Hello Group! I am having a trouble with my battery. I am wondering if anyone else is having this trouble? I seam to be getting ONLY about a good 1 hour MAX out of a SO-CALLED full charge. I think, the trouble is not in the battery, but the circuit. Is there a Reset button for the circuit, so that the battery can get a DEEP-CHARGE? Also, I notice that enen when the indicator says (FULLY-100% CHARGED) that the charging indicator NEVER goes off, it still says its charging, but its at 100%!!! Should I just run the battery down all the way and see if that resets the circuit. Also after about 30minutes or so, the battery indicator dumps Large % in a VERY short time!!! I have had this laptop for about 4 months now. BTW, what does the reset button do?......Thanks…Ron

You are thinking about NiCad or NiMH batteries, that can develop a memory effect. They need to be discharged occasionally, or else they “forget” about the rest of their capacity.

Your Sony has a Lithium battery. Lithium batteries are quite a different beast. They do not like to be deep discharged. They quickly lose their capacity if you run them all the way down. Even one deep discharge can cause you to lose most of the battery’s capacity, if the discharge takes the battery all the way down and leaves it there for an extended time. I try not to let my battery go below 20%.

So far as I know, all the Sonys say the battery is always charging. It really just means that you are running from external power instead of the battery. Your battery circuit does not charge a fully charged battery. If it did, the battery would overheat.

The reset button is exactly like the reset button on any desktop computer.

The most likely problem with your battery is that is near the end of its life, and you need a new one.

I was wrong about the button. It’s called (Refresh) and it’s located in the Battery section called: Detailed Information For Battery #1. What is that REFRESH button for? I know about the other 2 battery types. I have had this notbook for about 4 month’s now. I saw the charging Icon ONLY go out the first time I charged up the battery for the first time. So I know, IT DOES go out.  In the long run, i think you are right, I probably just need a new battery, but I purchased this as a REFURBISHED unit from a dealer off E-Bay. Sony is giving me a run-around. But it looks like the dealer MIGHT?? give me a new battery!!! Hopfully…..Thanks again for your reply….Ron

At almost 200 charge cycles, I am having the same problem with my beloved TR’s battery.  Fortunately for me, I had two more days before my warranty was up.  So naturally I made a call to Sony support.  They are really giving me a hard time, but I know if I stick to my guns I will get my new battery.

If you cannot get such luck, I would spend the extra few bucks on the extended version:

Thanks TruthSeeker for your advise! The thing that bothers me VERY-MUCH is that I only have 10 charge cycles on my battery!!  I to called Sony and they gave me a VERY hard time also, telling me that the battery ONLY had a 30 day warranty and that the battery and my TR3A was OUT OF WARRANTY!!  I have owned this laptop ONLY 4 month’s. I am not a happy camper. I think the E-Bay merchant I purchased the unit from (who is very reputable) will work with me on getting a Battery replacement??  I do have to say this: I AM VERY UNHAPPY with Sony’s (So-Called) customer service. Everytime I have called them, I have recieved a RUN-AROUND and they have not answered even ONE of my questions. No wonder they are doing poorly(business-wise) right now. One thing that is REALLY upsetting me with all PDA’s and Laptop’s is the PATHETIC, baterry life. I mean, my cell-phone battery HAS-NOT been charged in months, and its still going strong! Why can’t MUCH more expensive Laptop’s and PDA’s do that??!! Though, I have to say, that my Apple I-Book’s battery is getting a GREAT long life. I am getting what I should be getting on my Sony.  I am getting a good 6 hours on the Apple. My Sony is doing good with most other functions, but I think this is going to be my LAST PC(I said that before, I got the Sony, with my first laptop a Compaq Presario 1930, what a Dog), just sick and tired with all the CONSTANT Virus etc. updating and the $40.00 I just had to pay to get my virus subscription updated. All I seam to do is UPDATE!!! UPDATE!! every time I turn it on. With Apple you don’t have to worry about things like that( not all the time, at least)...IT’S WONDERFULL!!!!  I think that PC is just WAY to complex….WAY!!! Good luck to you other Guys-Gals with your Sony Batteries. 10 charge cycles and a dead battery, don’t sit right with me…....GOOD LUCK!!!!

