![]() |
MS-DEFCON 2:
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it.
|
-
Fred Langa: A reader asks, “Why won’t my laptop charge when it’s running?”
Home › Forums › AskWoody blog › Fred Langa: A reader asks, “Why won’t my laptop charge when it’s running?”
Tagged: laptop charge
This topic contains 16 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by
rc primak 2 months, 2 weeks ago.-
AuthorPosts
-
Another great, non-nonsense answer from the LangaList legend. On Langa.com.
[See the full post at: Fred Langa: A reader asks, “Why won’t my laptop charge when it’s running?”]1 user thanked author for this post.
-
The other and possibly more common reason in this age of “cheap stuff from Amazon” – you’re using a charger that can’t supply the wattage your laptop needs to run and to charge at the same time.
If your original charger specs out at 90 watts, that $10 replacement that says it delivers 60 watts *might* deliver enough juice to keep your laptop running, but it sure won’t charge the battery, or at least not at any meaningful rate.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
What really is a bother when with a name-brand laptop with officially supported powered docking station, sold as a factory-bundled package and warranty extension… still drains battery while on mains power if running a heavy software load.
Yes, this is one of the big-name manufacturers, current model (high-end variant of a low-end product series). And apparently it’s a “feature”.
Apparently everyone should only buy the models that come with a 3-year warranty without any extensions, or something.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
anonymousYes. If the base warranty 3-years it is business grade (good quality) equipment that will likely run as long as 10 years or maybe more; if the warranty is 1 year it is consumer-grade garbage and you’ll be lucky if you get 4 years out of it.
-
Sounds a lot like the 2-in-1 I had from ASUS., That company is notorious for making devices which need much more power in their chargers than standard replacement chargers supply.
-- rc primak
-
-
-
Fred is absolutely spot on. Having the battery removed whilst plugged in whilst in use, creates less power required for components to operate the laptop, resulting in a longer HW/ component life. I prefer the, when the laptop is not in use, put the battery in to charge it when connected to the mains socket.
Some early laptops needed the battery in situ and would not work without it. Pah! I never thought this was a good idea and consigned them to the ‘not on my list’ when searching for a laptop.
SSD’s also reduce power consumption for laptops (4-5w) creating component longevity as well as improved system access speed, system responsiveness and the laptop becoming immune to knocks opposed to using HDD’s.| W10 Pro x64 1803 | W8.1 Pro x64 | Linux x64 Hybrids | W7/ XP Pro x64 O/L- Can't see the wood for the trees? Look again!
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
anonymousUnfortunately removing a battery nowadays is not in all case that simple anymore, on my Asus it’s a rather large operation. Besides in case of a power outage you will be confronted with a hard shutdown and possible corruption of system files…
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
-
But I’m betting you’ll find that the problem is simply an aging battery. Replacing the battery should get you going properly again.
Not so easy. Manufacturers tend to use a different model and shape of battery for each laptop for commercial reasons and it is very difficult sometimes to find a new battery for an older laptop.
Older batteries manufactured in the NiMH technology may experience a “memory” effect which means simplistically explained that a partial charge (like from half charged to full) would allow only a partial discharge, up to the level from where the previous charge started.
This is generally resolved by a full discharge followed by a full charge. This software is helpful for this purpose
https://www.passmark.com/products/batmon.htm
The subject is made even more complicated since for batteries made in different technologies, this procedure is generally NOT recommended.
Think about the differences like for defragging mechanical disks vs SSD. Good for one, generally bad or at least useless for the other (with exceptions).1 user thanked author for this post.
-
Even the modern LiIon batteries still need to be cycled to calibrate the charging hardware. Both the battery and the power charger have firmware which determines the max. charge the battery can safely take, and how much charge remains. Both sides have to be recalibrated from time to time as the battery ages.
-- rc primak
-
-
I’m with “jabeattyauditor” and “mn–” on this one. Over the last 5 years or so I’ve seen several direct-from-the-OEM chargers, supplied with the laptop, that cannot deliver sufficient power to simultaneously run and charge said laptop. Cost-saving at the expense of customer convenience is the new normal. So it goes…
-
A great article from Fred! However, many newer laptops have inbuilt batteries like the Toshiba I am using to write this posting. It is not easy to remove an inbuilt battery from some laptops.
-
well Great Lake Bunyip, what is the model number of your Toshiba laptop?
My dad’s Toshiba Satellite C55Dt-A5306 touchscreen laptop has a removable battery (model PA5109U-1BRS) that I can easily remove and replace. So my dad’s Toshiba Satellite C55Dt laptop is NOT like your Toshiba laptop, which DOES have a battery that is easily replacable.
