Abstract: Battery-powered computer systems have evolved into multi-media systems which can playback two-hour movies stored on Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs). However, battery lives are generally too short to permit users to view an entire movie without interruption, requiring users who resume playback to fast-forward to an approximate point where the interruption occurred. Accordingly, the present invention provides system, method, and software embodiments which monitor battery status during DVD playback, and upon detection of low battery level, record a current playback position. Subsequent to the replacement or recharge of the battery, playback may be automatically resumed at the recorded playback position, thereby saving both time and power in recovering from the interruption. Other embodiments omit battery monitoring by periodically recording playback position and facilitate recovery from interruptions of data-transfer operations.