Ipaqs batteries run down pretty quickly even when switched
off. If I unlock an hx4700 battery without removing
it (by flicking the left hand battery lock switch on
the base of the unit to the right) then unit seem to
switch off fully allowing the main battery to stay
charged. The back-up battery doesn't seem to run down
over several days either.

Is this common practice or are there any adverse consequences
that I haven't yet encountered?

John Galloway