Quick [Laptop Battery] Fix

Dibs

Problem: Laptop is plugged in, the battery is at 23% and it won't charge.

Laptop Info: Dell, Windows Vista, ~1 year old

I just noticed this problem about a week ago. I think it may have sustained a fall in that time. My laptop stops charging at 23% -- is this an issue with my power settings (I can't find anything related, but one 'help topic' says that this might be the max the battery can hold -- but also says my battery life is 'healthy') or with the battery?

Clues/Suggestions/Advice? The life on this bad boy used to be upwards of two hours, which was a nice change from my home laptop that can't stay on for more than 20 minutes (that one is definitely a battery problem).

MoSiAc

Have you done any battery cycling on it? I think some Dell's have a program that might do this.

Have you let the battery completely drain and try a full recharge that way?

Also don't dell laptop batteries have a button on them to see how "charged" they are from the battery's point of view as opposed to windows? Should be a row of LED's, how many are lighting up?

PirateJon

There should be a battery re-calibration tool in the BIOS or available from Dell. Start with that.

Dibs

Went to go check for the battery re-calibration tool and didn't find it.

Restarting the computer fixed it. I usually just put it in standby. Boy is my face red - Troubleshooting 101 =(

Solved.

Delzhand

Sometimes Dell batteries just go to shit. I'm on my second battery in 4 years, and it won't hold any charge. At all. Like, it won't charge over 00%, and hitting the power button without being plugged in has no effect.

I've learned since that it was caused by having a fully charged battery all the time while still being plugged into AC power.