When you purchase a new laptop, make sure you condition the battery or you’ll end up buying a replacement in the very near future.

The conditioning process varies among laptop manufacturers, so make sure you read the instructions that came with your new laptop. Some manufacturers recommend that you completely drain the battery before allowing it to fully charge, and then repeating that process two or three times before you do a partial charge.

Others have different instructions so, again, ask the person that sold you the laptop and read the instructions carefully.

After you’ve conditioned your battery, I also recommend that you allow your laptop battery to completely drain once every 3 to 4 months, and then fully recharge it to refresh all cells. A well-maintained battery should accept hundreds of recharges and last for a long time.