-
This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by EP.
-
Thank for your reply My Toshiba’s model number is PSPMHA-0EE045. My next door neighbour’s Lenovo, bought last year, also has an inbuilt battery. A quick check of my local computer store revealed that some HP, ACER, ASUS laptop computers also have inbuilt batteries. What about Microsoft Surface Pro laptops?
-
anonymousAll Microsoft Surface computers have glued in batteries.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
-
This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
Built-in batteries, even glued-in batteries, are becoming the norm in consumer-grade laptops and 2-in-1’s. I haven’t seen a consumer grade device advertised in the US in the past few years which doesn’t have such a non-serviceable battery.
-- rc primak
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
-
anonymousThis tip may work for other brand laptops, remove the battery and press the power button for thirty seconds. Insert the battery and try to charge it, you may find out that there is some variance of charge capacity remaining. You will still need a replacement battery, if you can find one for sale.
-
LiIon batteries should be replace long before they totally run out of capacity. Even just below half-capacity, they become dangerously unstable and can overheat to the point of causing fires or explosions.
-- rc primak
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
-
AuthorPosts
Comments are closed.
-
-
It's easy to post questions about Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced.

Plus Membership
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments. Click here for details and to sign up.
Search The Lounge
Recent Replies
-
barcud on Why am I getting this update again11 minutes ago
-
abbodi86 on Patch Watch: February Patch Tuesday and yet more problems with the new Japanese calendar33 minutes ago
-
abbodi86 on Deanna’s Freeware Spotlight: MultiPack Visual C+ Installer34 minutes ago
-
Lugh on Cimpanu: The US Govt Accountability Office recommends the US adopt GDPR-like privacy legislation38 minutes ago
-
abbodi86 on Server 2016 LTSC patches take for-e-ver. There are numerous reasons why – and not much you can do about it39 minutes ago
-
Lugh on Edge is NOT just Win 101 hour, 5 minutes ago
-
Ascaris on LangList: Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?1 hour, 5 minutes ago
-
Lugh on win 10 backup failure 0x800700E11 hour, 9 minutes ago
-
PKCano on Deanna’s Freeware Spotlight: MultiPack Visual C+ Installer1 hour, 12 minutes ago
-
Lugh on Whatever happened to Opera?1 hour, 14 minutes ago
-
anonymous on Deanna’s Freeware Spotlight: MultiPack Visual C+ Installer
1 hour, 14 minutes ago -
anonymous on Server 2016 LTSC patches take for-e-ver. There are numerous reasons why – and not much you can do about it
1 hour, 17 minutes ago -
Ascaris on LangList: Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?1 hour, 23 minutes ago
-
anonymous on Miscellaneous, minor problems with the Patch Tuesday patches
1 hour, 24 minutes ago -
ChrisJ on PowerShell 5, Move/Arrange Active Windows1 hour, 47 minutes ago
-
Lugh on Deanna’s Freeware Spotlight: Rons WebLynx2 hours, 41 minutes ago
-
Ascaris on LangList: Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?3 hours, 6 minutes ago
-
Alex5723 on Patch Watch: February Patch Tuesday and yet more problems with the new Japanese calendar3 hours, 25 minutes ago
-
the_Unforgiven on Extra system files?3 hours, 36 minutes ago
-
mn– on LangList: Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?4 hours, 42 minutes ago
Recent Topics
-
Edge is NOT just Win 10
1 hour, 5 minutes ago
-
Verizon FIOS upload speed
5 hours, 54 minutes ago
-
Win10.1809 repair / in-place upgrade failure
11 hours, 1 minute ago
-
Unable to run a command in Linux Mint
11 hours, 30 minutes ago
-
Extra system files?
3 hours, 36 minutes ago
-
Server 2016 LTSC patches take for-e-ver. There are numerous reasons why – and not much you can do about it
39 minutes ago
-
Whatever happened to Opera?
1 hour, 14 minutes ago
-
win 10 backup failure 0x800700E1
1 hour, 9 minutes ago
-
Win 7 to Win 10: 1803 or 1809 or 1903?
16 hours, 46 minutes ago
-
Windows 8.1 Post Patch Maintenance
21 hours, 46 minutes ago
Search for Topics
Recent blog posts
- Server 2016 LTSC patches take for-e-ver. There are numerous reasons why – and not much you can do about it
- Woody’s Windows Watch: Dispatches from the browser-war’s front lines
- LangList: Should you trust a hard drive after a major error?
- Patch Watch: February Patch Tuesday and yet more problems with the new Japanese calendar
- Deanna’s Freeware Spotlight: MultiPack Visual C+ Installer