Laptops are handy for their versatility and portability. They can function without the constant need for charging. However, as they get old and worn out, problems slowly. One of the most common problems among laptop users is that it only works when it is charging. Once they remove the charger, the laptop stops working.
This problem can be frustrating for many people, especially when you are dependent on your laptop where there are no charging points. We can’t carry our laptop chargers with us all the time and everywhere either.
Regardless of the reasons for a faulty charging laptop, troubleshooting and running some diagnostics will help. If you’re not sure about how you can do it, it’s easy. Let us walk you through the process.
Table of Contents
1. Run a Simple Troubleshoot to See If Your AC Adapter is Working
Every laptop has two power sources, the battery and the adapter. If your laptop needs constant charging to work, the root cause may be in its power source. Whether it’s a new laptop or an old one, this is a common problem. What you can do first is check for the status of the AC Adapter. It’s quick and simple.
First, turn off your laptop while keeping your AC adapter plugged in. Then, click on the F2 key immediately and keep it pressed when you power it back on. This will demonstrate information related to your battery and AC Adapter.
Generally, after you’ve pressed the F2 key, a page emerges with your adapter’s status displayed. For laptop adapters that are not faulty, the status reads excellent. However, if your AC Adapter is damaged, the status will read unknown or none. In this case, it is your AC Adapter that is faulty and needs replacement.
2. Try to Replug Your Charger
Often, laptop-based problems are minor glitches. A simple task such as taking your charger out and plugging it in again may fix it.
If this problem of your laptop working only when it is charging is a temporary glitch, removing your charger and putting it back again might be useful. This means both your hardware and software are still fine, and there’s no cause to panic.
3. Replacing the Battery Might Help
If the problem is not your power source, it is the battery. If you can only use your laptop when charging it, you might want to look into the battery. Batteries are essential in running your laptop without the need for a power source.
Start by removing the screws behind your laptop. This will expose the hardware components. The battery is hard to miss – it is long and rectangular shaped. Remove that and replace it with one that works properly.
Now, if your laptop runs fine and you can use it without plugging in the charger, your battery was the problem. Damaged batteries cannot sustain devices without an ample power supply.
4. Change Your Power Management Settings
To check for your power management configurations, go to BIOS. You will find something related to battery charging configurations. You will come across two options: Primary AC Use and Standard Charging.
If your device has somehow set the configuration to Primary AC Use, switch it back to Standard Charging. If there is no fault in the hardware, changing this will allow you to use your laptop without charging it constantly.
5. Check to See If AC Adapter Matches the Device Requirements
Most laptops come with their own set of AC Adapters. This ensures that the device’s input matches the adapter’s output. However, if you are using a third-party adapter, it may be causing your laptop-based problems.
To see whether your adapter and device are compatible, check for the stickers with the description. This sticker can be found under the device on your laptop, while for your adapter, you will find it pasted there itself.
Your laptop’s battery will not receive the charge when using the wrong adapter, no matter how long you keep the power supply going. This is why you need to keep plugging the charger in for your laptop to function.
Firstly, if your device’s output is V ( Voltage), the AC Adapter should also have an input of V. Secondly, check for the mAh. The adapter should always be able to provide mAh that is more or equal to the device. If the adapter’s features do not match the laptop’s requirements, it might be causing the problem.
6. Check to See If Your DC jack is the Problem
To do this, you will need a digital multimeter. To start, flip your laptop so that the bottom faces up. Now, unscrew and remove the lid, which will expose the laptop’s components. Next, start by removing the battery and plugging in a compatible working AC Adapter.
Now take your negative probe of the multimeter and place it on any metal port or VGA port. After this, take the positive probe and touch the pins on the terminal of the battery. There will be several pins; touch them one by one and read your multimeter.
If the voltage jumps a lot and is inconsistent, your motherboard might be damaged. However, if your multimeter is static without any results, the jack is the problem. If the jack is faulty, your battery does not receive any power, and hence, it does not get charged. Therefore, remove the faulty, old jack and replace it with a new one.
Conclusion
These simple solutions can help fix your faulty laptop that only works while charging. We all know how frustrating it is to have a laptop that constantly needs charging. If our solutions helped you fix your problem, feel free to share these.
Do you have any other remedies for a laptop that doesn’t work unless it is charging? If you have easy, fun, and quick solutions, please feel free to drop your suggestions below!
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