subject: Learn to Troubleshoot a Laptop Battery [print this page] Learn to Troubleshoot a Laptop Battery Learn to Troubleshoot a Laptop Battery
Laptop battery technology has improved in recent years. But all laptop batteries have a finite number of times they can be charged. This can be as low as 500 times. The most often problem with a laptop battery is an inability to hold a charge. Batteries can fail due to an AC adapter, a system board failure---or the battery simply getting old. Troubleshooting a battery involves exploring these three areas.
1. Connect the laptop to the power adapter and the power adapter to the AC power, and verify the laptop performs normally. Allow the battery to charge for a few hours. Remove the AC power and if the laptop does not run there is a problem with the AC adapter, system board or battery.
2. Connect the laptop to the power again. Check that all the connections are secure, that the power button and power adapter are lit. Make sure you're using the power adapter that came with then laptop to verify the AC adapter functions. Charge the laptop again and remove the charger. If the laptop fails to charge the problem is likely with the system board or the battery, not the AC adapter.
3. Connect the power adapter again. Remove the dell laptop battery and start the computer. If the computer runs, the AC adapter and the system board are likely fine, the problem is with the battery. However, if the power light activates, and the laptop doesn't; the system board may have failed. Take the laptop in for repair.
4. Insert the battery into the laptop if you have eliminated the AC adapter and system board as being the problem (by following the previous steps.) Connect the power supply and try to charge the battery. Disconnect the power supply and start the computer. If the computer won't start, the problem is with the battery.
