Battery Depot

My New Laptop Battery Won't Charge

The typical Acer notebook battery lasts approximately two years depending on usage. During that time, it slowly loses its effectiveness until it no longer holds a charge. There are other things that affect your battery's ability to charge, depending on the type you have. For example, Ni-Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) batteries need to be fully discharged before recharging to prevent loss of power. Li-ion (Lithium Ion) shouldn't be "overcharged" by leaving the battery charging after it has fully charged. Even if the battery is new, it will lose effectiveness if not properly cared for.

Check the power connector to see if it fits snugly. Pull it out and push it back in.

Try a different outlet. If the outlet has electrical problems it may prevent a good charge.

Use an alternate power cord, if available. Borrow one from a friend or use a compatible one from a radio or other laptop.

Try a different battery. If the other Dell notebook battery works, send the new one back for replacement.

Check the connection where the power adapter attaches to the laptop. If it is loose, there may not be enough power flowing in to charge the battery. Replace the motherboard or repair the DC jack.

Uninstall "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery" from device manager. The device manager is found by right-clicking "My Computer." (Just "Computer" in Vista or Windows 7). Restart the computer to reinstall the battery device drivers. Alternatively, download and install more compatible drivers from the manufacturer.

Use HP Battery Check for HP laptops to test the status of the battery (see Resources).

Apple Specific

Turn on the laptop and put it to sleep if it's a PowerBook. Some earlier models need to be turned on to charge.

Download and install an update for Mac OS X by going to the "Software Update" preference pane. You need Mac OS 10.2.4 or later, and you can also get it from Apple Software Downloads.

Reset the power management unit as directed by Compaq notebook batteries. This button is accessed by removing the case: Do this only as a last resort.

Turn the power cord so the black nub is turned horizontally if you have the PowerBook G4. If you have it turned vertically, it will touch the lid and stop the cord from going all the way in.