BTW, I only payed $70.00 for a Battery from an Apple Store. It was an Open-Box-Unit, but it was perfect! and even the open-box battery had a FULL one year warranty!! On the other hand, It looks like I will have to Shell-Out, AT-LEAST around $300.00 for a sony Battery. Even the one TruthSeeker told me about (Thanks Truth-Seeker) will set me back over $250.00!! Thats highway robbery! Now I’m wondering, what else will go wrong with my Sony!! Will it be the hard Disc next?? BTW, I’m the kinna guy who treats his possessions with Kit-Gloves, like they were gold. After I write this post. I am going to get intouch with the merchant that sold me my Sony TR3A and HOPE I will get a new battery?? if not, I looks like I will have to lug my power pack around on a New Laptop…..HOW PATHETIC!!!!

I feel your pain, brother.  I have given a lot of thought to leaving Sony for two BIG reasons.  The first is all the expensive accessories.  The second being the proprietary junk they continue to hang on to (memory sticks mainly).

I know I can streamline all my electronics if I move to products that carry SD and MMC cards.  This includes my digital cameras, cell phones, laptop, home PC’s, music players, etc.

It isnt easy staying loyal. :?

Thanks TruthSeeker!  The reason I got the Sony in the first place. Well 2 reasons. When I got my Compaq Laptop (Presario 1930) back in 2000, I really wanted a Sony instead. THEY DO HAVE A GREAT SMALL FORM-FACTOR, and AWESOME looks! I just could not justify the $3000.00 price back than for the PictureBooks. So the Compaq was the smallest best stocked laptop I could afford. So it was always in the back of my mind, and I love the size of the TR3A(I was thinking about a Apple Powerbook, but it was still to large) (Dam shame Apple does not make a PowerBook in the size of a TR3A-if Apple did, I would not be a Sony owner) the sony is awesome in its own right with 1) it’s GREAT wide Bright Sreen-Bests y beloved Apple 2) Great modem connection speed on my noisy line-yes I still use Dialup 3) The Wi-Fi… Its a very nice laptop, just wish I was not having a battery issue. Yes TruthSeeker, the accessory prices are very steep. Sony can really gouge on the prices of accessories. 4) love the built-in cam, but with the battery(and I hopethe new battery willfinally give me the time,so I can use it) Well enough,on the battery issue. I will just work with WHOEVER I can, to get a NEW one or I will just have to fork out the dough for another one…..Ron

[quote author=“TruthSeeker”]At almost 200 charge cycles, I am having the same problem with my beloved TR’s battery.  Fortunately for me, I had two more days before my warranty was up.  So naturally I made a call to Sony support.  They are really giving me a hard time, but I know if I stick to my guns I will get my new battery.

If you cannot get such luck, I would spend the extra few bucks on the extended version:

If I’m not mistaken isn’t the warranty on the battery valid for only a month ? 

[quote author=“Rahul”]

If I’m not mistaken isn’t the warranty on the battery valid for only a month ? 

Not really:

Unfortunatly with Sony it is ONLY a month, but it looks like sence I purchased it from a REPUTABLE E-Bay dealer. I WILL be getting a NEW-BATTERY!!!! So that is sure….GREAT NEWS!! I just got the news today…

Just got my brand new battery!  I guess it just depends on how lucky you are and who you talk to when you call Sony. :wink:

Tell me how long of a battery life you get on you new one. I got a question for you TruthSeeker? It’s not battery related. When I use the AC on my Sony my screen brightness setting ALWAYS go full up at Bootup. How can I PREVENT that from happening? I have looked in the settings area, and have-not found anything? Maybe you can help…..Thanks…

You should be able to set the LCD brightness on AC power in Power Panel.

Truthseeker - I’m glad to hear the happy ending!!

To answer your first question, a little over 4 hrs.  I would answer your second question, but the almighty Drachen has beat me to it.  He’s a liitle quicker than I with the trigger, you know. :wink: