Ubuntu

What happens when your battery runs out?

Asked by Riverrun

The battery on my laptop just ran out. There was no noticable warning from Ubuntu just a hard shutdown. What happens in cases like this? Can the OS be damaged? Mine seems ok. I hope it is but I'm annoyed that I became so engrossed that I forgot to watch the meter. Ubuntu ought to very visably warn users that a shutdown is immanent.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Gilbert Mendoza
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Riverrun (buttimersean) said : 		#1

Are there measures in place to prevent damage in this situation. Does the OS do something to protect itself? If not, there ought to be something.

Revision history for this message
Best Gilbert Mendoza (gmendoza) said : 		#2

Hey Riverrun. Typically you will see a notification window telling you your battery is critically low. To see your Power Management settings, take a look at System -> Preferences -> Power Management.

The "On Battery Power" tab has a definable action for when your battery reaches a critically low level. i.e. Suspend, Hibernate, Shutdown, Do Nothing. That's the operating systems way of protecting itself. Powering off hard isn't recommended but does not kill the filesystem. This is due to the advancements made in EXT3 using journaling, etc.

Revision history for this message
Riverrun (buttimersean) said : 		#3

Gilbert, I see what you mean it was set to shutdown. thanks for that.

Revision history for this message
Riverrun (buttimersean) said : 		#4

Thanks Gilbert Mendoza, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
aznmhc (mhc7791) said : 		#5

If that happens, you will lose your unsaved information