laptop charging help

[banjo79]

Not having much luck finding reliable info online, so thought maybe we could have an expert on here...
My HP laptop has recently started telling me it is "plugged in, not charging".
It charges for a few seconds, then stops.
Battery issue? Charging cable problem? What do you reckon?
I think PC World do a free check, but any knowledge would be massivelt appreciated.

[mybloodisclaret]

Not an expert, sounds like an issue with cable, as if recognised it and accepted charge before failing. Had similar with a MacBook pro charger. Got a new cable and it worked.

I'd still get it checked by a pro, as I have no IT training.

[superdimitri]

Common problem with laptops, usually due to using wrong or old charger.

It's surprisingly actually. A lot of laptops come with power supplies rated too closely to their maximum power draw, over time as they become less efficient they don't provide enough current anymore.

My gfs dell came with a 60w adaptor and it had the same problem. I plugged in my 90w adaptor and it worked fine.

In short, get a new charger. Make sure output current is the same but try get one that supports more watts than the stock one if you can. Even if it's not needed, it's not efficient running at 60-80% of its capacity anyway.

[ClaretCanada]

Take it into your local computer store, have them plug one of their cables in, see if it works.
If problem persists try a new battery.

[box_of_frogs]

Had the same problem, got a new cable. Sorted.

[tybfc]

My Mac book pro did exactly the same thing and worked perfectly alright after I changed the charger.

Until last week when one of the kids tipped a can of fanta onto the keyboard. It is now in the doctors. The laptop not the child.

[starting_11]

Maybe the battery is dead.

It may still be letting power thru but not actually charging. That happens sometimes with rechargable things

[Reecey1987]

Try taking your battery out and see if it still works plugged in . If thats the case you need a new battery

[CnBtruntru]

Try taking your battery out and see if it still works plugged in . If thats the case you need a new battery

Just logged in to put that, you must be fast just noticed 15 minutes between posts I must need new glasses or phone

[superdimitri]

The advice to try without the battery can be valid but not always. Usually this problem is related to the charger not providing enough current anymore and often the battery stops charging as a precautionary measure..If it can't run charging it cuts out to try and get enough power from the adaptor without charging...so essentially if the battery isn't charging then it's already doing what what happen if you removed the battery. If it's the case the adaptor isn't providing the power it needs you'll find the laptop will start throttling and performance will get worse as it hits the limit of power the broken charger provides.

Always test a new charger before the battery in case you end up replacing the battery for nothing or worse, breaking another.

[banjo79]

thank you for the replies everyone
I've taken the battery out, plugged it in... and it works.
So knackered battery then?

edit- just noticed the post above, will bear this in mind

huge thanks again x

[Chester Perry]

I have this with my HP laptop - virtually impossible to get a replacement battery that lasts more than 5 months as they are not from the original manufacturer - been running fine just plugged in with no battery for 18 months now