Member Avatar for kenny1989

Hi, got a laptop that will not run just on the charger, i.e. charger plugged in, no battery inserted. It is about 6 months old. From what i can remember ALL laptops have this feature. Am i wrong?

p.s. it also will not charge when the it is turned off.

Specs

Acer Aspire 5610 series ( 5613AWLMi)
core duo T2350 1.86 ghz
2*512mb ram
Windows vista

i ask this now because i broke the battery.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Infarction

Dani AI

Generated

Practical diagnostic steps to narrow this down, plus safe next actions. described the problem and both and pointed toward hardware; the checks below are ordered so you can eliminate inexpensive things first and avoid needless parts or shop time.

  • Check the AC adapter itself. Confirm the adapter label for the rated voltage/current and that its LED (if any) is lit. If available, measure the DC output with a multimeter (compare to the label). A working adapter that reads correctly under light load rules the brick out.
  • Inspect the plug and jack. Look for a loose/wobbly barrel jack, bent pin, debris, or frayed cable. Gently wiggle the connector while observing the laptop LEDs; intermittent contact often shows as flicker or loss of power.
  • Try a known-good compatible adapter. Matching voltage and equal-or-greater current rating is required. This is the quickest way to separate adapter vs. laptop fault without opening the machine.
  • Perform an embedded-controller reset: remove battery and AC, hold the power button 20-30 seconds, then reconnect AC (no battery) and power on. This clears stuck EC/charging-state bugs on many models.
  • Test different power states: powered on, sleep/hibernate, and fully shut down. Note any difference in charging indicators—that pattern helps distinguish firmware/EC problems from pure wiring faults.
  • Update BIOS/firmware and chipset/power drivers if you can get the machine running on AC. Some charging quirks have been addressed in firmware updates.
  • If the adapter tests good but behavior persists, the fault is likely the DC jack wiring or the charging circuitry on the motherboard. At that point, professional repair is advised—especially if the laptop is under warranty.

Cautions: avoid opening the case if under warranty or if unfamiliar with laptop electronics; take ESD precautions; never short the adapter output. If a replacement adapter or battery is needed, use parts that match the original specifications.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for jbennet

thats not right. Laptops should run off both at once (run from mains while charging battery)

Member Avatar for kenny1989

ok, any idea how to fix a laptop that won't charge whilst off?

Member Avatar for Infarction

were I to guess, I'd say it's something in the hardware and you'll have to send it in for repair. :(

Member Avatar for kenny1989

If it charges whilst on but not whilst off, would it be the power jack?

Member Avatar for jbennet

or the battery

Member Avatar for Infarction

It should run without the battery plugged in. Since that scenario isn't working, I'd venture something related to either the adapter or the port it plugs into (and attached circuitry)

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