Steps to troubleshoot laptop plugged in but not charging
It is simple enough to recharge a laptop. You plug it in, it works; easy, right? Well, not necessarily. Between the wall outlet and your battery are several steps and parts that can all fail. Some are easy to fix yourself with a software tweak or a new laptop battery, but some problems may require a visit to a notebook repair shop or even a full-blown system replacement. Knowing which is which can save you hours of frustration and hundreds of dollars in repairs. By taking an inside-out approach, you can quickly narrow down where the problem originates and find the most economical solution.
Troubleshooting notebook plugged in but not charging the laptop battery issue
1. Lose the Laptop Battery
A simple way to check the integrity of the notebook battery is to remove it entirely and try plugging in the laptop. If the laptop powers on properly, the problem was likely a bum battery.
2. Are You Totally Plugged In
It sounds silly, but you need to make sure that the laptop is actually plugged in. No software tweak or hardware repair can make a disconnected laptop magically power on. Before checking anything else, then, you need to ensure that both the AC outlet and laptop plugs are firmly seated. Check the Toshiba Satellite A300 Laptop AC Adapter brick and verify that any removable cords are fully inserted. Next, make sure that the battery is properly seated in its compartment, and that there is nothing wrong with either the battery or laptop contact points. Finally, find out whether the problem doesn’t lie with the laptop at all: Try plugging the power cord into a different outlet to see if you’ve got a short or a blown fuse.
3. Check the Connector
When you plug in the laptop’s power connector, the connection should be fairly solid. If it’s suddenly wobbly or loose, or if the receiving socket gives when it should stay firm, the power jack may have broken inside the chassis. Are there discolorations or any sort of burning smell? If there seems to be any damage to the power connector, repairs will be in order.
4. Beat the Heat
A non-charging battery can sometimes be caused by an overheating laptop. This problem is two-fold; with the system shutting down to prevent overheating a battery and causing a fire. Also, as the temperature rises, the battery sensor may misfire, telling the system that the battery is either fully charged or missing completely, causing the charging problems. These problems become far more likely when dealing with older laptops which don’t have the quality of cooling technology used today, or when using the laptop on the couch or in bed, with a blanket or pillow covering the cooling vents. Let the system cool down and take the time to make sure that the air vents are clean and unobstructed.
5. Swap Out the Cord and the Notebook Battery
These are the cheapest and easiest-to-swap parts on the laptop. A replacement power cable can often be had for under $10 on Amazon.com, and replacement batteries can be picked up for under $100. Replacement cables are most easily found by searching under the model name of the laptop, while Dell PC764 Laptop Batteries often have their own model numbers. Look for a replacement that matches the voltage specifications of the equipment your laptop came with, and be aware that cheap replacement parts from third-party manufacturers may not have the quality of the originals.
6. Check Your Laptop Settings
For Windows Laptops: In the Control Panel, open up the Power Options. Open the plan settings and visually check that all are properly set. Be on the lookout for incorrect settings for the battery, display, and sleep options. For example, your battery settings may cause trouble if you have set the computer to shut down when the battery level drops too low and set the low battery level at too high a percentage. You can also assign actions like sleep and shut down when your lid is closed or the power button is pressed. If these settings have been changed, it’s easy to suspect a power malfunction even though there’s no physical problem with the battery or charging cable.
7. Update Your Laptop Drivers
For Windows Laptops: In the Control Panel, open the Device Manager. Under “Batteries” you should see three items, one for the battery, another for the charger, and a third listed as “Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery”. Open each item, which will bring up a Properties window. Under the “Driver” tab, you’ll see a button labeled “Update Driver.” Go through the driver update process for all three. Once the drivers are all up to date, reboot the laptop and plug it in again. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, uninstall “Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery” completely and reboot.
8. Problems Inside
When all of your options are exhausted—you’ve tried other power cables and Toshiba pa3285u-3bas batteries, you’ve checked and rechecked your settings, you’ve fixed any potential software problems—the problem is likely found inside the machine. Several internal parts can cause problems when they malfunction or fail. Common culprits include a faulty motherboard, wonky logic boards, damaged charging circuits, and malfunctioning battery sensors. Like a sick person consulting a doctor, you need to see a specialist. Contact your manufacturer about what repair options are covered under your warranty, or call up a local computer repair shop.
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