HP Elitebook 8560p battery not detected in bios

[ell]

Hi, so I have this really nice elitebook, but can't seem to get it to detect the battery, (I've tried 2 batteries) updated the bios, put the battery in and out w/without the power adapter, held down the the power button, can't seem to solve it. Hoping its not the motherboard but its kinda of looking that way unless anyone has any other ideas???

 

[Larry Sabo]

Did you Google it? Lots of hits, e.g., this one which says it's a BIOS problem and solved by updating it as described in the post.

 

[ell]

yes I've googled to death, thats why I turned here in case I missed anything, THANKS! didn't find that link, I did update the bios to Ver. F.61 06/11/2015 but they showed 3 8560p models, and maybe I picked the wrong one. Hopefully your bios will work, I'm on it!

 

[Larry Sabo]

I just Googled your title, got lots of hits and the first one looked like a winner. Anyway, let us know how it goes.

 

[ell]

I just Googled your title, got lots of hits and the first one looked like a winner. Anyway, let us know how it goes.

oh crap, says its not compatible, yes I read a ton of threads.

 

[Larry Sabo]

That's strange, it specifically mentions the model you cited as affected by the problem. Did you check the link for the more recent version of the document? Perhaps there is additional info on the problem there.

Edit: I see you updated to a later/current BIOS version, so if that doesn't fix it, more reading required I guess.

 

[ell]

That's strange, it specifically mentions the model you cited as affected by the problem. Did you check the link for the more recent version of the document? Perhaps there is additional info on the problem there.

Edit: I see you updated to a later/current BIOS version, so if that doesn't fix it, more reading required I guess.

I know it specifically lists it! I tried flashing again and then from usb, fail. the serial SN: 5CB207559S is what I'm searching now on HP. I did upgrade it to win 10, but that wouldn't effect the bios not seeing it.

 

[ell]

SOLVED!!! so I learned 2 new things I hope I remember:

1. If you try to flash a hp bios from usb stick it has to be less than 4gb or you get a "invalid system disk" error.
2. Try a power supply with EXACT same name brand as laptop (even though the oem is 19 volts) and the HP one I found was 18.5 volts

When I went to flash the bios (now with a 2gb stick instead of 8gb) it would not go because it did not think I was running on ac. I dug through my pile of ac adapters and found a genuine HP with 18.5 volts. (I tried two others a Dell and a generic, both 19 volt output both powered the laptop fine but battery not detected)

I skipped the bios flash when I saw the amber light come on when I switched the power adapters, rebooted and the battery was detected fine! yay!

 

[Larry Sabo]

Congrats! So the non-HP AC adapter caused the battery not to be detected (probably because it's fully delepeted)? Just like Dell's [stupid] approach, guaranteed to frustrate customers who have a dead adapter and are forced to buy the OEM one instead of a universal adapter. Makes you shake your head.

 

[ell]

Congrats! So the non-HP AC adapter caused the battery not to be detected (probably because it's fully delepeted)? Just like Dell's [stupid] approach, guaranteed to frustrate customers who have a dead adapter and are forced to buy the OEM one instead of a universal adapter. Makes you shake your head.

They sent me another battery, both were not detected, but I've already fully charged one now. I bought this business model off ebay from a reputable refurbisher, added some memory and a bigger hd that I had. Funny they would not catch the problem, I have two batteries now, when they call me back tomorrow after hearing my voicemail I'll ask for a oem power adapter to replace the Dell one they sent with it. Thanks for your link, I may not have ever figured it out without trying the bios downgrade!

 

[NJW]

Just like Dell's [stupid] approach

Well, yes and no. The Dell identity chip tells the laptop what the PSU power rating is, so you don't get a nasty (flat battery) surprise, even though running on mains power. I agree that it can be inconvenient for the tech, as an incorrect power rating will prevent some operations, but there are far bigger inconveniences out there.

My universal power supply has specific connector tips for HP and Dell, so I have these situations covered.

 

[gadgetfixup]

Yeah we've found many of those old HP and Dell chargers are not interchangeable even though the tips are the same and sometimes the voltage. Some will work with the wrong brand but others won't charge the batteries.

 

[ell]

The hp one I found to work is 18.5v whereas the oem specs from the serial # is 19v, could I be damaging something here?

 

[Larry Sabo]

The Dell identity chip tells the laptop what the PSU power rating is, so you don't get a nasty (flat battery) surprise, even though running on mains power

Are you saying that Dell and HP designed their laptops and chargers to prevent the user from using an under-rated charger so their batteries don't deplete unexpectedly because the charger they are using is incapable of delivering sufficient current or regulating/maintaining the voltage to maintain the charge while plugged in and used? It has nothing to do with higher margins on OEM AC adapters? I must be getting cynical in my old age.

 

[Larry Sabo]

The hp one I found to work is 18.5v whereas the oem specs from the serial # is 19v, could I be damaging something here?

Highly unlikely. I expect that the regulators that drop the input voltage from 18.5v/19v to the various working voltages have a wide enough tolerance for incoming voltage variation that half a volt is not going to be relevant.

 

[Larry Sabo]

My universal power supply has specific connector tips for HP and Dell, so I have these situations covered.

I would think you need the right IC in the adapter that tells the laptop it's the right charger, not just tips that fit the jack.

Edit: Here's another good description of how it works, for those who are unfamiliar with this.

 

[mr m]

The laptop manufacturers need to think of the consumer and stop locking out 3rd party batteries and adapters. I know, I know, like every damn thing in life it's all about the money.

The industry adapted, pun intended, to the ATX standard and universal power supplies in desktops so why not here? A 40, 65, 90 and 150 Watt adapter with standardized Amp ratings and four distinct plug sizes would simplify this whole process. Everything from tiny notebooks to small inkjet printers would be covered.

I had a call a while back where two laptops wouldn't charge. Both Dells, I forgot the models. It turned out they inadvertently swapped adapters. The plugs appeared to be the same size and both were 90 Watt units.

 

[NJW]

I must be getting cynical in my old age.

You must be. Certainly a Dell will warn of a too-small AC adapter for full performance for the model. There's a recent Asus? Acer? laptop that is supplied with an adapter that will only fully-charge the battery when the laptop is sleeping or off: there's a pop-up giving details of how to buy a replacement of larger capacity. Now, that's something to make anyone cynical.

A Dell laptop won't let you start a BIOS update without:

• the right charger connected and
• a battery in good condition and
  
• a more than half full battery.

I would think you need the right IC in the adapter that tells the laptop it's the right charger, not just tips that fit the jack.

The chip is in the connector tip. This is my adapter and items 8 & 9 are the tips.

 

[Larry Sabo]

The chip is in the connector tip. This is my adapter and items 8 & 9 are the tips.

Cool! Thanks for that.

Edit: Sure wish they were available in North America.

 

[NJW]

The industry adapted, pun intended, to the ATX standard and universal power supplies in desktops so why not here?

You don't remember early Dell (and Compaq?) desktops that had non-standard power supplies (ergo, non-standard Intel motherboards, too)? ATX form-factor and ATX connector, but with custom pinout. A standard ATX PSU killed the motherboard.

A 40, 65, 90 and 150 Watt adapter with standardized Amp ratings and four distinct plug sizes would simplify this whole process. Everything from tiny notebooks to small inkjet printers would be covered.

It took EU legislation for cell phone manufacturers to standardise on Micro USB charging ports – Apple is holding out, of course, and the legislation is full of holes.