Compaq NX6110 Charging Problem. Strange!

[DanGent]

HP Compaq NX6610 Intermittent power problem

Been given a HP Compaq NX6610 with a corrupt windows install. Sorted it all out only to find out there is an intermittent fault with power to the laptop. The battery has very little capacity and sometimes the charging light on the front (with a lightning symbol) rather than be orange is just turned off. Then windows gives a message informing to switch to AC power, and the laptop turns off. When the AC adaptor is plugged in I cannot get the laptop to power up. The charging light does not come on. Other times its works perfectly. It seems I have to leave it for a while.
I've tried another identical charger and also my universal charger (all tested with multimeters and outputting correctly just more than 18.5V). So its not the charger.

Is it possible that this laptop cannot work WITHOUT the battery in? I haven't written enough notes on this fault, but now with just the AC in and no battery it still doesn't turn on. And I think that when the laptop does work with the battery and AC power in, it doesn't work with just the AC power.

I've fixed quite a few broken DC jacks by resoldering but the connection on this laptop seems fine. No wobble and the laptop either works fine or simply doesn't power up.

If it helps, one time i turned on the laptop and the backlight inverter wasn't working (no backlight). But just taking the battery out and holding the power button down (to discharge capacitors and etc) fixed it.

I didn't want to spend too much time on this laptop but now all my time will be wasted unless I get this power issue sorted. :^( Does it sound like a mobo issue and worth just scrapping the motherboard?

Much thanks for reading,
Dan Gent

[Pob255]

Sounds like a fault on the power regulation on the mother board or a faulty socket.

And yes the laptop should run fine without the battery in on the ac adaptor.

[smargh]

Welcome to the world of HP Compaq laptops.

There's nothing unusual about these problems. From the research I did 6 months ago, it's often something on the motherboard which breaks, requiring a full warranty (or DIY) board replacement.

[DanGent]

How annoying I only found this fault out AFTER reinstalling windows and all that.....
Pob255 - I dont think its the socket as theres no "play" at all in the connection. Unlike other laptops where I've put new DC jacks on (where you have to hold the cable to a dodgy angle to get any power ;^) ) Is it the case that all laptops should run with the battery out and the AC power in then?

smargh - I knew it was worth asking the guys at Hexus just so I didnt waste anymore time! Motherboard failure = laptop write off for something this old. ah well