Troubleshoot Battery in new laptop wont charge (in storage for a year)

jetman

Level 10
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
Jun 6, 2017
470
Hi-

I bought a brand new Asus X205TA cheap travel laptop last year. I didn't do the traveling I wanted to do and kept it in storage.

I have now tried using the laptop and it works fine- except the battery wont hold any charge. When plugged in, there is a flashing light which blinks orange- green- off (in that sequence). It has also just flashed orange as well. The Windows icon shows the battery to be 100% charged- but it isn't. if I turn off the mains power the laptop turns off instantly.

I suppose I have permanently damaged the battery by not using it for a year ?

However- are there any tricks or tips and I can use to TRY and get it charging again ? The cost of replacing the internal battery is more than this laptop is worth.

Thanks.

PS- Some extra information...

The laptop was originally Windows 8. I did a totally clean install of Windows 10. Not sure if that would have affected anything (I doubt it).
 
Last edited:

Weebarra

Level 17
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 5, 2017
836
I'm not sure if this is any help, apparently it can happen when a battery has never been used before but it's worth a try, sorry i am not much help :(

My battery shows that it is fully charged, but it is not working
This is known as "False Peak" and is very common condition during first time battery use (or using a battery that has been discharged for several months). The charger light may go out after only 10-15 minutes, indicating that it is fully charged when it is not. Should this happen, simply leave the battery on the charger for about an hour. Remove it, and return it to the charger immediately. The battery will resume normal charging and the charger light will indicate when the battery is ready for use. This may happen several times during the first battery charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.

I also found this which might help, i know it's not your actual problem but again, it's worth a try.
Asus Laptop "Plugged in Not Charging" after upgrade
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

SHvFl

Level 35
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Well-known
Nov 19, 2014
2,342
Lithium ion battery cells need to remain above a certain voltage level to not get bad. I assume within your 1 year of not using it the charge level dropped and it killed the battery so you will have to replace it.
Check your battery model on ebay and in most cases you will find a cheap replacement one and it shouldn't cost as much as the value of any laptop bought last year. That is assuming the battery is easily serviceable and you don't need a tech.
 
Upvote 0

jetman

Level 10
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
Jun 6, 2017
470
Thanks for your replies. Very much appreciated.

Surprisingly, spare batteries for this model appear expensive on ebay (almost half the price of the laptop). I think it must be an unusual product- I will keep looking.

I will try disconnecting the battery, uninstalling the drivers and then reconnecting everything and see if that works (it probably wont but worth a go maybe)

Do you guys think that it is unusual for a new laptop battery to ruin after 12 months of not being used ? It was fully charged about a year ago before I stored it. I appreciate that these batteries degrade if not charged, but I didn't think storage for 12 months would totally ruin a new battery. Seems a bit rubbish !

Also, I have read about putting a battery in the freezer for a few hours to try and kick-start it. Is this advisable or just nonsense ?

Thanks again for your help and comments.
 
Upvote 0

About us

  • MalwareTips is a community-driven platform providing the latest information and resources on malware and cyber threats. Our team of experienced professionals and passionate volunteers work to keep the internet safe and secure. We provide accurate, up-to-date information and strive to build a strong and supportive community dedicated to cybersecurity.

User Menu

Follow us

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to know first about the latest cybersecurity incidents and malware threats.

Top