Sasquatch Jones wrote:

From your headers:

Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

That is used for e-mails. It is not appropriate for Usenet posts which
should have *physical* line lengths of 76 characters, or less (like 72
to allow for indentation in quoting in replies). Quoted-Printable
formats content as paragraphs, not as lines.

Configure your NNTP client (Outlook Express) to NOT use 1 long line per
paragraph; i.e., set format to None. In the Options under the Send tab
and in the "News sending format" option, select "Plain text". Then
click on the "Plain Text Settings" button and select MIME and elect None
for formatting.


"VanguardLH" ...

Sasquatch Jones wrote:

I got out a laptop to connect at the Verizon box and check speeds.
The laptop has not been using in 6 months or so - put away in the
case, and no damage.

Today I powered it up, booted fine, then worked for 5 minutes or
so, then went dead, just like I had held the on/off switch in and
shut it down. It didn't feel hot, but I let it sit before
restarting, started it up, same thing.

So much for that idea.

Keys are not sticking, power connection is fine, no other obvious
signs of trouble...

Any idea what might be causing this?


Does the laptop stay powered up when you use its A/C power adapter
connected from laptop to a live (non-switched) outlet?

Always runs on AC. Never use battery power.

Okay, again but rephrased. You said the laptop goes dead after 5
minutes. Did that 5-minute death period occur while the laptop was
using the A/C power adapter or without it and running on the battery?

How old is the battery?

Several years. Last month I ran it on the battery only to check and
it ran for 30 minutes before going into standby.

If a NiCad battery, you have not power cycled it (drain and recharge).
NiCads have a memory that you have to eliminate by power cycling. If
not performed, the battery goes dead (capacity decreases) than the
normal lifecycle for a properly maintained battery.

Is it a NiCAD or LIthium battery?

No idea. Whatever came with the laptop - HP 5150.

Look at the battery. It will tell you. If NiCAD, you have left it
unattended (no power cycling) for way too long and it is useless now.

Have you added a reminder to some program (i.e., issue you reminders) to
charge its battery every 3 months?

No. Only use it with AC adapter.

So you haven't power cycled it ever. If a NiCad, you'll have to buy a
new battery or, as you say, always use it with the A/C adapter.

All batteries have a maximum lifetime. They all go dead eventually.
They're just chemical based and those degrade over time. "Several
years" doesn't give a specific response to "how old". Laptop batteries
seem to have a life expectancy of 3-4 years but during which capacity
wanes (up-time will diminish over the use and life of the battery) but a
lot shorter without proper maintenance.

You probably have to buy a new battery for the laptop or forego its
portability feature (like you only use it in one place) and always use
the A/C adapter.