Batteries won't charge.

Didn't know where else to post this. I have a Dell Inspiron 600m. It has had many problems from the beginning, but this is a new one.

Neither the primary battery nor the bay batteries will charge. I know it is not the batteries themselves. I have to keep it on the dock or plugged in at all times.

What would cause this? Is there a fix? Time for the scrap heap? I am in the market for a new notebook but would not mind spending a couple hundred on this one if I can fix it and give it to one of the kids.

Any help or advice?

 

Why do you know it is not the battery? Laptop batteries do go--their lifespan is typically between 2-3 years max.

If the battery charges in another system, then the laptop charging circuitry is dead/malfunctioning. This is sometimes changeable on laptops, but more often the circuitry is built into the motherboard.

 

The charging circuit on your laptop may have died.
Unforunately the charging circuit is built directly into the motherboard, so the only fix is to buy a new motherboard, which may be a $200 or so
You can test the charging circuit by doing this:
1) unplug the battery
2) power the system on
3) grab a voltmeter and turn the voltage knob or whatever so it can read DC current at about 12-24 volts.
4) while the system is on use the voltmeter prongs to measure the current flow out of the port where the battery normally plugs into

If you are getting no voltage out of the port than try different combinations (their is most likely 4 or more terminals where the battery connects to)
Than if nothing comes out, the charging circuit is dead.

If voltage does come out, but the batteries do not charge, than the problem is related to the batteries themselves.

K-TRON

 

Thanks K-Tron and gerry. I believe you have identified the problem.

I have 3 batteries purchased at different times and none of them would charge, so unless it was an amazing coincidence I thought it must be a problem with the charging mechanism.

Although the screen on this laptop is excellent, and it has functioned at a decent level, it has been one little annoying problem after another. I wouldn't mind putting a couple hundred $ into this thing to save it. It is worth salvaging if the motherboard is something that can be replaced (I would increase the RAM while I was in there.)

Do you know where or how I could identify the motherboard? I am getting a new computer and I do not want to crack this one open until I have the new one up and running - so if I screw it up and destroy the Inspiron, no big deal.

Thanks.

 

google
inspiron 600m mainboard

You can get a refurb tested one for about $150, or much less on Ebay, but you never know what you are getting on ebay if you buy from a individual