Q. I'm using a Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook.)
Yesterday when I booted up my computer, one of the four normally green lights at the bottom of my computer (below the keyboard) started flashing red/orange at me. Since the computer didn't give me any error messages, I figured it was something I did shutting down or starting up, so I re-started and the problem seemed to go away, as the light went back to green.
However, today, I've been using the computer and surfing the internet for over an hour and the light started up again a few minutes ago, seemingly out of nowhere. I haven't done anything differently and it still won't give me error messages, so I have no idea what kind of problem the light could be indicating or even if it's just the light on it's own. Obviously I'm concerned about it, but since I don't know what it is I thought it might be something I want to be aware of, and I don't want to just re-start my computer every time I see this if it is something important.
Hopefully this is in the right place -- Honestly, I have no idea, because this site just came up when I typed the problem into google, so I'm just trying.
Solution
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the Battery light operates as follows:
- Solid green: The battery is charging.
- Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.
If the computer is running on a battery, the light operates as follows:
- Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off).
- Flashing orange: The battery charge is low.
- Solid orange: The battery charge is critically low
I think it overheated as I left it on the bed still on while I went away and did somehting else. The lights were 3 or four amber flashes followed by a green one. It drove me crazy. In the end I fully discahrged the battery and put it in the fridge overnight. I then charged it up and hey presto problem fixed. I hope this helps you as I'm not sure what type of computer you have.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Why won't the "critical battery" light on my laptop stop blinking?
Q. I unplugged my laptop and sat with it on my lap for a good 2 hours today...I noticed just barely that my battery was really low and the "critical battery" light was flashing. I plugged it in, but the light didn't stop blinking. This happened to me once before and so I waited until it was fully charged and ran the battery out again and it corrected itself. I've done this technique twice now and it's not corrected the problem. It's annoying me because I keep noticing the blinking light. I've tried taking the battery out and that stops the blinking for a minute or two, but then it starts again...same when I put the battery back in. Tonight I will shut the computer down and see if that fixes it. Any suggestions?
Solution
Sounds like your battery is suffering from the memory effect
To quote...
Almost anyone who uses rechargeable batteries has heard of the memory effect problem.
For those who have not heard of this problem it is commonly believed that when rechargeable batteries are not fully discharged between charge cycles that they remember the shortened cycle and are thus reduced in capacity (length of use per charge).
Little known facts:
* 'Memory Effect' is the common term used to replace the more accurate term 'Voltage Depression.'
* Voltage Depression is more a problem with incorrect charging than a battery problem.
* Voltage Depression does not necessarily permanently damage a battery. It can most likely be corrected by fully charging and discharging the battery.
* Voltage Depression ('Memory Effect') is often incorrectly used to explain low battery capacity that should be attributed to other problems, such as inadequate charging, overcharge, or exposure to high temperatures.
* Voltage Depression can be affected by the discharge rate of a battery. Generally speaking, the depth of discharge will be less on discharges at the higher rates. This increases the capacity loss as less of the active material in the battery is cycled.
...
Suggestions. Buy a new battery or if still under warranty contact your manufacturer.
If it's not under warranty and you are adventurous you could try the old tester light experiment... it's not hard but you need a bit of knowledge.
What you do is you find an old current tester, like an electrician would use to see if an outlet was working. I said 'old' because you want one with an little incandescent bulb (they use more electricity). Then you take the tester and connect it to the terminals of your batter (laying them on and taping in place) and leaving it to sit until the bulb doesn't come on anymore.
As I said it's an old fix and doesn't always work, your battery could be shot. But I have known it to work a few times.
But in the long run if you are going to keep this laptop, drop the $ on a new battery, you will be much happier.
Sources: http://www.zbattery.com/Battery-Memory-Effect
Solution
Sounds like your battery is suffering from the memory effect
To quote...
Almost anyone who uses rechargeable batteries has heard of the memory effect problem.
For those who have not heard of this problem it is commonly believed that when rechargeable batteries are not fully discharged between charge cycles that they remember the shortened cycle and are thus reduced in capacity (length of use per charge).
Little known facts:
* 'Memory Effect' is the common term used to replace the more accurate term 'Voltage Depression.'
* Voltage Depression is more a problem with incorrect charging than a battery problem.
* Voltage Depression does not necessarily permanently damage a battery. It can most likely be corrected by fully charging and discharging the battery.
* Voltage Depression ('Memory Effect') is often incorrectly used to explain low battery capacity that should be attributed to other problems, such as inadequate charging, overcharge, or exposure to high temperatures.
* Voltage Depression can be affected by the discharge rate of a battery. Generally speaking, the depth of discharge will be less on discharges at the higher rates. This increases the capacity loss as less of the active material in the battery is cycled.
...
Suggestions. Buy a new battery or if still under warranty contact your manufacturer.
If it's not under warranty and you are adventurous you could try the old tester light experiment... it's not hard but you need a bit of knowledge.
What you do is you find an old current tester, like an electrician would use to see if an outlet was working. I said 'old' because you want one with an little incandescent bulb (they use more electricity). Then you take the tester and connect it to the terminals of your batter (laying them on and taping in place) and leaving it to sit until the bulb doesn't come on anymore.
As I said it's an old fix and doesn't always work, your battery could be shot. But I have known it to work a few times.
But in the long run if you are going to keep this laptop, drop the $ on a new battery, you will be much happier.
Sources: http://www.zbattery.com/Battery-Memory-Effect
Laptop Battery Out - Laptop's Battery not Charging
Q. I left my laptop on, because I took my other computer to the technician for a check-up (some of you might remember what happened to that computer) and so the battery of the laptop was not being charged, so the battery was dead, because I didn't put on the adapter. Now, a whole new problem has arised. The laptop is not charging even when it is turned off. I tried to switch the adapter to several different plugs, but the charge light was still not going on. I tried to turn on the laptop but after 5-10 seconds, it quickly turned off. It feels as if the laptop is dead. I am not sure, how to bring the battery back to life. Can anyone please help?
Solution:
buying a new battery, then trying it in the laptop and seeing if it will charge. If it does then that means your current batter is toast and needs to be disposed of, if it doesn't charge it either means you have a bad AC adapter or the internal charging system of your laptop is bad. At that point I would suggest taking it in and having it looked at by a tech and then decide if you want to try to have what every is wrong fixed/replaced or getting a new laptop.
Solution:
buying a new battery, then trying it in the laptop and seeing if it will charge. If it does then that means your current batter is toast and needs to be disposed of, if it doesn't charge it either means you have a bad AC adapter or the internal charging system of your laptop is bad. At that point I would suggest taking it in and having it looked at by a tech and then decide if you want to try to have what every is wrong fixed/replaced or getting a new laptop.
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