Windows Vista Battery going dead - system again will not boot up

I thought I had this problem licked, but obviously I don't. I noticed tonight, when the battery was allowed to go completely dead, I plugged the machine into AC - and when it booted up, it did so but not to where I was before. Instead, it just boots up to Windows.
In the Power Options / Critical Battery Action, I have it set for Hibernate (for batter) and in the Low Battery Option, I have Do Nothing. This is where the Default takes me and it worked a couple times, but the last couple times it is not.

 

It seems obvious that it is a laptop, but you should put your system details in your user profile
http://www.windowsbbs.com/adding_system_specifications.html
People might not reply to your thread if it going to take 2 or 3 posts to confirm basic details like that.

If the battery runs very low, it might not have enough power to save the data/settings correctly. You want it to warn you at the "Low Battery Option" stage. You could then take actions, like saving work you have finished working on and close programs you no longer need so that it is easier for it to hibernate until you can connect the charger.

For hibernation, the program information needs to be saved to the HDD, it needs enough power to do that correctly or it will just shut down like you have found. Of course, the more programs open the more that needs to be saved.

Matt

 

Thank you Matt for your reply. I would add, that if your suggestion were the correct one, then this would not be a problem that only began a small while back. Strange thing is, under the present configuration, it worked flawlessly. Then for some weird reason, where Hibernate is, it had switched to Sleep. I hit the Restore Default setting but it didn't do the trick.
This last time I let the Battery run right out, the System restored itself correctly - my programs were all restored.
So it seems at this point - at times it works - at times it does not. Any further suggestions Matt will be much appreciated.

 

Don’t know your type and age of laptop but might want to check the users manual.

Some older laptops with a lithium ion battery require calibration every now and again else strange and mysterious shutdowns can abruptly happen.

The calibration procedure – if needed – will be in the manual.
Also double check that you have enough disk space for hibernation.

 

This is a Toshiba P200 - will be three years old this June. I have over 70 Gigs free on the hard drive. The Battery is a Lithium ion battery - obviously the calibration is needed as you say. Doing that today seemed to do the trick, or at least for the meantime it has. Can't seem to find anything regarding calibration procedure anywhere in the manual. Thanks for the reply.