Li-on Battery Dosen't charge 1

[jbharleen]

I bought a second hand toshiba tecra 8100 laptop and the problem is , it doesn't charge the battery. It will charge the battery for 5 mins and shows up as 100% charge and after five mins use the battery level drops to 3%. So I thought that something is wrong with battery and I ordered a new batery and still I am having the same problem..
Ant I ideas or fix??

 

[cdogg]

The problem is that the system is not fully charging the battery, although it's reporting 100%. I've seen some Tecra laptops have this problem in the past and it had to do with changing the motherboard to fix it.

I'm not saying that's the case here, but you'll want to contact a dealer that can service it at this point.

___________________________________________________________

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab]- A. Einstein

 

[bcastner]

The problem could well be the battery. They are usually good for about 1.5 years.

After that they show a cycle of charging to 100%, lasting on battery for a short period of time, showing little remaining power, and then charging again to 100%.

cdogg may well be right, but I suspect the battery rather than the computer.

See if the notebook will allow a battery to be inserted in either bay, many will allow this so that two batteries can be used. If it does the same thing in the second bay I strongly suspect the battery. Finally, look on the battery itself. Many have a test button and indicator lights. Hold the test button down for at least a minute. If you see all the lights come on, and then start dropping off during the minute, replace the battery.

Note too that Li-on (and other types) are rated for only a certain number of full discharge/charge cycles. My Li-on from dell are rated at 67 cycles.

 

[cdogg]

bcastner,
I would agree with you, but bharleen mentioned that he has bought a new battery and it has the same problem. This problem isn't common, so it is unfortunate if it does turn out to be the motherboard.

___________________________________________________________

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab]- A. Einstein

 

[bcastner]

cdogg,

You are absolutely right. I read that he had ordered a battery but was concerned about the original.

My bad.

Best.
Bill

 

[cdogg]

No problem, bcastner. I do that all the time! It didn't stand out in the original post to begin with anyway...

 

[jbharleen]

So I guess, I have to see a technician..Thanks cdogg and bcastner

 

[bcastner]

After consideration I would see a technician to determine if there is a problem with the charging circuit, as cdogg suggested.

You might find on the web site for Toshiba a diagnostic software you could run to pre-test the notebook. Dell, Compaq, IBM and others offer such a download, I just do not know enough about Toshiba to promise you that they do.

But I gave cdogg the star on this one, whether the diagnostic confirms the charging circuitry is bad or not it is highly probably that you have done everything you can to solve this problem.