Libretto 110 battery won't charge, need new? Test?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi there.

I inherited a Toshiba Libretto 110 PC a year ago. Great computer for
reading PDF eBooks on the couch, running 98SE with 64MB, even has the
dock with it. However, the battery will not hold a second of charge.

When first plugging the unit into AC, the battery-charging light goes
amber, then after about 15 seconds turns green. This is the case even
if the machine sits on the shelf for three months.

Windows detects the battery, and says it shows 100% charged.

If I pull the plug while running, the machine turns off without even a
half-second wait. So the PC is getting absolutely NO power from the
battery.

Is there an easy way I can test to see if the Li-Ion battery is truly
bad? I know some Toshibas and Compaqs have a program you can run off a
boot floppy to test the batteries, doing a full discharge/recharge. Is
there a similar utility which will run on the Libretto 100/110?

There was, according to the original owner, no degradation of available
power, it just stopped working one day, so I don't think it's a single
bad cell. However, I'm not a battery tech, so...

I have a multimeter, but don't know which "blade" in the battery
connection to test. Anyone know for sure? I'd hate to buy a new battery
off eBay only to find the same problem as the original, and blow $60!

TIA!
Dan

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

abandonedbrain@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> I inherited a Toshiba Libretto 110 PC a year ago. Great computer for
> reading PDF eBooks on the couch, running 98SE with 64MB, even has the
> dock with it. However, the battery will not hold a second of charge.
>
> When first plugging the unit into AC, the battery-charging light goes
> amber, then after about 15 seconds turns green. This is the case even
> if the machine sits on the shelf for three months.
>
> Windows detects the battery, and says it shows 100% charged.
>
> If I pull the plug while running, the machine turns off without even a
> half-second wait. So the PC is getting absolutely NO power from the
> battery.
>
> Is there an easy way I can test to see if the Li-Ion battery is truly
> bad? I know some Toshibas and Compaqs have a program you can run off a
> boot floppy to test the batteries, doing a full discharge/recharge. Is
> there a similar utility which will run on the Libretto 100/110?
>
> There was, according to the original owner, no degradation of available
> power, it just stopped working one day, so I don't think it's a single
> bad cell. However, I'm not a battery tech, so...
>
> I have a multimeter, but don't know which "blade" in the battery
> connection to test. Anyone know for sure? I'd hate to buy a new battery
> off eBay only to find the same problem as the original, and blow $60!
>
> TIA!
> Dan
>
if you are not tech. then buy another one.

if you are a tech.
www.fixup.net
you will find a lot of mods for the libby 100/110, including an external
battery. I made one that lasted 4-5 hrs. (lead acid gel)