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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October 31st, 2010 at 10:31 am
watcha06,
Please provide more details.
Does the laptop turn on at all?
Can you turn it on with the battery removed?
Does it display any video on the screen?
etc…
October 30th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
My friend asked me to repair his Acer Aspire 4920. when i press the on button, it didn’t boot. so i charge it. but when i press the on button again, it is discharged from the power charger. the light that indicating charging will turn off. what actually the problem of my friend’s laptop?
October 29th, 2010 at 9:53 am
xfact,
Could be defective battery.
Also, try reconnecting the battery a few times, it’s possible the battery contacts oxidized and reconnecting the battery will fix the issue.
Is it a third-party battery? I really trust only factory replacement batteries.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:46 am
well i see a strange problem. am running windows 7 and i just buy a new battery it came with 50 pct charge. plug in the ac adopter for 2hours and its still at 50 pct. i try other chargers. still nothing. i guess its something with the battery charging circuit on the motherboard. any idea how to fix that if its the case?
October 21st, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Bill,
I think you need a new AC adapter. Shouldn’t be very expensive.
October 16th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I just found this site and it is great! It is now book marked.
I am trying to fix a friends Gateway MT6831 laptop. She initially had a hard drive failure so we put a new HD in and installed the OS and additional software. I had it up and running for 3 days with out any problem so I gave it back to her and it worked fine until the battery died. She plugged in the AC adapter and gets a blinking red light. So I now have the laptop again and when you take the battery out it is dead as a door nail. I followed you directions on checking out the AC adapter and it bounces around from .02 to .12 volts so I believe the trouble is the AC adapter. I would just like some confirmation before I tell her she now needs to spend more money for an AC adapter. Thanks Bill
October 13th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
The information in this article has helped me a lot. Thank you for providing it and I wish the best of the future to you!
John Hallquist
October 2nd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
benzboy,
Sounds like battery failure.
Isn’t your laptop still under warranty?
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
have gateway netbook not even a year old. battery charges up to 87% and doesn’t fully charge. yesterday its up to 78%. tried charging and discharging but didn’t help. tia
September 30th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Well your computer battery may no be inserted correctly as it might have come out due to a fall. You need to go to a computer repair shop to get it inserted correctly.
Rgds