Extend Your Laptop Battery Life

Laptop batteries are like people - eventually and inevitably die. And as people who do not respect Moore's Law - You can not expect next year's batteries to last twice as long this year.
Battery technology may improve a bit over time (after all, there are plenty of financial incentives to improve batteries), but, while interesting possibilities may seem, do not expect major battery breakthroughs in the near future.

Even if the battery runs out at the end, proper care can put off the inevitable. Here's how to keep your laptop battery working for as long as possible. With luck, it could last as long as is necessary to replace the aging notebook (perhaps with a laptop with a longer battery life).
I've also included some tips on how to keep the battery longer between charges, so you can work longer without AC power.
Do not run it down to empty
Squeezing every drop of juice from a lithium-ion battery (the type used in laptops today) strains and weakens. In this way, once or twice will not kill the battery, but the cumulative effect of frequently emptying the battery reduces its life.
(Actually, there is one exception to this rule - a circumstance in which you should discharge the battery until the end I'll get to later ..)
The good news: You probably can not run down the battery, anyway - at least not without going to a lot of trouble to do so. Most modern laptops are designed to shut down before the battery is discharged.
In fact, Vista and Windows 7 have a setting for this purpose. To see it, click Start, type power, and select Power Options. Click on any of the links Change plan settings and then click Change advanced power settings. In the dialog box that appears, scroll down and expand the Battery option. Then expand Low battery level. The setting is probably 5 percent, which is a good place to leave it.
XP is not configured as native, although your laptop may have a vendor-supplied tool that does the same job.
Myth: You should never recharge the battery fully.
There is controversy on this point, and in researching this article interviewed experts both for and against. But I came down on the side of recharging all the way. The advantages of leaving home with a fully charged battery - you can use your PC longer without AC power - is worth the small risk of harm. 
Keep it cool
Heat breaks down the battery power and reduces the total duration.
When you use your laptop, make sure the vents are unblocked. Never work with the laptop on pillows or cushions. If possible, place it in an overhead support allowing plenty of airflow.
Also, clean the vents occasionally with a can of compressed air. You can buy this for a couple of dollars at any computer store. Be sure to follow the directions on the can, and do this only when the notebook is off.
Give it a Rest
If you are working exclusively on AC power for a week or more, remove the battery before.
Otherwise, it is running out of battery - constant reloading that - at a time when there is no need to use at all. Also warming up (see "Keep It Cool", above).
If you do not want it too empty when you take it out. An unused battery loses power over time, and you do not want all the power to drain, then delete it when it is at least half.
Do not remove the battery while the computer is on or in standby or sleep mode, in doing so, block the system and possibly damage your hardware. Even inserting a battery in a laptop running can damage the system. Just remove or replace the battery when the laptop is completely off or hibernating.
If you have never removed the laptop battery and do not know how, see the documentation. (If not, you can probably find it online.) The instructions generally involve turning the laptop upside down and have a button while inserting the battery.
Myth: Refrigerate your battery.
Some people recommend storing it in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. While you should have a new battery, the last thing you want is a wet battery, and condensation is a real danger in the fridge. Instead, store it in a dry place at room temperature. A file works fine.
If you do not want the battery to go too long without exercise or let it drain completely. If you go without the battery for more than two months, put it in your PC and use it for a couple of hours, then remove.
Also, before you take your laptop on the road, reinsert the battery and charge the battery for a couple of hours before unplugging. Allow the battery time to get a full charge before removing the AC power cord. Sharing is sexy