Power Meter - Unchanged and no info

[samjaynes]

Thanks for reading this thread. I recently purchased a T60 and a standard port replicator/docking station. I noticed that when the laptop is docked, the power meter typically stays as the percentage it was at when it first booted up (97%). When the mouse hovers over this taskbar item, it does not show that it is charging or what time is left.

I saw the option that it does not charge until it gets to 96%, but that doesn't make sense for the following reasons (maybe wrong too):

If the laptop is undocked and the AC Power is connect, it shows that it is charging and will tell you the remaining time.
Wouldn't the power meter eventually go down with my usage (8 hours + a day)?

Sorry for the wierd question... new to IBM, former Dell Crap-itude user.

[BillMorrow]

if connected to the AC adapter it won't charge until below 95%..
if NOT connected then it should report remaining charge until it runs out..

now, how about a city and state in your location field..?

[samjaynes]

Thank you for your response... in both cases, it is connected to the AC adapter. The docking station is constantly connected to the AC adapter and the power level has not changed from '(97%) remaining' all day.

I will update the location field... do you want it to say 12' x 12' x 6' gray cubicle nightmare ?

[BillMorrow]

<LOL>
heh, heh..
ohh kayy..

uhmm, take it off the dock and let the battery go below 95%then put it back in the dock..

and see what happens..

IRT location, just a city and state.. please..

[shanep]

I also have a new Thinkpad T60 and port replicator (250510W).

I have 2 issues.

1. 75% of the time I put is on the docking station the machine reboots or FN-F7 will not show find my external monitor.

2. the power on the dock does not charge. Last night before going to bed I put it on the dock at 11% and no time showed. This morning (7 hours later) it was still at 11% and no time to charge shown. I remove it from the dock and use that same adapter directly and it charges just fine.

any suggestions?

[cuppett]

I've noticed that if I'm docked, it won't charge no matter what. When I'm not docked, the AC power behaves as I would expect.... it drains when not plugged in, holds position if I'm 75% or above and if I'm lower it will charge to 100% as I have configured my power maximizer thing.

I can't find a setting in either the BIOS or the thinkvantage tools to distinguish between the docking station power relay or the default plug in the back of the laptop.

I'm very perplexed, but if somebody comes up with an answer here I'd really appreciate it as I'm generally either disconnected, or docked at work.... so my battery just eventually ends up really low and I plug it in later at night from home to get it back to 100% after a couple days when it needs it.

I'm tempted to load up Linux on a partition to see if it's something in Windows that is holding it up or if the docking station relay has some kind of problem.

[samjaynes]

I am glad, not necessarily, that other users are seeing this issue to. I validated that I am using the 90W AC Adapter for the docking station (not the 60W that comes with the T60). Kind of confusing at first, as the basic PR does not come with a power cord. So, don't use your 60W or any USB powered device will have issues.

Still, the power meter goes unchange... and goes down a percentage in a day or two. Right now it is at '93% Charging'. Yeah right!!! It was at 94% Charging yesterday, 95% and thus forth.

I am hoping that it is something simple, and not the BIOS or Battery.

[udflyer]

I have the T60 and just recently got a docking station for it. I am a teacher and I got it because I wanted to be able to take it to class and bring it back to my office....unfortunately, I can't do this because the docking station doesn't charge the laptop at all. It will hold the charge at whatever it's at, but it won't charge it. I have looked for the past couple of months for ANY help with this problem....and no one seems to have answers.

I have the correct power cord, I've looked in the BIOS, I've looked in the ThinkVantage tools...all to no avail.

ANYONE have ANY luck with this??