek professional help.
Can I Use Any Battery For My Laptop?
Unless you find a compatible battery from a reputable manufacturer, you cannot use any battery for your laptop.
You don’t have to buy a battery from your laptop manufacturer, but it must be compatible with your device to work.
Do some research about any third-party manufacturer to ensure that their batteries are high quality and long-lasting before making any purchase.
Doing this reduces your chances of getting scammed or purchasing a substandard battery.
Does A Laptop Battery Voltage Matter?
Nothing is as important as the battery voltage, especially when you’re looking for a replacement for your current unit.
Depending on your laptop’s energy requirements, your battery voltage will range between 10.8V and 11.1V, or 14.4V and 14.8V.
The more the number of cells in a battery, the higher the voltage. So, for example, a 10.8V battery will have six cells while a 14.4V battery has eight.
Although the standard voltage for laptop batteries will fall on the lower end (10.8V-11.1V), some models will come with higher voltage ratings.
It shouldn’t surprise you that one battery model may come with two voltage variations.
Note however, that you can’t use these batteries interchangeably. If your laptop requires a battery with a higher voltage rating, any compatible version with a lower voltage rating simply won’t work.
Do Laptops Run Faster Without A Battery?
While your laptop will run fine without a battery, there is no advantage to using it in that manner. Your laptop will run at optimal speeds, not faster.
Instead, there will be no buffer for your laptop against heavy electrical loads and poor electrical currents.
In the event these risks occur, your laptop’s motherboard may fail. Certain components may malfunction and cause your laptop to run slower, not faster.
We don’t recommend using your laptop without a battery. A dead battery may offer a slight buffer against high current loads, but that isn’t enough. If your battery is dead, we recommend you replace it.
Can A Dead Laptop Battery Cause Problems?
Dead batteries rarely cause problems. In certain laptop models, however, they may interfere with the startup process.
In case this happens, remove the dead battery from your laptop and launch the startup process without it. Your laptop should now start up with no hitches.
Replacing your old battery usually solves any power-related performance problems your laptop may have.
Some dead batteries may cause your laptop to overheat, damaging key components on the motherboard of your laptop. To avoid this risk, remove the dead battery from your laptop.
Although rarely, dead batteries may also be a fire hazard. Dispose of them in as safe and environmentally friendly manner and purchase a replacement as soon as you can.
Do All Laptops Have Batteries?
All laptops require batteries for optimal operation. All laptop brands come with at least two essential batteries: the main battery and the CMOS battery.
The CMOS battery keeps your BIOS settings safe and real-time clock running, even when your laptop has no main battery. CMOS batteries also work even if your main battery is dead.
Without it, you’d have to set the time afresh every time you switch it off or lose BIOS settings, especially on older computers.
The main battery powers the core functions of the laptop, making sure that you can perform standard office tasks.
Although essential for portability, your main battery isn’t necessary.
You can keep your laptop running without the main battery, as long as you have its official AC adapter and an external power outlet.
Does A Laptop Battery Affect Performance?
Many Laptop manufacturers ensure your laptop will have seamless performance regardless of the status of your battery.
Your computer won’t perform any faster without a battery. It certainly doesn’t do better with one, either.
To avoid the risk of data loss or damage to your hardware, we always recommend that you get a functional battery.
Dead batteries may, on rare cases, affect your startup speed. As stated before, they may also be a fire or explosion hazard.
Does A Laptop Battery Affect Wi-fi?
Using your laptop battery will certainly affect the performance of Wi-Fi connectivity.
Your laptop uses a significant amount of power to stay connected to a Wi-Fi network. Under normal circumstances, your computer will use less battery power to keep you connected to a powerful network.
If the Wi-Fi signal is weak, your laptop will increase the amount of power allocated to connect to it.
If your battery is dead, your Wi-Fi connectivity may become unstable.
One way of solving this problem is to remove the battery and use your AC power adapter whenever you connect to your network.
However, the best solution in this circumstance is to replace your battery with a new or functional one.
Do Laptops Have Bios Batteries?
All laptops come with CMOS/ BIOS batteries.
Even though modern laptops have better batteries with longer lifespans, CMOS batteries maintain the real-time clock and BIOS settings on all laptops.
In the end, all batteries degrade. However, your CMOS battery can last between five and 10 years, which is much longer than your standard laptop battery.
Does A Laptop Battery Drain When Off?
Your battery shouldn’t drain when you turn off your laptop.
However, this may happen to your device for one or several reasons.
We’ve listed some of them below, with some potential solutions:
Bad Device Drivers
Bad device drivers may cause your battery to drain while off. The culprit often is Intel drivers.
If you’ve recently installed new drivers, roll them back or uninstall them. If not, update them to the latest version. Doing this ends these problems.
Mistaking Sleep Mode With Shutdown
Make sure that you’ve performed a complete shutdown. Most laptops go to sleep mode when you press the power button or close the lid.
Do this by pressing the power button for at least 15 seconds or using the command prompt to shut down your device.
Battery Problems
Your laptop battery may drain because it’s dead. Check your battery health to ensure that your battery is still in stellar condition. If not, replace it.
Bios Issues
Performing a BIOS update may also resolve discharging problems.
Fast Startup Enabled
Disable the fast startup feature and even though your laptop may take slightly longer to boot, your battery will no longer drain.
Why Does A Laptop Drain In Sleep Mode?
Sleep mode shouldn’t drain your battery. If it does, it’s for the reasons stated in the previous question.
Please check your computer system and apply the suggested solutions. If your laptop continues draining, seek the assistance of a professional, or the laptop manufacturer.
Does A Laptop Drain Itself When Hibernating?
A laptop doesn’t drain itself when hibernating.
When you hibernate your computer, your Solid-State Drive or HDD stores a copy of your RAM then your computer goes off.
When you power up your computer again, your HDD or SSD will restore this image back on the RAM, preloading your programs as if you never left.
If your laptop drains while hibernating, please check above for problems and potential solutions.
Can A Bad Battery Slow Down Your Laptop?
A bad battery won’t slow down your laptop. However, in some models, a bad battery may affect start up processes. It may also reduce the overall performance of your laptop, albeit marginally.
To solve this problem, please connect your laptop to an external power source or change the battery.
Final Thoughts
Your laptop should operate free of problems with or without a battery. However, best practice is to always replace a dead battery as soon as possible. Doing this keeps your laptop running smoothly for as long as possible.
Sources:
https://windowsreport.com/battery-drain-shutdown/
https://itstillworks.com/would-dead-laptop-battery-affect-startup-12198973.html