Microsoft has begun an investigation into a possible problem with Windows 7 that might cause poor battery life, and even degradation of the battery itself, on certain notebooks.
The idea that a bad OS/BIOS combo could be damaging a battery is very worrying because it opens up the possibility that this issue might not just be annoying, but could also be dangerous.
The issue, which was first reported by users on Microsoft’s TechNet forum, seems to have been around since June of 2009, and not only affected the release version of Windows 7 but also the beta and Release Candidate builds of Windows 7. Users are presented with an error message that tells them that they should “Consider replacing your battery” because “There is a problem with your battery, so your computer might shut down suddenly.” Along with the error message, users are also claiming that battery life is being cut short. Some are going as far as to say that their machines are virtually unusable when powered by the battery.
Is Windows 7 wrecking notebook batteries? | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com
