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Thread ID: 149201 2020-08-16 16:56:00 Battery problem on laptop Chikara (5139) Press F1
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1471185 2020-08-16 16:56:00 Hi All
I use my personal laptop usually only when traveling for work, which used to be a few times a month. Since COVID, I haven't traveled since March, so I hadn't used my laptop since then either.
So I thought today I should log in to it and download some windows updates.
Previously, I never really had a problem with the battery - it would hold it's charge shorter than when it was new, which is expected as it's about 5 or 6 years old now. But apart from that never really any battery problem, and the battery would still last for hours, enough for my needs.

But, now the battery shows as 0% available (plugged in) but does not charge.
At first I thought it's just run flat over the last 5-6 months, so just leaving it plugged in would recharge it. But after many hours it still shows "0% available - plugged in", in the status. The battery LED indicator flashes bettwen green and red.

I've had a read on various forums, some people say this will happen if the battery charge is drained to absolute zero, to the point that the laptop/charger will not realise a battery is even present that needs charging.
Here's what I've tried so far:
- Laptop runs fine when connected to mains power, so it doesn't seem to be a charger problem, or a plug / powerpoint problem. I tried 2 different power points, just to be sure
- I tried going to device manager, and uninstalling both the battery charging drivers, then letting them reinstall on next startup (and also checking for updates) - didn't solve it
- The battery status, even though it says "0% available - plugged in" - has the little animation on the battery icon moving, which usually means battery is charging, but it always stays as 0%
- Tried totally removing the battery and running on mains power, that works
- Tried removing the battery and putting it back to see if that somehow reset something, no luck

Is there anything else I can try, or is the only solution a new battery?
Chikara (5139)
1471186 2020-08-16 23:42:00 "it's about 5 or 6 years old now"
Your batt is old. It due for replacement .
A new batt usually fixes batt issues (not allways, its a try & see sort of thing)
1101 (13337)
1471187 2020-08-17 01:22:00 Could be a dead Battery or softwares gone corrupted.

Have a read of the Following , give them a go and see if its fixed / Charging, if Not New Battery.

1st Reply -- answers.microsoft.com

2nd www.drivereasy.com
wainuitech (129)
1471188 2020-08-17 02:12:00 But, now the battery shows as 0% available (plugged in) but does not charge.
?

It's stuffed. New battery time.
piroska (17583)
1471189 2020-08-18 22:26:00 Does it run while not on the charger? How long?

I would replace the laptop, sounds like it might be time for a new one.
Kame (312)
1471190 2020-08-18 22:54:00 laptop batts are sometimes dirt cheap on trademe.
Just make sure they have stock in NZ (and arnt shipping via China)

It may not be worth spending the $$$ to get a genuine batt for an oldish laptop .
1101 (13337)
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