Battery won't charge

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docfxit · #1 Post by **docfxit** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:57 am

IBM support replaced the mother board on my A31p. Now the battery level indicator on the task bar doesn't show a number any more. Before he replaced the mother board it showed the percent of charge. Also the battery won't charge. Do I have to re-install some software to fix it or is this mother board defective? The indicator light is blinking amber. The battery was charging fine before the mother board was replaced.

Thank you,

Docfxit

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:52 am

Check the CMOS battery. Some IBM models won't charge the main battery if the CMOS is low or empty.
Did they only change the mobo, or did they/you reinstall Windows?
You may need to (re-)install Battery Maximiser.

docfxit · #3 Post by **docfxit** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:05 pm

Thank you for the reply...

RealBlackStuff wrote:Check the CMOS battery.

Is there a way to check the battery without taking everything apart? How can I get to the battery?

RealBlackStuff wrote: Some IBM models won't charge the main battery if the CMOS is low or empty.
Did they only change the mobo, or did they/you reinstall Windows?
You may need to (re-)install Battery Maximiser.

They changed my inverter, screen and mobo to get the video back.
I didn't re-install Windows. Battery Maximiser was installed before. Should I re-install it anyways?

Thanks,

Docfxit

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:39 pm

There's a panel on the bottom, with access to the wifi/bluetooth etc. cards. In there is the CMOS battery.
Download the HMM for your A31p
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39796
In there are full descriptions with pictures on how to take your laptop completely apart.

docfxit · #5 Post by **docfxit** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:44 am

Thank you for the reply...

I have checked the CMOS battery. It's 3.3v

I noticed the BIOS is at ver. 39. The latest BIOS is 41.

I tried updating the BIOS. It gives me an error saying the battery is not fully charged.
It was fully charged before the rep replaced the mobo. He ran it on battery for a while during his testing so that must have run it down just enough so I can't do the BIOS update.

I don't have another battery that is fully charged.

Any ideas on how I can update the BIOS?

Thanks,

Docfxit

#6 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:20 pm

You must be looking at the wrong BIOS download.
Check this: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4VGUYW
Latest A31p BIOS is 1.13 for BIOS 1, and 1.10 for BIOS 2.

Without a (partially charged) charged battery you can't update the BIOS.
Don't even try to do it, while you have charging issues, you might brick your laptop!

Check in Device Manager if you have any yellow or red marks.

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