Laptop flickers trying to charge

[bfncbs1]

I have a Gateway laptop and recently when I go to plug in the Ac power to charge the battery it starts to flick back and forth from a AC charge to battery charge. I can't get it to stay on the AC charge.....very annoying !

Does anyone know if it's usually the laptop or the actual AC power supply? Not trying to spend a $100 for a new AC supply from Gateway unless I know for sure. Any help would be appreciated

 

[LordStanley]

I have a Gateway laptop and recently when I go to plug in the Ac power to charge the battery it starts to flick back and forth from a AC charge to battery charge. I can't get it to stay on the AC charge.....very annoying !

Does anyone know if it's usually the laptop or the actual AC power supply? Not trying to spend a $100 for a new AC supply from Gateway unless I know for sure. Any help would be appreciated

Next time take the battery out and only use the AC.... If it acts funny, then 2 things could be wrong.
-powersupply on motherboard could be bad
-AC adapter is bad.

If it works fine with the battery out then you have other issues
-battery cells are damaged and battery wont charge properly
-motherboard power converter for charging the battery is damaged.

either way you look at it, plan on spending money
-batterys are not cheap
-AC adapters you may find for a lot less
-motherboards, unless under warrenty are expensive

 

[bfncbs1]

Next time take the battery out and only use the AC.... If it acts funny, then 2 things could be wrong.
-powersupply on motherboard could be bad
-AC adapter is bad.

If it works fine with the battery out then you have other issues
-battery cells are damaged and battery wont charge properly
-motherboard power converter for charging the battery is damaged.

either way you look at it, plan on spending money
-batterys are not cheap
-AC adapters you may find for a lot less
-motherboards, unless under warrenty are expensive

Ugh don't even want to hear motherboard....Just did that for another laptop.

When I pull the battery the laptop dies with the AC plugged in.....I can get it to come on briefly before I assume it's flickering and goes out

 

[dems4me]

I have a Gateway laptop and recently when I go to plug in the Ac power to charge the battery it starts to flick back and forth from a AC charge to battery charge. I can't get it to stay on the AC charge.....very annoying !

Does anyone know if it's usually the laptop or the actual AC power supply? Not trying to spend a $100 for a new AC supply from Gateway unless I know for sure. Any help would be appreciated

I bought a Gateway laptop about two years ago... it was a worthless peice of crap compared to the Sony Vaio (sp?) I have now. On the Gateway, I constantly had problems with the power jack, I bought at least 5 universal adapters for it, each one would last about 2-3 weeks... it wasn't cheap when it started costing about 70.00 for each quick fix, then I'd have to start holding the cord down or in a cetain position with one hand and try to type with the other, it was a pita, then it got to the point it wouldn't charge or come on at all, the jack was completely inoperable inside.

Apparently it has something to do with the jack inside the laptop, they are weak and I think I read or heard somewhere its a very problematic area on the Gateways and that I'd need to replace the entire motherboard to get it fixed. I had enough and bought a Sony Vaio - well worth the money and no complaints at all compared to the Gateway. Goodluck! I'm hoping maybe I just got a bad model or something. Hopefully yours is different

 

[LordStanley]

Ugh don't even want to hear motherboard....Just did that for another laptop.

When I pull the battery the laptop dies with the AC plugged in.....I can get it to come on briefly before I assume it's flickering and goes out

then its one of two things.... the AC adapter or the motherboard power supply.

If you can get your hands on another AC adapter to further trouble shoot, try that. Maybe take it to the Geek Squad and see if they have one.

If another AC adpter wont fix the issue. Start shopping for another motherboard.

If your tech savy, you can try taking it apart and see if you have a loose/broken solder joint. It could be an easy fix.

 

[bfncbs1]

then its one of two things.... the AC adapter or the motherboard power supply.

If you can get your hands on another AC adapter to further trouble shoot, try that. Maybe take it to the Geek Squad and see if they have one.

If another AC adpter wont fix the issue. Start shopping for another motherboard.

If your tech savy, you can try taking it apart and see if you have a loose/broken solder joint. It could be an easy fix.

I guess my best hope is a AC supply......Of course I have several other AC suppiles but known fit the gateway so I can even test....I'll see if I can borrow one first.

Thx for all the help!

 

[LordStanley]

I guess my best hope is a AC supply......Of course I have several other AC suppiles but known fit the gateway so I can even test....I'll see if I can borrow one first.

Thx for all the help!

Not a problem...

 

[Pushrod]

I have the same problem on my HP laptop. It is definetly the AC/DC converter. If I bang it on the counter the AC/charging indicator stays on. I guess one of the windings in the converter is probably barely open. When it goes out all the way I will buy another one.