01-05-2011, 04:01 AM

Hi all,

For some unknown reason, my one year old macbook pro suddenly has its battery life slashed by two.
It now lasts two hours, and the computer is burning hot while I'm using it.
It seems to me the last thing I did before this problem appeared was installing a wireless Canon printer.

Hope somebody can help.

Thanks for reading

01-05-2011, 12:40 PM

Have you ever cleaned out the computer?
How bright is the screen on battery?
Do you have bluetooth / wifi on?
Is your backlit keyboard on?
What are you doing on battery?

01-05-2011, 03:10 PM

Have you ever cleaned out the computer?
- I don't know what you mean by that, so I guess no
How bright is the screen on battery?
- Half bright
Do you have bluetooth / wifi on?
- wifi is on, as always
Is your backlit keyboard on?
- Yes, but I haven't changed that
What are you doing on battery?
- Browsing and reading, mostly.

But really, my habits haven't changed at all. The battery just lasts half as long, suddenly.
The computer is running very hot (70°C) and it seems to me that the fans are working hard.
Also, the cycle count is at 164.
I've also tried to calibrate my battery, without success.
When I unplug the charger, the battery indicator tells me it's going to last 3:00 before quickly falling to 2:00

Isn't there a program that shows which process is using battery ?

01-05-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by dekox

Have you ever cleaned out the computer?
- I don't know what you mean by that, so I guess no
How bright is the screen on battery?
- Half bright
Do you have bluetooth / wifi on?
- wifi is on, as always
Is your backlit keyboard on?
- Yes, but I haven't changed that
What are you doing on battery?
- Browsing and reading, mostly.

But really, my habits haven't changed at all. The battery just lasts half as long, suddenly.
The computer is running very hot (70°C) and it seems to me that the fans are working hard.
Also, the cycle count is at 164.
I've also tried to calibrate my battery, without success.
When I unplug the charger, the battery indicator tells me it's going to last 3:00 before quickly falling to 2:00

Isn't there a program that shows which process is using battery ?

By cleaning I mean physically opening your computer and clearing all the dust out.

01-05-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by s2odin

By cleaning I mean physically opening your computer and clearing all the dust out.

Nope, I haven't.

01-05-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by dekox

Nope, I haven't.

Well..... I would start there. That's probably why the machine is running hot.

01-05-2011, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by s2odin

Well..... I would start there. That's probably why the machine is running hot.

Wouldn't that void the warranty? I still have one week left, and apparently am going to need to use it.

01-05-2011, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by dekox

Wouldn't that void the warranty? I still have one week left, and apparently am going to need to use it.

No....

It's just taking the back cover off and cleaning the fans.
And Apple doesn't cover batteries in their warranty, as they as disposable.

01-05-2011, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by dekox

Wouldn't that void the warranty? I still have one week left, and apparently am going to need to use it.

If you have a week left on your warranty, book it into Apple and have them check your Macbook Pro, and they will clean it out if that's all that's wrong, and it is also your last chance to get AppleCare to add 2years more warranty.
Once the 12 months is up, you cannot get AppleCare!

01-05-2011, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by dekox

The computer is running very hot (70°C) and it seems to me that the fans are working hard.

Just wanted to mention two things:

1. You haven't exactly told us what you do on your computer (tasks or things you do).

2. Depending on what you're doing on your MacBook Pro...70°C is NOT very hot at all. In fact in many cases it's totally normal.

Right now...my MacBook Pro's CPU temp. is 71°C...and I'm just reading & posting messages on Mac-Forums!...it would be MUCH higher if I was gaming (probably the mid-80's°C).


- Nick

01-09-2011, 11:32 AM

Here is something else I've noticed, in the activity monitor, the percentage next to "% user" is very high (between 50 and 60). I've compared it with one of my friend's mac, and his number is 2% or so. So I think this may be the reason why my battery life is so low.

Does anyone know what does that number "% user" mean, by opposition to "% system" ?

link to a screenshot of my activity monitor : Untitled - Minus

01-09-2011, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by dekox

Here is something else I've noticed, in the activity monitor, the percentage next to "% user" is very high (between 50 and 60). I've compared it with one of my friend's mac, and his number is 2% or so. So I think this may be the reason why my battery life is so low.

Does anyone know what does that number "% user" mean, by opposition to "% system" ?

link to a screenshot of my activity monitor : Untitled - Minus

Answered/replied to in the other thread you started.

- Nick