Battery gauge recalibration on Dell Latitude D610 laptop

[VIP]

I have a Dell Latitude D610 laptop. When I start it up, it tells me that the battery gauge needs to be recalibrate. What happens is that the battery works fine, till about halfway through, with the power gauge reading 50%. Then, within seconds, it will drop to 5% and start shutting down. Can any body tell me that how can i do a battery gauge recalibration on my Dell laptop? What do you recommend I do? Kindly provide me the correct suggestion.

[Gonzo]

The computer supports 2 lithium ion batteries. The main battery comes standard in the main battery compartment; an optional secondary battery can be installed in the options bay. To completely discharge the battery means to run your machine on DC until the battery is dead. Same as when the battery in your car runs out of juice and no longer will crank or allow you to turn on lights, etc.

[Pugsly]

It sounds like having a dead cells in the battery, but if a replacement didn't do the trick, then either the replacement is defective or the computer might be reading it wrong. Recalibrating the battery maintains the accuracy of the main-battery indicator on the status display panel, the charge gauge on the main battery, and the battery status icon.

[Simond]

You do not have to recalibrate the battery immediately. Your best bet is to call Dell and see what they say about the battery, as it's unlikely you have two defective batteries. In order to recalibrate the main battery, attach the AC adapter to the computer and leave the computer on. You may continue working while the recalibration process continues. Or, it may be more convenient to let the battery recalibrate overnight.