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    Battery problem ? Please advise

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sonicdragon, Aug 8, 2007.

  1. sonicdragon

    sonicdragon Newbie

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    Greetings

    I hope someone can advise me about this problem I have with my Acer Ferrari F430.

    It is just over 2 years old.

    1. For the first year there were no problems. After around 1 year, I noticed that it no longer switched over to battery power when the AC power was cut/unplugged - it's just as if switching off the power of the laptop...not good.
    2.Recently I noticed that it sometimes does not charge the battery at all. The charging icon appears, but the %charged does not change.
    3. Again recently, it often will not power on at all unless plugged into the mains. Unplugging and replugging the battery fixes both these problems (not charging and not powering on) after a few attempts.

    The battery life seems OK and has not reduced much, if at all, since I've owned it.

    I was advised that these problems might not (all) be the battery itself - and could be the circuitry on the laptop itself.

    Since both a new battery and out of warraty repairs are expensive I wonder if anyone can advise on this ? I wouldn't feel good about buying a new battery only for it to be the exactly the same afterwards, nor to pay the fixed cost at the service centre only to be told that I need a new battery.

    Thanks in advance
    SD
     
  2. baddogboxer

    baddogboxer Notebook Deity

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    I don't have much advice but have you checked the contacts on both the battery and laptop? Are they clean good surface for cunducting, snug fit?
     
  3. sonicdragon

    sonicdragon Newbie

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    Yes, the contacts seem clean and snug.....
     
  4. sonicdragon

    sonicdragon Newbie

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    Can anyone tell me if this problem is more likely a battery issue or something that needs repairing in the laptop itself ?
     
  5. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    Can you get access to a spare battery for just a test or will your battery work in different Acer? If battery good and no lint/debris/damage around internal battery power socket on laptop; then comes crunch time.

    Get estimates or if possible, extended warranty, from Acer. If cost are outrageous; then just remove NFG battery and leave laptop plugged into mains or UPS. You can put repair cost to next laptop down the road.

    Good Luck...
     
  6. sonicdragon

    sonicdragon Newbie

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    Hydra, thanks for your advice, but if I had access to a spare battery I would not be posting the question.

    I was hoping that someone who had experienced similar symptoms would be able to comment....

    ?