Battery charging on Dell Inspiron 600m laptop

This computer had the power jack totally ripped off and basically rattling around inside. Anyone familiar with this type of jack knows that to do that takes some effort. I'm not sure if even dropping the laptop to dangle by the power cord could it.

With the jack replaced, everything seems to work except that the battery won't charge, both based on the charge percent not changing on the software charge meter and that it dies immediately trying to boot or run with only the battery as the power source. The system knows when the battery is installed and says it's charging but the percent doesn't change. Originally, the battery read 7 percent; now after a couple weeks of being idle, it is 0 percent.

I do not know the history of this computer. Can this be anything other than a problem on the mainboard? I'm assuming the battery itself is good but have no means of testing it. I was quite careful when replacing the power jack but it's possible there is a soldering problem, or even that some itty bitty SMT part popped off when the power jack broke off and is lost. It's such a pain to get the entire thing apart that I'm not inclined to do so unless there is a good chance it's something obvious.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks.

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Reply to
Sam Goldwasser
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Assuming the battery is ok why not spend a couple bucks on a down loadable service manual? This would show how to disassemble the unit and quite possibly some tips on your problem. I've had a couple Dell Inspiron laptops apart and they weren't really such a pain to get apart. Main thing was to figure out how to get the keyboard out then the rest was just removing the right screws.

Reply to
Meat Plow

I had exactly that happen on a dell inspiron and it was not charged for 2 weeks, dead battery. Definitely worth checking the battery.

Cheetah

Reply to
CheetahHugger

I think that must be the next step. It's also what the brain dead Dell Wizard suggests (buying directly from them of course). :)

It will not charge either with the computer on or off.

(BTW, it's a 700m, not a 600m, my mistake.)

Thanks.

P.S. Whatever happened to batteries with just a + and - you could charge from a DC supply??? :) Yes, I know the answer....

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Reply to
Sam Goldwasser

I would try these folks - I've dealt with them in the past, and had a positive experience:

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I'm sure it's quite a bit cheaper as well.

Reply to
JW

No doubt.

But I'm not willing to take the risk of buying a new battery just yet. Need to find someone with a known good battery and try it.

When I got the computer to repair, the battery had some charge in it so it had been able to charge relatively recently. I'm still suspect of the charging circuitry.

Thanks.

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Reply to
Sam Goldwasser

It's likely that what you have is a "smart" battery. FWIW, There's a bit of good info on them here:

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Reply to
JW

Is this battery covered under the Dell recall?

TM

Reply to
tonym924

I've had a seldom used Latitude ruin a battery that was left in it for several months without charging it. The symptoms I get are that the battery will start charging for a few minutes, then the charging light on the laptop changes to orange. If I press the button on the battery to view the charge all of the leds light, then one of them flashes slowly. I have 2 different model Latitudes and the ruined battery will not charge (or work) in either of them.

Jerry

PS, Another source of Dell laptop parts I can recomend is parts-people.com.

Reply to
Jerry Peters

Interesting. I'm sure this is a "smart" battery, perhaps too smart for its own good!

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Reply to
Sam Goldwasser

We are going to check that.

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Reply to
Sam Goldwasser

My thoughts are on the battery. I would first look to see if there is a way to test the charging circuits. I realize that some of these are complex, because the charging current will not come on unless specific criteria from the battery load is visible to the charger.

I have an Acer Centrino laptop. After about 3 years, I noticed the battery starting to not hold its charge. Then soon, it would not charge very well. I simply ran out and bought another battery. So-far, I have no complaints. With the new battery, the computer is working the way it should.

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Jerry G.

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