Laptops not charging

50Twuncle

I work as an IT Technician and we have a problem with Toshiba laptops refusing to charge, once the battery level drops down below 20%
When plugged in - they start to charge, then stop, start, stop, start for several hours !!
When they reach 20% - they charge normally - taking a further hour to reach 100%
They are all just over 12 months old and are running Win 7.
Any suggestions ?

Owenmclove

Hmm... I would guess at some weird software bug. I'll have a look around see if I can dig up any info.

kwmlondon

Take the batteries out, disconnect power and try again.

If that doesn't work drain the batteries to 0% then try recharging, this could reset the management inside the battery pack.

Owenmclove

Ok, maybe it isn't software (I just assumed run your Windows updates, update drivers etc and you'd be fine).

I've found these posts that might help:
http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Batteries-and-Power/Laptop-says-quot-plugged-in-charging-quot-but-it-s-not-charging/td-p/263443

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120315165334AAR8Ay8

Up to you of course - perhaps contact the retailer before you do anything?

JohnStuart_2

50Twuncle wrote: »

I work as an IT Technician and we have a problem with Toshiba laptops refusing to charge, once the battery level drops down below 20%
When plugged in - they start to charge, then stop, start, stop, start for several hours !!
When they reach 20% - they charge normally - taking a further hour to reach 100%
They are all just over 12 months old and are running Win 7.
Any suggestions ?

i don't know if i sound like weird but i think its their battery problem, they are done, 12 months are good enough for a laptop it also depends upon a usage, how did you use laptop, normally i used my laptop whole day so if my battery will do the same i dont mind it. change the batteries and if you are willing to save some money check this site, couponmissy.com.

have a good day

50Twuncle

kwmlondon wrote: »

Take the batteries out, disconnect power and try again.

If that doesn't work drain the batteries to 0% then try recharging, this could reset the management inside the battery pack.

I tried that - and also uninstalled the ACPI battery (as recommended by Toshiba) - but no difference..
When fully charged - the batteries last about 3 hours - so no problem with that.
I am starting to wonder whether they are subject to some kind of weird memory affect ?
I have updated windows - but the BIOS won't update unless there is a minimum of 20% battery life remaining !! Ours are stuck at between 2% and 8%.
I also discovered that these laptops won't even run with the batteries removed, on mains alone - they need the batteries to even contemplate running ....
I am trying to find an external battery charger to try that on them, but Toshiba rate a 1 year old laptop as too old to supply such accessories for.
like : http://www.toshiba.co.uk/discontinued-products/pa3091e-2chg/tab/compatibility/

Fosterdog

I've never heard of a laptop that won't run without the battery in, something really isn't right.

You say laptops rather than laptop so how many of the same model are we talking about?

You also said that they stop and start up to the 20% mark then charge normally, could you just use one of the laptops as a charging dock to get them all above 20% and just try to avoid them dropping that low again?

Mr_Toad

kwmlondon wrote: »

Take the batteries out, disconnect power and try again.

If that doesn't work drain the batteries to 0% then try recharging, this could reset the management inside the battery pack.

Are they Lithium-Ion batteries?

If so do NOT fully drain the batteries!

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-tips-for-extending-lithium-ion-battery-life/

50Twuncle

Mr_Toad wrote: »

Are they Lithium-Ion batteries?

If so do NOT fully drain the batteries!

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-tips-for-extending-lithium-ion-battery-life/

They are Li-Ion batteries
and they are already virtually fully drained - on average 5% left
I have heard from Toshiba with the suggestion that I run them without batteries in to update the BIOS
I have already told them that they refuse to even boot up without batteries and they need at least 20% charge - before the new BIOS will install !!