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MX7120 will not charge or run w/o battery. Ideas?

post #1 of 17
2/16/08 at 2:58pm
Thread Starter 
Good morning,

I am working on a friends MX7120, and it refuses to charge. If you leave it plugged in for a few hours, it WILL gather enough juice to run for a few minutes, but the power meter keeps dropping, even while on AC, and it will eventually shut down again.

I have appropriate voltages at the AC adapter output, and at the battery contacts in the computer. They have replaced the battery and the AC adapter prior to giving it to me. None of this has made a difference. I have tried to drop an Amprobe in-line on the AC side with a 10x multiplier and I get a zero (or almost) reading on the 6 amp scale. AC adapter says 1.6 amps. At 10x with the computer on and/or charging, I should be able to read SOMETHING! Instead I have zip.

All of the proper lights are lit, both inside & out. It seems as if the problem must be in the charging circuit, as if the computer thinks the battery is already fully charged. But again, it won't run at all without the battery, and that implies that there is more to the problem, true?


Thanks for reading all of this, your input would be appreciated!
Fred
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post #2 of 17
2/16/08 at 3:23pm
Are you saying if the battery is out and its just on AC power it wont even start up?
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post #3 of 17
2/16/08 at 4:38pm
tried wiggling (carefully) the ac connector to the laptop?

cheers ...
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post #4 of 17
2/16/08 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by morph3715 View Post
Are you saying if the battery is out and its just on AC power it wont even start up?
Yes. In fact I tried before responding. I pulled the battery and the "charging" light went out. I opened the laptop, and the "AC connected" indicator was lit. However, no amount of pressing on the "Power" button would get the computer to turn on.

No workie...

Thanks
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post #5 of 17
2/16/08 at 5:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
tried wiggling (carefully) the ac connector to the laptop?

cheers ...
I also tried wiggling (NOT so carefully) as well. No difference. It SEEMS like that connection is good, but....

So I do not know or understand why it could have "power" but not run...

Thanks
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post #6 of 17
2/17/08 at 6:05am
could be a simple thing like the power bezel (where ur power button is) was going south.

cheers ...
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post #7 of 17
2/17/08 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
could be a simple thing like the power bezel (where ur power button is) was going south.

cheers ...
Hi qhn,

The power button is OK. I had left the computer plugged in overnight, (about 16 hours) and just tried it this morning. It booted up, and when I got a look at the power meter, it said the battery was at 5% (!!!) and charging. Then, as I watched, the battery ran down and shut off. The whole process from start-up to shut-down took less than 10 minutes. Not good.

Seems like whatever it is that regulates the charging of the battery is toast. I just don't know where it is or if it requires an entire new MB to fix it.

What do you think?
Peace
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post #8 of 17
2/17/08 at 7:43pm
i would try another battery, regardless what ur measurement said. And possibly the ac adapter as well.

cheers ...
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post #9 of 17
2/17/08 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
i would try another battery, regardless what ur measurement said. And possibly the ac adapter as well.

cheers ...
Thanks qhn. I think I'm going to stick with what I have at the moment because the issue has so far been duplicated with two batteries and two AC adapters, so I'm guessing that I have other problems.

I think there is an issue on the Mobo somewhere, or a serious battery calibration issue, which I am also going to try.

I appreciate your help, and am open to any other suggestions you may have.
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post #10 of 17
2/18/08 at 5:20am
taking in that u had reviewed the battery (ies) and the ac adapter, and the power button, and the power jack - and since i m not areal techie in the sense of measuring different signals on the board, i personally would swap out the cmos as the last "hail mary" throw. Anything that i could swap easily, before selling the comp for parts (my 2 cents) - good luck, and if u fix it somehow and in any ways, give us some feedback

cheers ...
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post #11 of 17
2/18/08 at 9:34am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the CMOS idea, I will look into it. I too am no techno-wizrd when it comes to electronics, but my rudimentary skills and exam suggest that power is getting from the wall to the battery contact points inside the computer.

My next step is to install a new motherboard. The owner of the computer is willing to spend the money on the part, and I can pick one up on eBay for $138.00 right now. And since this is not my main job, but something to amuse and abuse myself on the side for friends, the labor cost is minimal!

I will definitely let you know what I find. While I am pretty certain the new Mobo will fix it, I really wanted to have a better diagnosis. A new mobo is like buying a new engine for your car because the old one needed a tune-up.

Thanks,
Fred
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post #12 of 17
2/21/08 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 

Update on the issue and our solution

In a nutshell: Send it back to Gateway.

I called Gateway's Retail Services to discuss the issue with them. After inquiring about the charge to diagnose and repair the computer, and oh, by the way, what about fixing the cracked hinges. ...Really...? Well let me talk to the owner and see what they think about that.

I won't quote prices, but I believe what you will be quoted is what I was quoted, as they say that they have a flat rate for diagnosing and repairing the laptops depending on what has to be done. Sounded pretty reasonable to me. My friend is very happy with Gateway's service to this point, as am I. I thought that the prices given for the work to be performed were reasonable, and when it comes back it will have been fixed at the factory and not by some clown (me) who managed to get it apart and install a new mobo, but still didn't fix the hinges.

I will post again when my friend has the laptop back and let you know what her satisfaction is.

Fred
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post #13 of 17
5/14/09 at 9:03pm

Updates?

Hi all,
Sorry to bring up such an old thread but I'm having the same issues with my boss's laptop. Was there ever a definitive solution? Other than, of course, sending it back to gateway?
Thanks,
Rob
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post #14 of 17
5/14/09 at 9:27pm
Have you tried with another battery and another AC first?

cheers ...
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post #15 of 17
5/15/09 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
Have you tried with another battery and another AC first?

cheers ...
No, not yet. Really didn't want to spend the money if the unit's gonna wind up needing major repairs or a new mobo. If that's the case, I'm sure we'd just toss it. Especially considering that the OP tried a new battery and PSU and didn't help.
Was just curious if the OP was able to pinpoint the problem.
Shouldn't the unit (if the PSU isn't bad of course) power on without a battery installed?
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post #16 of 17
5/15/09 at 4:41pm
Systems differ one from another. What did not work for the OP, might work for you.

Try borrowing someone else battery and ac adapter.

Yes, notebooks should work without battery in, if the PSU is not failing.

cheers ...
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post #17 of 17
5/16/09 at 2:21pm
We'll give it a shot. No other Gateway notebooks in the company to borrow from but I suppose we could try just buying a new PSU from Bestbuy and return it if it doesn't help.
I'll post back results.
Thanks
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