Thinkpads Forum

This morning I plugged in my x60s to power it on since it had been on until it went totally out of power. Halfway into windows loading I hear a squeaking noise and the machine hangs. I try to reboot and soon discover there is something wrong with charging.

What I have found out so far is that:

-I can charge the battery with the system powered off.
-The battery indicator and plugged in indicator are lit when the machine is off even when it is not plugged inn.
-When plugged inn and running the machine works, but power manager doesn't recognize it being plugged inn (hence, can't run battery reset cycle), and it does not charge. The funny thing is that the battery level stays the same in this mode (does not go up or down.) The squeaking noise is there for 4 seconds before it goes away (sound like it tries to charge but gives up.)

Since I'm on a trip in Asia for a few months, I don't have any other battery, charger or docking to test with...

Has anyone experienced this in the past and can give me a hint of what to do?

I suspect it beeing something with the motherboard, but since it is charging when powered off, that doesn't make any sense either...

Remove the battery and power up on AC power. Does the machine now function normally? If yes, replace the battery.

Harryc wrote:Remove the battery and power up on AC power. Does the machine now function normally? If yes, replace the battery.

Thanks for your answer. Forgot to mention that I get a "battery critically low" error when trying to boot without the battery installed. No way for me to get past that screen, so no boot with just the power attached. Might indicate it is something with the power management IC's. The computer apparently thinks there is a battery there even there isn't.

OK, you should not be getting that error. Lets try this; Pull the battery. Unplug it. Press the power button 5 times, holding it for 10 seconds the last time. Power up. Still the same error? If yes, you have a problem with the charging circuitry on the systemboard.

Thank you for the advice, but it didn't work. The battery and plug laps are flashing quick with orange now when the computer is turned off an plugged out.

There any where I can buy a new charge circuit? I'm ok with soldering.

petersvei wrote: There any where I can buy a new charge circuit? I'm ok with soldering.

You can't buy a new charging circuit unless you replace the systemboard. Other than that you can check fuses, and some other members may advise on how to check some components in the charging circuitry electronically, but that is way above my head. If it was my machine I might remove the board, check the fuses, and if they are good start looking for a replacement machine or a new systemboard, depending on the cost of the board and the value of the machine.

I'll do a visual inspection next year when I get home then It kind of works, since I am able to use it plugged inn and charge when with the system off. Guess it is time to get a new machine anyway...

One more thing I just thought of...are you at the latest BIOS level?
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-65345

Just be careful if you decide to flash BIOS. I would be hesitant to do so if I had a dodgy charging circuit or anything amiss with power in general. It is very easy to brick a laptop while flashing it's BIOS with power issues. This might also be an activity that would be only advisable after your return from the trip.

Thank you Harry for all your help, I really appreciate it!

I'll look in to that when I get home, as you said.

EDIT: I just checked, and I'm on 2.18 which is the latest, so it most likely is hardware related.

Miraculously the problem disappeared the other day. I left the machine turned off and plugged in over night and the next morning the battery was fully charged and everything was as normal.

I don't know what caused the problem, but it might have been heat or "dirty" power since another machine in the same house crashes when it i plugged in but works fine on battery.

I'm just happy everything is ok

petersvei wrote:Miraculously the problem disappeared the other day...
I don't know what caused the problem...another machine in the same house crashes when it is plugged in but works fine on battery.

You have a poltergeist. Sweet dreams

Ollo wrote:You have a poltergeist. Sweet dreams

No. You've got a bad solder joint. There's no escape from the second law.