You can keep a battery in the computer or in storage, depending on how you work. Keeping the battery
in the computer whenever the computer is plugged into AC power charges the battery and also protects
your work in case of a power outage. However, a battery in the computer slowly discharges when the
computer is off and unplugged from external power.
WARNING! To reduce potential safety issues, use only the battery provided with the computer, a
replacement battery provided by HP, or a compatible battery purchased from HP.
Computer battery life varies, depending on power management settings, programs running on the
computer, display brightness, external devices connected to the computer, and other factors.
Displaying the remaining battery charge
▲
Double-click the Power Meter icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar.
– or –
Select Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Power Options > Power
Meter tab.
Most charge indicators report battery status as both a percentage and as the number of minutes of
charge remaining:
●
The percentage indicates the approximate amount of charge remaining in the battery.
●
The time indicates the approximate running time remaining on the battery if the battery continues
to provide power at the current level. For example, the time remaining will decrease when a DVD
is playing and will increase when a DVD stops playing.
When a battery is charging, a lightning bolt icon may be superimposed over the battery icon on the
Power Meter screen.
Inserting or removing the battery
CAUTION: Removing a battery that is the sole power source may cause loss of information. To prevent
loss of information, save your work and initiate Hibernation or shut down the computer through Windows
before removing the battery.
To insert the battery:
1. Turn the computer upside down on a flat surface.
Using battery power 17
