"Plugged in, not charging" solution for Windows 7 installations

May 27, 2011

OK I know that this is not tax advice today, but sometimes solving computer problems is worth more than an extra $1,000 in your tax refund cheque.  Well maybe not that much but you know what I mean.

So I was scratching my head all day today when my computer kept on running out of power and shutting down within minutes of unplugging my computer.  I checked the power boards, the power supply connection, used different plugs and still no luck.  Went home and tried the power board there too.  Then I realised that when I hovered over the power button it showed 6% available (plugged in, not charging).  What did that mean?  The AC power supply was working but the battery wouldn’t re-charge.  God this was getting frustrating.  So a quick Google search resulted in finding a heap of different solutions but this is the one that worked for me (I have a Medion Akoya P6624 but it seems to work with most computers with Windows 7):

1. Disconnect your AC supply
2. Shut down computer
3. Remove battery
4. Connect your AC supply
5. Start-up computer
6. Open Device Manager (type in device manager in the start menu)
7. Under the Batteries category, go to “Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery”
8. Go to the Driver tab and click Uninstall (it’s ok - it will re-install on re-start)
9. Shut down computer
10. Disconnect your AC supply
11. Re-insert battery
12. Connect your AC supply
13. Start-up computer
14. Put a smile on your face when you see x% (plugged in, charging)
15. Make a donation to www.larryleprechaun.com.au for helping you out
16. Write a comment below with your computer make/model so that others can benefit in the future

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Author: Mr Taxman

Comments

Reply
"This can also be a symptom of other problems. I'm glad the ACPI fix worked for you. For others, try: Mac: Resetting the PRAM (Google It) Pull battery, add AC, startup, plugin battery whilst startup, check for charge, and shutdown. - if charge, sweet, if not, probably new battery OR shove it in freezer wrapped in handtowel for 6 hours. Try again. PC: Windows Vista and 7 doesn't like older computers. If you have one, it may not read the battery properly. Initially, this means that you can only really charge you battery when the computer is shutdown. It also means you need to set your power settings not to automatically turn off the computer when it reaches a certain percentage - cause it'll just randomly happen. The other trick is to update the BIOS, as it may help with the battery sensing - works in most toshibas and acers for win7... hope that helps"

By: Babeltech on May 29, 2011 5:00PM

Reply
"I've got an older Toshiba Qosmio(2006) and I just bought a new battery for it but it wont charge. I tried the unisnstall the compliant control thing and it now says it is plugged in and charging but its not charging at all. So going with the last posters comment, how do I update the BIOS please? "

By: breando on Sep 28, 2012 3:31AM

Reply
"Thanks awfully for sharing you advice, it worked brilliantly for me. First thing that has worked for me today. So wonderful to meet someone who knows and shares. Cheers"

By: zigi on Jun 11, 2013 8:57AM

Reply
"Glad to hear"

By: Mr Taxman on Jun 12, 2013 12:17PM

Reply
"It worked wonderfully in a Toshiba Satellite C655, thanks a lot!!!"

By: JF on Jun 11, 2013 11:45AM

Reply
"Excellent"

By: Mr Taxman on Jun 12, 2013 12:17PM

Reply
"Good solution for me. I have a Medion Akoya E7214. Have a query though, does anyone have a reason for what causes this to happen? My unit sat happily charging for about 3 years & then just stopped. Also I wonder how many people have invested in a new battery module only to find their existing battery module is perfectly good!"

By: Stewart on Feb 17, 2014 11:53PM

Reply
"I have a Medion Akoya. I was not sure it would work but I followed the exact steps as above and bingo, battery is now charging as I'm typing! Very happy as this has been such a pain and it was so easy to fix! Thanks a million! "

By: Valerie on Nov 09, 2014 7:15AM

Reply
"Have a Medion E1210. Battery led flashes orange, and hovering over battery icon produces '96% available (plugged in, not charging)'. Actually it IS charging, because it's always 96%, but the flashing led is a nuisance. Tried your recipee, and it did NOT work (although the deleted driver indeed re-installed). Pity, but thanks anyway."

By: Robert on Sep 08, 2015 8:01PM

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