In this post I explain how to troubleshoot laptop battery charging problems. I will list most common battery failure examples and suggest some troubleshooting steps.
Example 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 problems:
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).
Example 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 problems:
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).
Example 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 problems:
This is battery related failure. The battery is bad and has to be replaced.
Example 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 problems:
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.
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November 30th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@ elise,
First of all, here are Toshiba Satellite A55 disassembly instructions if you need them:
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/.....-guide.htm
If the laptop doesn’t turn on at all, there could be a problem with the power button board. Shown in the step 10, it’s above the keyboard.
There could be a problem with the DC jack.
Also, could be dead motherboard.
I cannot tell which one is failing without looking at the laptop.
November 26th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Just was given a laptop cuz I can’t afford a new one. Never had a laptop so im not so fast in cracking this baby open but I have a Toshiba satellite. A55-S0164..sister said it worked fine till it went dead. The power cord light is blue and its on. But the laptop is dead. Battery in or out …being plugged up matters none. Its just dead. What should my next steps be? Thanx!
November 25th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@ daniel,
Unfortunately, I think there is a problem with the motherboard. Probably the battery charging circuit failed or something like that.
Just in case, try starting the laptop just form AC adapter with battery removed. Can you?
November 25th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Hi! just bought a brand new ac adapter + battery but the problem is when i connect the ac wire the light on the adapter blinks but when i remove the wire from the l/top socket it stops blinking and i think it has to do with my laptop unable to startup.Thanks any help will do.
November 17th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
I have two identical ‘Dell inspiron 1420′laptops, Dell#1 was not charging neither powering on when plugged in…. Battery in #1 was placed in Dell#2 to determine if battery was good, and it did charge with no problems.
After switching back batteries, Dell#2 was not charging but able to power on when plugged in only.
Now Both Dell will not charge batteries in their respective computers.
November 17th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@ julio,
As I mentioned in the previous comment, test your laptop AC adapter.
It’s possible the adapter failed.
November 16th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Thank you for responding. The laptop turns on when you press bottom, but just for a very short time , you can hear going but then stop. Screen is blank at all time while starting.
November 16th, 2011 at 11:32 am
@ julio,
It’s not very clear if the laptop turns on at all. What happens when you push on the power button? Does the laptop start at all?
By the way, you can test the AC adapter with a voltmeter.
It’s possible the AC adapter is dead and the battery doesn’t have enough charge to start the laptop.
November 15th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Hi I have a laptop compaq v5000. I have a blank screen when I turned on. But I dont se the charging ligth on the front of laptop. It sound like is going but then you hear it stop. The ac adapter has been conected for a year. I never disconected because battery is no good.could it be that ac adapter is burn.
because i notice is very hot
November 15th, 2011 at 10:32 am
@ Megs,
This could be just simple AC adapter failure. It’s possible the AC adapter went bad and the laptop stopped charging the battery after that.
Now you cannot turn it on because the battery doesn’t have enough charge.
First, I would test the AC adapter. You can do it with a multimeter.
Alternatively, you can test the laptop with another compatible AC adapter.