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Emachines M68xx only randomly charging battery

post #1 of 36
9/5/06 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
Hello guys,

got a lil problem with my Visionary 811A (similar specs to M68xx). For some reason the laptop recently has started to charge the battery only sporadically. When plugged in into the mains and powered off, the orange LED is flashing, but the battery remains on the same charging level, even when "charging" for several hours. When I boot the laptop into windows then sometimes the laptop actually starts to really charge it, but not always. Moreover, if not being charged, despite indicating so, the battery is discharging, although the LED on the handrest indicates AC operation and windows reports battery status as "charging".
VERY weird behaviour, this is ...
Also noticed that the power plug which goes into the laptop sits a bit "loose" in the socket, and that upon wiggling only a bit the screen flickers 'cos of ATI's powerplay adjusting GPU clock speeds. Prolly the battery isn't charging properly because of some faulty connection there? But then: Why is the battery discharging although laptop clearly states AC operation. Is my battery dying, or has this something to do with the overall power supply?

Any hints appreciated...

greetz
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post #2 of 36
9/5/06 at 6:57am
r u using the correct ac adapter? connector is important
is ur battery locked in (not just being inserted)?

cheers ...
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post #3 of 36
9/5/06 at 7:24am
Thread Starter 
Hey u guys are speedy
Both positive: right adapter, battery is locked in place. Im almost certain now that a bit of a loose contact at the power connector must be the culprit. It is charging again right now as I am writing these lines, I slightly twisted the cable of the connector to give it a "diffrent" seating in the socket.
Also, I often can hear a sizzling sound when I plug in the connector, sometimes even a small spark can be observed. Hm, also this little spit in the middle of the socket of the laptop seems a bit "wobbly" to me. Any guides/ideas for fixing that?

greetz
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post #4 of 36
9/5/06 at 7:30am
take it apart, if it loose, re.solder (or replace) it in before it inflicts some real pain in u

cheers ...
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post #5 of 36
9/5/06 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by visionaryuser
, I slightly twisted the cable of the connector to give it a "diffrent" seating in the socket.
u r sure about the correct adapter then?

Quote:
Originally Posted by visionaryuser
Also, I often can hear a sizzling sound when I plug in the connector, sometimes even a small spark can be observed.
not healthy

Quote:
Originally Posted by visionaryuser
Hm, also this little spit in the middle of the socket of the laptop seems a bit "wobbly" to me.
a little of play is not abnormal

cheers ...
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post #6 of 36
9/5/06 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
Yep, seems to be the only reasonable method of permanently getting rid of the problem. However, I really wanted to avoid tearing the machine apart again, after I miraculously managed to fix the lines-issue with the screen.
Grr, looks as if this wasn't the last time I opened it up....
Is the complete disassembly hard to do?
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post #7 of 36
9/5/06 at 7:42am
Thread Starter 
Oh, the adapter is the one that came with the laptop. According to pictures on the web its the original one, so there shouldn't be any problem whith that one. Must be the socket
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post #8 of 36
9/5/06 at 8:14am
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post #9 of 36
9/6/06 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Sad update on this one. The pin inside of the connector has come off now. Grrr, this laptop is starting to drive me nuts. Anyone who had the same problem? I still don't feel confident enough to take it completely apart. Is there any step by step instruction about how to completely disassemble the M6810, so I can access the power connector and solder the pin in again, or would you recommend buying a spare part to replace the old connector?

greetz from a slightly distressed Bavarian
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post #10 of 36
9/6/06 at 6:45pm
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post #11 of 36
9/6/06 at 7:04pm
do a search on ebay.com for "emachines repair" will take u to some repair manual (with PICS) for sales

cheers ...
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post #12 of 36
9/7/06 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
Cheers mate so far for this cool and comprehensive guide. You only forgot to mention 'bout 4 screws I got the laptop now apart and I can see that the jack is smoked and sooty. It definitely needs to be replaced. On battery the laptop would still run fine, so I assume that the mainboard is O.K. But, one thing: Though I got all the screws removed and also the vga bolts i still can't seperate the mainboard from the bottom casing. Any trick to that? I don't want to use any force by now. Maybe I missed out on something?
Also I don't know where to obtain a spare jack since all the sellers on U.S. ebay don't ship to Europe. Do you think that just any jack that fits the board and the connector will do, or do I have to take a special one? The soldering will be done by one of my mates, who is a very dab hand at those things, so I hope we should get the running fine again.

Thx for now
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post #13 of 36
9/7/06 at 9:00am
almost 5:00 am here, so if u screw up, i take no responsibility :-)
glad to hear u r almost there

the motherboard should be just slide out (lift up) if u got all the screws out, do not forget the screws that hold the vga port
did u remove the card-reader part, it can go out first

the jack: u can go to any electrical stores in ur areas, i remember conrad/reichelt when i was in hamburg (and some local stores), take it there and they can match it for u. bring along ur ac adaptor for the jack size

if it works, i'd settle for a halb-bier ;-)

cheers ...
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post #14 of 36
9/7/06 at 9:50am
Thread Starter 
If this one is done, you should be in for at least 3 Maß Bier :-) (you know, the litre mugs). Haven't taken out the card reader yet. Does it really have to be removed? Also, I believe the heatsink part could have stayed in place, since it has no connection with the bottom case.
Nevermind, but I took it off all the same, as you recommended. It was only yesterday some hours before the critical jack failure that I had replaced the old thermal grease with "coollaboratory liquid pro", so I rather wanted to avoid taking it off again. Anyway.....

So far, I cant see any more screws that could hold the board in place, yet it refuses to slide, really. It can be lifted up on any of the corners, though.
Hmmmm, think think....

Btw: Where aparts in Germany have you been, and what for? Only Hamburg? Haven't been there yet myself, but it's a great city I heard :-)

cheers
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post #15 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:22am
there r some covers (card reader, hard drive housing and battery cover)
lift out ur speakers, u propably see them
i remember for sure that the card reader cover holds the mobo in place as well
the chrome frames (one on the side of the card reader, the other by the back side) on the top should be out

i was in hamburg, berlin, frankfurt and bremen during a short sting in germany - enjoyed it very much, never could hold a litre-bier, too much & too strong - good though. hamburg was great (u know stpauli & the reeperbahn). always wanted to visit munich, ran out of time, may be next time around

cheers ...
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post #16 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn
there r some covers (card reader, hard drive housing and battery cover)
lift out ur speakers, u propably see them
i remember for sure that the card reader cover holds the mobo in place as well
the chrome frames (one on the side of the card reader, the other by the back side) on the top should be out

Speakers are already out, also hard drive housing, card reader cover and the fastener near the battery connector. No more screws visible that have contact with the bottom. I can't figure out for the life of me why the board won't budge
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post #17 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:47am
u removed all screws on the board itself too, right?

cheers ...
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post #18 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
Yep, and now also the card reader, still no go
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post #19 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:52am
take a look at this item 290026519674 on ebay.com
u can use it as a reference as what else is holding it down

cheers ...
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post #20 of 36
9/7/06 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Also left out the ram slot cover....

cheers
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