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English: Be aggressive with your computer's power-saving features. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options > Change Battery Settings and opt for the Power Saver plan or create a Custom Plan. If you choose the custom option, set minimal times for when the display will dim and turn off, when the computer will go to sleep, and how bright your monitor will be. Also, under Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > System Settings, set the PC to Hibernate instead of Sleep when you close the lid.

See more: 6 Ways to Make Your Laptop Battery Last Longer Tips for maximizing power management to keep your old laptop battery running.

The latest generation of ultraportable laptops and Ultrabooks use significantly less power than those made even a year or two ago. Though the promise of all-day battery life has huge appeal, the reality is that most owners of older laptops don't dare wander far from an electrical outlet. Though your aging laptop battery will never be as good as the day you first turned on your machine, there are still ways to keep it running strong for many charge cycles and extend your time untethered from a power cord.