Thinkpads Forum

Greetings,

I have an X61s that I have been using on and off for several years. Recently, the (extended life) battery power seems to fluctuate in performance. It can show 4+ hours left in the battery, then suddenly shuts the machine down. I plug back in the AC and see 0% available, let it charge back to 100% then the same happens. I have opened up the case, cleaned out dust etc., and put it back together. Same issue persists.

The other evening, I decided to run the Battery Gauge Reset function in Power Manager. It's still running the tool, the battery shows 100% charge, battery icon on the taskbar has the zig-zag through it (indicating something is running), but it has not discharged, recharged, restarted, etc. Looking at the battery details in PM, it shows 100% all the time and the status reads Discharging (with ac).

I do have a regular battery, but want your expert advice before stopping the Gauge Reset mid-way through and fiddling with the regular battery. Is there something I'm missing, being a numpty, or something else I can do/try?

Thanks & regards
TongiB

24 hours on and battery gauge is still being reset! I'm told I should not disconnect the AC.

Ideas?

On a positive note, the wrist-pad is only warm to touch, so the dust-busting may have done the trick......for now. I'll get the W-fi card as advised anyway.....

Thanks
TongiB

My X61s also occasionally shuts down when the battery has about 45% remaining, then shows 0% the next time it is plugged in. I have never been able to find a cause or solution to this problem.

Bad cell/cells in the battery are the reason. It confuses the battery gauge causing it to display wrong time remaining.