I’ve been having this problem with my thinkpad (IBM) laptop for a while now (about 3 months). Basically the power cord struggles to charge the laptop’s battery. It wouldn’t completely connect to the laptop – I have to play with it (bend it left or right, or twist it, or rotate it, …) to fully connect to the laptop and start charging…This is very annoying as I have to do this every 10 minutes or so, because with the slightest move of th laptop, the power cord comes out and I have to play with it again.
I figured the problem was with the power cord as I have had this laptop (IBM R50e) for over two years now. I thought maybe there is a short in the power cord or a similar problem.
So I ordered a new power cord and actually got it in mail today. NO CHANGE. The same damn thing is happening. So I searched online and found other people who are having the same problem as me. Here is one of them.
Bottom line is that now I know the problem is not with the power cord. One person suggested (on a website I found) that the arrow shape socket (the yellow thing) gets lose from the board behind it and it can be fixed (soldered) if you open the laptop and play with it.
So I’m going to call IBM (Lenovo nowadays) and ask them if they can fix it and how much they charge), at the end if I decide its not worth the service costs (which will probably be pretty high), I will open up the laptop and try to perform some surgery.
Either way I will keep this post updated on what happens and my further findings. If you happen to know what the problem is or can help me out, please post a comment here and contact me.
Nima
August 19th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Hi,
Did you manage to repair the socket on your own? I think I’m having the same problem as yours though I haven’t found anything else on the web except your blog. It would be interesting to know how you solved your problem.
You can send me an e-mail to lietuvis at gmail dot com. Thanks.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Hi, I also have the same problem with my laptop and the yellow charger hole. Did you solve your problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I had bought a new laptop last September, but I would like to give my old one to my boyfriend since it works fine.
Thank you,
Laura
August 27th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I haven’t fixed my laptop yet. I did take it to a repair shop and they gave me a $150 quote to fix it. I might take it to a repair shop soon and pay the $150 because this is really annoying.
Cheers,
Nima
October 13th, 2007 at 7:17 am
I’m having ths problem too, how anyoing!
December 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Same problem here – Thinkpad R51.
January 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Same problem! Do you find that even if you take the battery out, it still won’t power?
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’ve had this exact same problem – can you tell me where you found the place where they tried this?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
same here. do you know where to get a new charger?
July 13th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Same goes here
, With a Compaq C300
This is really annoying, What is the danger of such a problem on the laptop & the battery ? :-s
July 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
same problem here, and hats annoying is that now it wont go back in and charge, it wont even turn on=(
August 11th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I can sympathize! I am having the same issue. It keeps worse over time. What a pain!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Same problem, Thinkpad R61.
It’s a shitty design. It really ought to be recalled. They just want to sell more $50 chargers.
September 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
same problem any ideas anybody
October 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
same problem hp pavilion dv9000. i think its the cord because the part that holds the plug that goes into the laptop (that little rubber casing) isn’t sturdy enough and get bent or torn. anyone know any affordable 3rd-party chargers that are more durable?
November 12th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
my IBM laptop have the same problem, I called IBM and a guy come to my home , fix my laptop….It’s free to repair it.
If you laptop in the warranty, you can repair it free.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I had this problem on ThinkPad R61i; the cord shorted and in the end the sparking caused the motherboard’s power/charging circuit to fail so the laptop won’t charge nor run on AC. I managed to improvise something but I have to write this so that you know it could happen; so if you see there are problems with the cord don’t use it until you fix it or get a new one…
January 18th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
> What is the danger of such a problem on the laptop & the battery ? :-s
The ones I wrote and of course if the cable shorts that’s always bad: maybe the adapter can catch fire if it isn’t built properly.
The cable is easy to fix if you can find the new connector (or strip the old one’s plastic) and you know somebody who can solder and he does it so that he takes care that it’s done properly: the wires are insulated, not close to each other and the whole thing is tough so it won’t break again.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:52 am
I’m having the same problem, luckily i am under warranty. I called up lenovo today and they send they were going to send me a box in the mail to ship my laptop out to them so they can fix it. The whole process takes approximately 5-7 days.
February 18th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
The one gripe I have about all notebooks is that the power pins are so fragile. I paid to have two repaired before I found a AC cord retention kit to take the strain off the pitiful little poorly designed connector. It’s gotta a “funny” name but it sure did solve my problems. It’s a jerkstopper.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:29 am
Same problem with power cord in R61. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I’m calling Lenovo tomorrow.
May 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Annoying as hell, I twist and twist and somtimes it flashes. I hate it and I also got a browser hijack on firefox so I think I just might buy a mac.
June 28th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I have the same prob wit my HP 6000 but at one point when i bend the plug it works. So, I tape it at that position. The only prob is its connected 24/7.