0601

[ridersam]

Help! I have a Pavilion DV6 laptop that will no longer start. There is a battery alert notice for primal (internal) battery 601 that needs replacing. If you then press enter for start up nothing happens. I've also tried start up after removing the 6 cell battery and using only mains. No battery warning but the result is the same - a blank screen and nothing happens. I have also gone into the bios which opens up - it checks out the hard disc as OK and in the diagnostic comes up with the error 0601. The computer is no longer under guarantee but if I could at least getin therre I could back up my files.

I don't understand why a faulty battery could be stopping startup.

Any suggestions please?

[Mista B]

could also be faulty power transformer so worth trying another one if you or perhaps a friend has one.
Did you do the diagnostics with battery inserted !
Expect your battery health is not the best as they don't last long these days, but machine should start with battery removed & on AC power if not faulty, worth checking AC power supply cables & plugs for obvious defects

[ridersam]

thanks.  the computer lights up when I connect the transformer and cable so I assumed they were working ok. I did the diagnostics with transformer as otherwise the computer doesn't even light up and turn on but got the diagnostic both with and without the battery inside. My problem is relating the behaviour and error message.   Battery seems dead and error message is for battery, so that all fits ...BUT computer is supposed to work ok without battery ?...

Question 1 : does or can the lack of battery prevent computer from boot up?

Question 2 : can the transformer/ac mains cable be defective and cause failure to boot if it lights up and turns on the computer when no battery installed?

Question 3 : can the "internal battery error 0601' refer to another battery nside?

if the answer is no to all 3 questions can anyone tell me what other possibilities there are?

[Mista B · Accepted solution]

1 no
2 yes
3 no but replacing or testing the bios cell is cheap option just to be sure

I would be inclined to disconnect the mains press & hold the power button down for 30 seconds then reconnect mains & try boot.
visually check no USB ports or similar show signs pins bent/shorting, remove ram & try booting with one stick at a time & from each slot, remove dvd-rom drive & try booting.
If issue persists, try testing/renewing bios battery.

I would also try another power adaptor even if means buying a cheap universal notebook power adaptor as will still work out cheap diagnostics. I would try power adaptor first but if you don't have one easily available do simpler tests first. universal notebook power adaptor can be had for about $13 & is a handy tool so not a complete waste ...
Have had this issue with power adaptors before but also sometime mainboard power circuit issue too & even bad bios chip. Test everything & assume nothing as these diagnostics codes can be misleading sometimes.

[ridersam]

Well thank you for your time and answers Mr B. Very clear and complete so now I'll try and work my way through your suggestions starting with the power cable.

thanks again