It's too upsetting to find that your laptop has run out of battery when
you are just about to finish your presentation (or download of a big
file etc). Laptop battery backup is essential for a mobile professional
or for on the way e-communication or entertainment. However, most laptop
users soon encounter some problems with their laptop batteries - and
here's where this article may help you. It lists most common battery
failure examples and suggest some troubleshooting steps.
How to troubleshoot laptop battery charging problems
Problem
1: Laptop detects the battery but shuts off when AC adapter unplugged.
When you move the cursor arrow over the battery icon while the laptop is
connected to AC adapter, it show the remaining battery charge and says
“charging”. The batter power meter utility (if available) also shows
that battery is connected and charging. But… as soon as you unplug the
AC adapter, the laptop shuts off completely.
Possible Reasons:
1. The battery not seated correctly. Try reconnecting the battery.
2.
The battery contacts got dirty or oxidized and the battery is not
making good connection with the motherboard. Try reconnecting the
battery a few times.
3. If reconnecting the battery doesn’t help, most likely the battery is bad and has to be replaced.
4.
If you replaced the battery but the problem still exists, this is
motherboard related failure. Apparently the battery charging circuit has
failed. In this case the whole motherboard has to be replaced (or
repaired on component level).
Problem 2: The battery not detected
by the laptop. The battery is installed and you know it’s connected
correctly but there is a red cross on the battery icon. If you move the
cursor arrow over the battery icon, it says “no battery detected”.
Possible Reasons:
1. Most likely the battery is bad. You have a very good chance to fix this problem by replacing the battery.
2.
If replacing the battery doesn’t help, this is motherboard related
failure. The motherboard has to be replaced (or repaired on component
level).
Problem 3: The battery discharges very quickly after it
reaches some critical point. The battery detected by the laptop and
charges properly to 100%. When you unplug the AC adapter, it take normal
time to discharge until some critical point (let’s say 80%) but after
that the battery discharges very quickly to 0%.
Possible Reasons:
This is battery related failure. The battery is bad and has to be replaced.
Problem
4: The battery charges only if the power plug positioned correctly. You
have to wiggle the power plug in order to charge the battery. After you
find the right position, the battery charges properly.
Possible Reasons:
1. AC adapter failure. The AC adapter power cable is damaged. You can test your AC adapter with a voltmeter.
2.
If the AC adapter works fine, most likely this is power jack (connector
where you plug power adapter) failure. In this case the power jack has
to be replaced.
In some laptop models the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard, it’s attached to a power harness.
In this case, you can unplug the failed power jack from the motherboard and replace it with a new one.
