Battery not charging - Edge 15 0301-CTO only 18 mths old [ Edited ]

[Dalek]

Edge 15 0301-CTO

Sony-manufactured battery:

manufactured 2010-12-27

First used 2011-01

FRN P/N 42T4755

Firmware 0004-3f98-0160-0130

Power Manager 6.32

• This PC only used about once a week, probable total only about 300 hours in 18 months since new
• Always run with AC adapter plugged in (except when occasionally forgotten)
• Battery gauge had been at max 98% for last couple of months, but was charging to 98% ok
• AC adapter works ok, whether or not battery is inserted
• If AC power is unplugged, battery will discharge at normal rate (now down to 77%)
• However, battery will not charge at all - it's stuck at 77% according to the meter
• Power Manager say "No activity" when battery should be charging
• Nothing happens when I try to perform Battery Gauge Reset, (is it because it cannot do the 100% charge cycle??), just stays at 77%
• If I leave the AC adapter unplugged, the battery drops 3-4% then the PC bleeps, says that battery is dangerously low (despite being at 77%!) and goes into standby or whatever
• the FRN P/N 42T4755 is what's on the battery and in Power Manager - it is not one of the FRNs listed here http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/diagnose-and-fix/detail.page?DocID=HT003431#battery so I haven't done any of that
• Uninstalling the ACPI battery drivers and rebooting makes no difference

It has all the symptoms of a failed battery (which is very disappointing given the low age and use - although I realise that low use does not help life); but before replacing the battery, is there anything else to try?

I don't want to go on a wild goose chase, trying umpteen possible solutions, if the battery has truly failed.....

Any thoughts gratefully received.

[cche0691]

Hi Dalek,

  Please update your machine's BIOS and power management driver as well.

BIOS Update Utility for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS014025

ThinkPad Power Management driver for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP (32-bit, 64-bit) - ThinkPad
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS014939

Fred

[Dalek]

Thanks Fred

1. I updated the power management driver to 1.65.05.20
2. I downloaded the Utility and tried to run the latest BIOS which is 2.02  (80ET62WW) but it  would not let me do it unless the AC adapter is plugged in and unless there is a charged battery pack fitted as well.  The battery pack is now at 0% because I had already discharged it to see if it would then charge.  It didn't.  The current BIOS is 2.01  (80ET61WW) so it is only the previous one.

The new power management driver has not made any difference - AC adapter is ok but battery is 0% and still not charging.

In addition I have another problem as well:  Thinkvantage System Update not working

I cannot now get updates to work!  Internet connection is fine.  I load up Lenovo solutions ok then go to software updates, then have the choice of Windows Update or Lenovo software updates.

- Lenovo software updates loads System Update 4.03.0012 which gets stuck at 97% when processing package information, then pops up message ""Thinkvantage system update has stopped working"

- Windows Update searches for updates but never finds anything. EDIT 21.27 BST 13.07.2012 Windows Update works again now but System Update 4.03.0012 still gets stuck at 97% !

As i said, internet connection is working.  Cannot understand this.  I have done a System Restore to go back a day or so, to before the battery problem, maybe that has screwed things up?

Can you help me with this second problem as well of System Update not working or should I post a new thread for it?

-

[jolanta_c2012]

Hi There,

The same happend to my ThinkPad.

For some strange reason it stopped charging the battery and now as it is drained I cannot perform the BIOS update.

Any help is appreciated.

Regards.

[jolanta_c2012 · Accepted solution]

This method sorted out my issue, I can recommend it!

http://jeffreypalermo.com/blog/plugged-in-not-charging-windows-7-solution/

[Dalek]

Jolanta you are a star!

I had tried uninstalling ACPI before but never in that order of shutdown/startup..

Shutting down without the AC adaptor was tricky because it was showing 0% charge!

But it did it, and having run through the sequence exactly as per your link, Power Manager is now showing the Battery status as "charging" and it has got to 12% so far.

Brilliant, it was so easy....

I'll just post the sequence here for posterity and future reference for others in case that webpage disappears:

1. Disconnect AC
2. Shutdown
3. Remove battery
4. Connect AC
5. Startup
6. Under the Batteries category (in Device Manager) , right-click all of the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery listings, and select Uninstall (it’s ok if you only have 1).
7. Shutdown
8. Disconnect AC
9. Insert battery
10. Connect AC
11. Startup

[EDIT 15/07/2012: this seems to have worked OK.  It did stop charging again at indicated 28% so I went though the above shutdown/startup sequence again, and it then charged to a full 100%.  With a full battery I was then able to download the latest BIOS after which ThinkVantage System Update would complete again, which had been a second problem.  So accepted as solution!]

[liljib]

Dalek,

How did you manage to do the first two steps (1. Disconnect AC, 2. Shutdown)?  Since my battery has no charge, it shuts down the instant that I unplug...  I'm having the same problem with my X201.

Thanks.

[Dalek]

liljib

Yes,  I was amazed that my battery had enough charge.  The battery indicator showed 0% when I pulled out the AC adapter.  But I suppose that part of the problem might have been that not only was the battery discharged, perhaps the indicator was misreading a bit too, I just don't know.  It took a very long time to shut down, too.

All I can suggest is that you try to find someone else with a Lenovo machine which takes your battery, and try to get some charge into it, even if it's only a few percent, then try that sequence, because it did work for me.

[maff90]

I have this issue to come up last night on my 18 month old Edge 15 0301-CTO, is this a coincidence or what!! i'll try the solution suggested and report back

Edit

Just tried it and is now charging up thanks

[ar5f3r]

battery at 0% and not charging edge cto578 win 7. I uninstaled thinkvantage power manager and problem fixed.