T42 suddenly not charging

[raabjerg]

Today, without any apparent reason, my T42 no longer responds to the A/C adapter. It just continues operating on batteries.

It is as if the power chord is no longer firmly attached to my T42, but rather just hangs losely in the connector. (I don't know how else to decribe it, but it's as if something has just gone askew)

Does anyone know what could be the reason of this problem?

Regards,
raabjerg

[kchung]

1) Try a different power adapter or put a volt meter on it to test the output voltage.

2) Remove the AC supply and the battery, hit the power switch 10 times and hold thepower switch in for 30 seconds. Re-install battery and connect AC. [This helps with T41/2's that refuse to charge the battery.

3) After verifying that the AC power block is good, gently and very slightly move (side to side/up and down) the plug that plugs into the back the laptop while the laptop is on. Do you get any intermittent contact at all? I had one (out of dozens) T42p that had a bad power jack on the back of the laptop that had to be replaced.

-Kevin

[Flightvector]

So your notebook will go completely dead even under AC power? I would assume you are not using your T42 anymore?

I am just asking because you seem to make this issue seem minor and because IBM has a setting to tell the notebook to NOT charge if above some minimum charge level. I set mine to not charge if I haven't reached 40% discharge. But my notebook will not die on me under AC.

If this is the case, you probably have bad AC contacts or some electrical circuitry problem if not what kchung mentioned and may need to send your notebook in for repair. I doubt the issue lies in your adapter itself since those are pretty solid, but check whether or not the step-down box is getting warm when plugged in.

[raabjerg]

Just had it in for service. It turned out to be a lose power-plug, which is now replaced. IBM service rocks

[Steve007]

IBM service rocks

For some people it does. I've experienced a lot of grief with IBM's service - even when I was working for IBM! And getting things done internally often took longer! Can't quite work it out, but that's IBM for you.