What's wrong with my computer?

C

clandestino

no llevar papel

• May 20, 2009

• #1

OK, here's an odd one.

When I plug in my laptop, it no longer charges my battery. So I can use my laptop as long as it's plugged into the mains, but that's all. So is the problem with:

(a) My power lead? I bought a new one only recently so I'm not sure it's that, but maybe?
(b) The socket I plug the lead into? I had a few days when I could jiggle the power lead around a little and it would start to charge the battery. Now the jiggling does nothing.
(c) The battery itself?

What do you reckon? I have a MacBook by the way. I seem to get through one a year. It's ridiculous.

 

ivebeenhigh

Well-Known Member

• May 20, 2009

• #2

i reckon you need someone else with a mac book to lend you their cable and battery. you try yours in their, they try thiers in yours and it will tell you where the issue is. its probably the battery.

 

Sunray

Its sunny somewhere.

• May 20, 2009

• #3

Batteries just seemingly go after a while. My work Dell laptop had 4+ hours life for a few years but now can't even keep the computer in standby for more than a few hours.

 

Crispy

The following psytrance is baṉned: All

• May 21, 2009

• #4

One a year does seem ridiculous. I don't know of anyone in that situation anyway.

 

keybored

Well done. You remember cat good.

• May 21, 2009

• #5

Try removing the battery, checking the contacts are clean (if you can see them) and reinstall.

Or this

 

pk

drink flounce rinse repeat

• May 21, 2009

• #6

More than likely power supply... those crappy mag contacts and the oddball diode arrangement in the plugs are wrong from the factory door.

The batteries are shite, but there are alternatives.

$99.95

Clicky here if you think the battery is flattery...

http://fastmac.com/laptop.php

and for older Macs...

http://www.newertech.com/products/laptop.php

 

L

lozenge

suck it and see

• May 21, 2009

• #7

your problem isn't that odd... google turns up 62000 hits, here's one of them
Good luck.

 

Kanda

Diving wanker

• May 21, 2009

• #8

I have a PSU you could test with.

 

editor

hiraethified

• May 21, 2009

• #9

ianw said:

What do you reckon? I have a MacBook by the way. I seem to get through one a year. It's ridiculous.

Click to expand...

Normally, my advice for anyone suffering such awful problems with an particular brand would be to switch brands sharpish, but if you're sticking with Mac, then I'd suspect that the battery is at fault and a replacement is needed.

I bought a cheapo rubbish battery for an old laptop a few years back and very quickly it performed much as yours did: i.e. it wouldn't hold a charge. As others have suggested, check that the contacts haven't become gunked up and try charging it from another socket on the off chance.

It's also worth trying out Kanda's PSU before you splash out on a new battery too.

 

Sunray

Its sunny somewhere.

• May 21, 2009

• #10

If the mac is the same and the batteries keep dying then perhaps the mac is at fault. Highly unlikely because the charge circuitry is inside the battery.

 

C

clandestino

no llevar papel

• May 22, 2009

• #11

Turns out the answer was (b). Took it into the Apple Store today, and they fixed it in a few hours, for fifty quid. Plus they gave me a new casing for the laptop, as a chunk had fallen out of the original one. And it looks like I've got a new keyboard too - all these extras for free! I'm very impressed. It's like I've got a new computer...

 

pk

drink flounce rinse repeat

• May 22, 2009

• #12

ianw said:

Turns out the answer was (b). Took it into the Apple Store today, and they fixed it in a few hours, for fifty quid. Plus they gave me a new casing for the laptop, as a chunk had fallen out of the original one. And it looks like I've got a new keyboard too - all these extras for free! I'm very impressed. It's like I've got a new computer...

Click to expand...

Good stuff.

Glad you didn't switch brands now aren't you?