Battery drain in Vista hiberation

E.B.E. · 10-29-2007, 05:58 AM

Is it normal for the computer to lose 10-15% of battery (=~ 7 Watt-hour) during 18hours of hibernation (say from tonight until tomorrow afternoon) from the Windows Vista OS?

I already know of this issue with two laptops: ASUS R1F, and Compaq Presario C700 (C710ED). Therefore I think it's a Vista problem, and not a computer-specific issue. I did not get a chance to verify it on other Vista laptops.

I have verified on the second computer that it is happening only during hibernation. When computer was shutdown instead of put into hibernation, it lost no battery during a similar 18-hour period.

This means that if left during hibernation for more than a few days, the computer could completely drain its battery.
One can argue that for such a long period the computer should be shut down, but:

1. For a person used to using hibernation, it can very well happen they put the notebook into hibernation and leave on a few days of holiday or something similar. One shouldn't have to worry about one's battery dying when the computer is supposed to be off, should one? Also if the period is longer / say a few weeks, this could even affect the maximum charge of the battery, i.e. add wear to it (leaving batteries drained for a period of weeks is not such a hot idea)! I don't think it's nice to go on holiday and always wonder, did I put my computer in hibernation or did I shut it down? Will I get 5% extra wear when I'm back?

2. Hibernating over night and then taking the computer with you in the morning (say to classes), it's not nice to see that you have 20-25 minutes less on battery than you would expect.

Does anyone has any experience with this issue? Can this be solved from Vista hibernation options, or otherwise?

PS:

Quote:

Originally Posted by windowsvistablog.com

Lastly, after a laptop has been in sleep for a while, the system will wake up and immediately go into the hibernate state. This state uses absolutely no power, so even the minimal battery drain used in standby is removed.

Clearly not true for the computers mentioned above.

ScuderiaConchiglia · 10-29-2007, 10:31 AM

At the risk of stating the obvious, if your machine is consuming power it is not truly in hibernation. Sounds more like it is in sleep mode but the power consumption even sounds a bit high for true sleep mode. Remember Vista actually has two sleep modes, I forget what the two are called. One creates the equivalent of a hibernation file and then goes to sleep. The other just sleeps. Do you think MAYBE you are in the first of those two modes?

Since Vista doesn't show you any progress of creating the hibernation file, how are you able to verify you are in hibernation? I assume you DO see the "resuming windows" message when you power it back up.

Do you see anything in the logs about any issues with going into hibernation?

Gary

E.B.E. · 10-29-2007, 10:35 AM

1. I have set the action of the power button to "Hibernate" under all power profiles. I am using the power button to poweroff.
2. windowsvistablog.com states that there is no hybrid suspend mode for laptops: http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/wi...anagement.aspx
3. I see the "Resuming" screen, & the HDD activity during poweroff and poweron are consistent with writing a complete hibernation file.

So I really believe I am using suspend to disk (hibernation).

Regardless, do you know of any stronger method to enforce suspend to disk & not the hybrid mode? To eliminate this possible cause.

I do not know how to check the error logs in Vista, but I can find out, unless you're so kind to provide a link

ScuderiaConchiglia · 10-29-2007, 10:55 AM

Instead of using the power button use the start menu and see if it makes a difference. (See attachment.)

There are some specific logs for power management startup/shut down issues. I don't have a link, and off hand do rememeber SPECIFICALLY where I was looking thorough them. Sorry. If I do remember I'll post another note.

Gary

E.B.E. · 10-29-2007, 10:57 AM

I'll try that (I'll use Hibernate but not Shutdown). In shutdown there is no battery issue.

E.B.E. · 10-31-2007, 05:17 PM

I started the computer yesterday evening, after having it hibernate on Friday evening. So, roughly 4 full days. The battery was at 56% (!!!)

orev · 10-31-2007, 05:28 PM

How old is the computer? How old is the battery? Are you leaving the laptop near any heat sources? Are there any lights blinking on it when it's in hibernation?

E.B.E. · 10-31-2007, 05:30 PM

Computer brand new, and battery the same. No heat sources. No lights blinking (it's not in standby don't worry).

Sredni Vashtar · 10-31-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.B.E.

Computer brand new,

Call tech support and tell them to solve the issue, then. :-)

What about wireless? Could it be that you have some wireless or bluetooth card always on? 7 Wh in 18 hours is some 400 mW of power drain.
Have you tried to switch off wi-fi radio and bluetooth from the OS and from the BIOS?

E.B.E. · 10-31-2007, 07:47 PM

Hmm... Let me try that too. Boot from WLAN maybe?