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Resolved Question

Battery not detected by the HP calibration tool

Jul 23, 2012 9:01AM PDT

Hi,

The HP calibration / battery check tool won't recognize my battery any more. However, the battery itself is fine.
What could cause this problem?
My laptop is HP Pavilion dv6614tx.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

OzBo has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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The rather famous dv6000 series.
Jul 23, 2012 9:06AM PDT

If you research that series you find a raft of issues.

But about this battery. If it's past its 300 cycles or 18 months (the rated lifespan) then the chances it is the battery is high. But given it's a dv6000 model, I'd seriously consider no investment.
Bob

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Yes...
Jul 23, 2012 9:25AM PDT

I intend to buy a new laptop relatively soon. This did have quite a few problems, most of which luckily happened under warranty. I wouldn't want to buy a new battery for this laptop because it is approaching the end of its life, but I was surprised the battery is not recognized when it is still working (it doesn't last long, but it never did!). The HP tool says it is "invalid"...

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Sorry but I can't find if this battery is an old one.
Jul 23, 2012 9:29AM PDT

If this is the original battery,. then it's way past the expected life span. What seems to confuse most is that to figure this out, we need a good battery.
Bob

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I understand...
Jul 23, 2012 9:53AM PDT

... what you mean, but I didn't use it much (yes, it is the original battery), only a few times, probably under 30 hours altogether. I don't know if it is really relevant, but I thought it would prolong its life if I keep it out when I don't need it.

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Folk seem to think that.
Jul 23, 2012 9:57AM PDT

While non-use could extend it by some percent there are metals and acids inside that degrade with time. About all one could do is well discussed so I'll be short here. Charge the battery, remove it from the laptop to place in some air tight container with desiccant then place it in the refrigerator to slow the process down.

Does not seem too useful.
Bob

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I solved the problem
Jul 23, 2012 10:10AM PDT

Thanks for the advice. I will do it if further problems occur.
I have found out what the problem was.... Basically this morning I went to the HP website and checked for drivers and software update (after their software failed to recognize my battery) and it told me everything was up-to-date with their automatic detection tool (that obviously doesn't detect much, although it made me install a plugin in Firefox). I now manually searched for the HP software to check the battery and there is indeed an update. I installed it and it detected the battery. It even said it is OK. Happy

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Very odd.
Jul 23, 2012 2:26PM PDT

Why did it work before?

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It was...
Jul 25, 2012 9:03AM PDT

... just the software that is supposed to determine the health status of the battery that didn't work, not the battery itself (although I have to say I don't use the laptop with the battery so much).