Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Gadgets & Tech Another laptop problem

First, a simple question. Does anyone have an HP G62 laptop and will they be prepared to let me use their charger unit for 10 mins?

A week ago the G62 Mrs uses started to throw up a message saying something like “battery failure imminent”, or something like that. Mrs did not keep a note of the words and ignored the message until one day after switch on the machine just shut down again.

By warming thr battery to try to impart some bit of life the machine would stay on for maybe 10 seconds and would start to try to load Win 10 - but would quickly die again

I could get a better machine BUT there are files on the G62 that are needed (photos mainly) so I need breathe some life back into the thing. Anyway, Mrs “ likes” the G62, although I cannot think why.

And now the crux of the post
I have acquired a NEW battery and when put in the machine all works fine again ——— but the battery does not charge from the charger

I tested the charger voltage output and it seems —- but I am no expert with a test meter.

I can easy buy a replacement charger BUT an old memory reminds me that in many laptops the board carries some electronic gubbins between the charger unit and the battery —— and that the gubbins can be prone to fail

So, before lashing out on a replacement charger I would like to borrow one to test. If the borrowed one charges I will get a replacement for mine. If not ?? Maybe try to download the photos using the 60% residual charge in the new battery ——- or have someone familiar with these things investigate whether there really is an issue with some gubbins on the board (who)

Advice grarefully received
Snod

There are three connections on these power plugs, two are for supply and the other is a data pin, its quite common for the power socket to fail and its usually the data pin not making.

Try pulling the socket sideways (or up or down) before switching the mains on and see if that starts the charging.

I might have some suitable HP power packs hidden away, I'll check but I'm fairly tied up until next week.

If it is the socket that's faulty, the G62's don't need any soldering, the have a lead that plugs in to an internal connector. There are at least two types some have a seven pin internal connector and others have eight.

DD
Grateful if you can help in any way

I looked at the power plug on my charger.
It has an outer and an inner cylidrical contact sleeve that registers about 19v across
There is then a centre "pin" that registers about 14V between pin and the outer sleeve

If I plug my charger into the HP G62 there are then two small lights alongside the input socket - they flash alternately white and red. That suggests to me that power IS getting into the machine.

With the machine off I left the charger plugged in for couple of hours ---- but there was NO inclease in battery voltage so summat is not getting through to the (new) battery

Anyone any ideas what to try next?

Snod

Yes that centre pin is the data one that often fails to make contact in the socket. I'll have a hunt on Monday for my HP powerpacks, I should have at least two but one might be dead. But Its most likely to be the socket on the laptop, if its the power circuits they tend to buzz for a while before dying.

If you just want data (pictures etc) off the hard drive I can do that and transfer it to another computer which may be the simplest option.

DD

There is not a lot of data on the HP G62. There may be enough power in the new battery to allow transfer to USB stick - but I would not want to risk that and find the new battery has been taken down to zero charge with files still left on the machine

With my state of health I would rather not go through a steps of acquiring a replacement laptop at this stage. I already have an old Packard Bell (with a HUGE 0.8 gig memory) and a small Medion machine that I carried around th world for years, has been dropped many times and with the keyboard letters worn out - both Win 10. Eventually Mrs will take over my Lenovo T430

Mrs has almost zero IT knowledge
She also likes a bit bigger screen of the HP G62 - a vanity/ glasses issue

From what you say the first step would seem to be to test a working HP power supply. If that fails then the gizmo socket on the board obviously needs attention - I am sure someone on here can suggest where to have that done

Snod