HP G60 - Abrupt battery failure, battery not detected

[elanni405]

Hi everyone,

The battery on my laptop abruptly failed last night for no obvious (to me) reason, and I suspect it's a warranty-covered hardware failure but I was hoping someone here could give me a second/expert opinion based on symptoms. My laptop is a 6 month-old 2009 HP G60-447CL running Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) and the battery is the original.

The battery failed suddenly last night while I was watching a youtube video full screen- the computer powered off and would not restart even with AC adapter connected. After it was left off & connected to the adapter for 8 more hours it did power back on, but the battery icon in the taskbar was showing an empty battery with a red X and telling me to replace it. Clicking on the icon, the battery detail pane told me that there is a problem with my battery and I may lose power suddenly as a result (not the exact wording), but it also showed that the battery was 100% charged. I was able disconnect the AC adapter and run on battery only, but it appeared to drain much faster than before under the same conditions. (The computer runs fine when connected to the adapter with no battery installed.)

I've installed & run Battery Check and oddly, it doesn't see a battery installed (even when I'm running on battery only) but DOES report a “battery power remaining” value. Even more oddly, when I plug the computer into the wall and allow it to charge for several hours, the charge shown on Battery Check actually exceeds 100%, though the charge shown on the toolbar does not. I've tried reinstalling the battery and this doesn't seem to affect the symptoms.

I plan to do the battery charge test next, but given what I've read here I'm utterly baffled. Really I guess I'd just like to know whether this is grounds for a warranty-covered swap or not. Although the battery seems semi-functional for now, my amateur evaluation is that something has gone quite wrong with it and if it doesn't fail soon, I'm sure it will the day my warranty expires.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

[Huffer]

On a 6 month old laptop you should get a warranty replacement battery on the facts outlined above. Call HP. As I understand it they will send a new battery without the need to send in the whole machine. They may take a credit card and then release the charge when you return the dead battery. 

[Kalt]

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elanni405 wrote:

Hi everyone,

The battery on my laptop abruptly failed last night for no obvious (to me) reason, and I suspect it's a warranty-covered hardware failure but I was hoping someone here could give me a second/expert opinion based on symptoms. My laptop is a 6 month-old 2009 HP G60-447CL running Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) and the battery is the original.

The battery failed suddenly last night while I was watching a youtube video full screen- the computer powered off and would not restart even with AC adapter connected. After it was left off & connected to the adapter for 8 more hours it did power back on, but the battery icon in the taskbar was showing an empty battery with a red X and telling me to replace it. Clicking on the icon, the battery detail pane told me that there is a problem with my battery and I may lose power suddenly as a result (not the exact wording), but it also showed that the battery was 100% charged. I was able disconnect the AC adapter and run on battery only, but it appeared to drain much faster than before under the same conditions. (The computer runs fine when connected to the adapter with no battery installed.)

I've installed & run Battery Check and oddly, it doesn't see a battery installed (even when I'm running on battery only) but DOES report a “battery power remaining” value. Even more oddly, when I plug the computer into the wall and allow it to charge for several hours, the charge shown on Battery Check actually exceeds 100%, though the charge shown on the toolbar does not. I've tried reinstalling the battery and this doesn't seem to affect the symptoms.

I plan to do the battery charge test next, but given what I've read here I'm utterly baffled. Really I guess I'd just like to know whether this is grounds for a warranty-covered swap or not. Although the battery seems semi-functional for now, my amateur evaluation is that something has gone quite wrong with it and if it doesn't fail soon, I'm sure it will the day my warranty expires.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

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I was pretty sure that the downloadable battery check utility was only for XP-based systems....  Did you check that on the downloads page?

[elanni405]

Kalt & Huffer, thank you both for your help.

Kalt, you're correct that on HP's Battery Check download page it specifies compatibility only with Win 2000 and XP, but according to these guys (something I found after seeing your comment), it can be run on Win 7 with proper setup.  I had actually installed in XP SP2 compatibility mode (it wouldn't install otherwise) but I had not followed through with the program property settings.  Now that I have, I get what appears to be a fully-functioning Battery Check that's also identifying my battery failure as a warranty-covered problem.

Problem solved; thanks again!

[Bill8sf]

I had a similar battery problem after about 6 month so HP replaced my battery.  However, yesterday I noticed a red X over my battery and it is now about 6 months after replacing my battery.  I am now worried I have a HP G60 laptop problem that messes up my battery every 6-8 months rather than a battery problem.  What was the experience with the original poster.  Did you get a new warranty battery?  How is your second battery??

[elanni405]

Hi Bill8sf,

HP did allow me to trade in my battery for a new one after confirming that it was defective, though I was disappointed to hear from the service representative that the warranty covered only *one* battery replacement regardless of the reason for replacement.  If the product is defective, shouldn't it be replaced with *no* consequence or cost to the customer?

The good news is that the new battery has lasted over 8 months with moderate use and appears to be functioning properly, currently registering 76% capacity on Battery Check.  I'm guessing I just got a dud the first time around, though I'm also more careful to keep my laptop well-ventilated during use since I notice it gets *very* hot and despite not being a battery expert, it's not hard to imagine that excessive heat may adversely affect battery life/performance.

Good luck & hope this helps!

[ngray46]

Christmas 2009 I bought  twoHP G60 laptops,  They are now just over 13 mos old and both computers are giving messages stating the battery needs to be replaced.  I use one on ac current about 75% of the time and battery 25% and the other is used on ac current almost 100% of the time.  One is allowed to completely discharge and then fully recharge  while the 2nd has seldom had the battery completely discharge. The battery will run now for 1/2 hr to 3/4 hr.   Why does HP use a battery with such a rediculously short lifespan. 

Are these HP machines programmed to give trouble messages as soon as the warranty runs out?  I definitely will not be buying another HP when these are replaced.

 My 4 yr old Toshiba is still running on the same battery it came with and only difference 4 yrs later is that on a full charge, the battery on lasts about an hour.  FOUR yrs and no "battery needs to be replaced" message.

HP just says "no longer under warranty" and wants to sell me a new battery.  I will have to buy one but NOT from them.