Battery Problems

[father_longcat]

Alright this is ticking me really badly.

The R52 I bought, I plugged it in and installed Windows in it. It wasnt working with the battery so I decided to run it off AC.

When I finished the installation process, I found out the battery was "Plugged in but not charging".

I installed my brand new Ultrabay Battery 2 from Lenovo.

Neither of them charge.

I did a few google results which led to a few year-old posts about "My battery is brand new and from Lenovo but it won't charge."

Thinkpad Power Controls just reports "There is an error" and doesn't  really offer any options.

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

this could be the result of a faulty charging circuit on the motherboard.

[father_longcat]

Uh oh. How would go along replacing that? Swap the mobo?

Also, Battstat has no information on the battery (0 mW, -1 mWh, 0% charge.)

IBM tech support just told me to FOAD.

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor · Accepted solution]

swapping the motherboard maybe the only viable alternative to just using the laptop on ac power.

[father_longcat]

Not what I like to hear but I guess that's it.

I imagine using an external battery charger will work?
I could deal with it if I replace the 6 cell with a 9 cell.

[one2lose2]

Will it do anything on battery power?

[father_longcat]

Yes, it randomly gained 3% battery charge and the system would work when unplugged (albeit not for long.)
I have ordered the external charger and a 9 cell battery. Now I have one 6 cell, one 9 cell, and one 3 cell Ultrabay battery. I could get a good amount of battery life on this.

[one2lose2]

I have never had a new ultrabattery. I also have only had poor results from the ultrabay battery I have had. The regular battery could show charging but still not charge. LiPo batteries do strange things. Some older batteries were covered by a recall. You download the recall battery serial number tester and it will tell you if it was covered. That did not cover many batteries. I like the 6 cell battery better because the 9 cell stickes out of the back of the laptop. I have to be portable very often.