Battery Power draining even when PC is Off?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the issue of a laptop battery draining significantly even when the computer is turned off. Participants explore potential causes, including software settings and hardware issues, and share personal experiences related to similar problems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their experience of the battery draining from 100% to 2% overnight after shutting down the PC, expressing confusion about the cause.
  • Another participant suggests that the computer may not have fully shut down and could be in a sleep state, referencing changes in Windows 8.
  • Several participants propose isolating the battery to determine if it is the source of the problem, recommending tests such as removing the battery after a full charge and checking for power drain.
  • One participant recalls a similar issue where closing the lid prematurely during the hibernation process led to unexpected battery drain.
  • Another participant mentions the possibility of a short circuit in the computer if the battery continues to drain after testing with Linux.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the cause of the battery drain, with some attributing it to software settings related to shutdown and sleep states, while others suggest hardware issues. No consensus is reached on the definitive cause of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific features of Windows 8, such as kernel hibernation and sleep states, which may influence the discussion. The effectiveness of proposed solutions remains uncertain, as individual experiences vary.

WWGD
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Hi,
I am just clueless about this. I turned my computer off with the battery at 100% ( I was using power cord
with outlet). I disconnected from the server at the coffee shop, went to " Shut Down" on Windows icon menu, turned machne off. This morning I turn my PC on and the battery is at around 2%. I've had this happen ( at different levels) a few times. What is going on?
 
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It can be like sleep sate not shutdown. This was implemented in windows 8.
 
Can you remove the battery? Isolate the variables. Shut it down with the battery fully charged, then remove the battery. Leave it over night. Put the battery back in and turn it on. Did it drain again? If so, then it's the battery and needs to be replaced. If not, then Windows prevented shutting down for some reason and you can check your event logger for why. If you still can't figure it out, dual boot Linux, then shut down from Linux. If it still drains, then it wasn't windows, it was your computer itself. Something is shorting out.
 
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Gandes said:
It can be like sleep sate not shutdown. This was implemented in windows 8.
The new state in Windows 8 was kernel hibernation, but the system still fully powers off. My guess is you closed the lid before it completed the shutdown process, and was in a standard sleep state.
 
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stoomart said:
The new state in Windows 8 was kernel hibernation, but the system still fully powers off. My guess is you closed the lid before it completed the shutdown process, and was in a standard sleep state.
Good point. I remember seeing some lights inside after shutting down the machine.
 
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newjerseyrunner said:
Can you remove the battery? Isolate the variables. Shut it down with the battery fully charged, then remove the battery. Leave it over night. Put the battery back in and turn it on. Did it drain again? If so, then it's the battery and needs to be replaced. If not, then Windows prevented shutting down for some reason and you can check your event logger for why. If you still can't figure it out, dual boot Linux, then shut down from Linux. If it still drains, then it wasn't windows, it was your computer itself. Something is shorting out.

Good idea, scientific method, except too much going on; trying to see if someone already did it and get it out of the way, use scientific method when I have more time.
 
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stoomart said:
My guess is you closed the lid before it completed the shutdown process, and was in a standard sleep state.

I had a problem like this once. Pressing the power button would send it into hibernate. If you immediately closed the lid the computer would sleep in the middle of the hibernate and just run full power until you opened it up again. Then it would actually finish the hibernate.

BoB
 
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