Boost your laptop’s battery life part2

• Limit background programs  Having lots of programs running in the  background puts a strain on the processor,  using up battery power. To limit the number  of programs that run automatically when  you start your PC, click Start, then type run  into the Search box and press Enter. In the  box that appears, type msconfig and press  Enter, then click the Startup tab. Check the  list for anything unnecessary (QuickTime is  always a good candidate) and untick the box  next to them before clicking OK. Be careful  not to disable anything important, such as  your anti-virus software. Windows 8 users  can use Ctrl+ Alt+ Delete to manage startup  programs in Task Manager.  
• Don t let other  devices use your laptop  USB speakers and webcams that are  attached to your laptop draw on its power    and contribute to its battery depletion. Avoid  plugging in your phone to charge from your  laptop s USB port except when the laptop is  plugged in the mains. 
• Keep your laptop cool  Heat is the enemy of computer components.  The small space available within a  laptop chassis means there s little room for a  fan. The small fan that can be fitted has to  work very hard to keep the processor cool.  The fan and processor both use a lot of  energy. Ensure the fan s vents are free from obstruction, the room well ventilated and  the temperature low. This will maximise  your laptop s efficiency and mean the  fan doesn t have to work so hard at cooling  the processor. 
•  Limit volume to  preserve battery life  The louder you play music and DVDs  through the speakers, the more battery you  use up. By plugging in the headphones you  can lower the volume (your laptop should  do this automatically to prevent hearing  damage) and prolong the battery.