Netbook repairs

[BHP]

I know there have been some threads about the response to user contact with Teklogix, and these have not been favourable.
I have a niggling problem which has developed with my Netbook and this is that despite changing the back-up battery, ( and having the old one tested and found to be fully charged), my unit is telling me at switch on to replace the main battery.
I am looking through the manual, but anticipate that I may wish to look at repair options.
1. Does anyone have a similar experience with thisbattery message, and is there an obvious solution without repair ?
2. Does anyone know of repair options in the UK ?

Thanks

[cshandley]

I find my 7book occasionally (in the middle of usage) says the main battery needs to be recharged, but it clears itself almost instantly.

This is definitely an OS problem, since it worked ok under the Series7 OS.


You might be able to get Psion to repair your Netbook as if it were a Series7, for 100 quid, although I would suggest this is an absolute last resort. I got my Series7 repaired (seemingly with a Netbook-class motherboard) by Psion in the UK, but that was a few months ago.

Since I've never owned a real Netbook, I don't know what the repair options are.

If you are going down the Psion Series7 repair route, I would suggest sooner rather than later, since Psion seem to be winding-up what is left of their consumer operations. Although I can't say what effect this will have on their repair operations, it can't be good.

[diem]

I had my netBook screen repaired by Psion's repair centre in Milton Keynes. Contact them via the web forms at www.psion.com/myPsion or on 0208 5759919 (or try 0870 1010500). As Chris has said, I also have a feeling it might be being wound up so get it done soon if you need to.

That said, what does your battery meter show? I'd advise downloading Kevin Millican's ChaDis (http://www.millican.info/Home/chadis7.htm) and monitor what the battery voltage actually is - if its in the high 11V range after charging, and has a nice smooth discharge curve then there's nowt wrong with it. If this is the case, then if I were you I'd put up with the annoying message!

UPDATE: Check the last few posts on this (http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16335) thread; it looks as though the repair centre is now closed and repairs are done somewhere in the south of France! At least there is still a repair centre; shame the turnaround is likely to be longer.


Edited by netBookBabe to link to the S7/netBook specific version of ChaDis

[markdeppe]

BHP wrote <<<my unit is telling me at switch on to replace the main battery.>>> Is that a typing error or did you mean "main Battery"? I haven't seen or heard of that message, just the backup battery issue, usually resolved bay a bit of paper or card placed underneath the backup battery cover.

[diem]

Erm, did you mean "do you mean backup battery" Mark?

[markdeppe]

Ahh, I see how it can be read both ways now. Yes I did mean, "did he mean to say main battery " as in was the intention to say "main battery" as opposed to backup battery. Not sure I have made it clearer, but hope my drift comes across.

I will try another way. Did you mean to say "main battery" or did you mean to say "Backup battery" but accidently wrote "main battery" (which as far as I know is the message that comes up on a 5mx but not a netbook)

I'll stop there before it goes cyclical Like R.D. Langs book of Knots

[diem]

Originally posted by markdeppe
I'll stop there before it goes cyclical Like R.D. Langs book of Knots
;)

[fladda]

Originally posted by cshandley
I find my 7book occasionally (in the middle of usage) says the main battery needs to be recharged, but it clears itself almost instantly.

This is definitely an OS problem, since it worked ok under the Series7 OS.


Cannot be 100% certain that this is an 'OS problem'. Remember that the Netbook Strongarm is being clocked faster than the same processor in the Series 7. Therefore the current requirements for the processor (and other circuits?) will be slightly higher for the Netbook vs the Series 7.

So it is possible that you are hitting some marginal current limit from the battery on a Netbook, whereas the same machine is OK whilst running in Series 7 mode. Indeed I suggest that it is just possible that the battery terminals need cleaning;-)

Ralph

[BHP]

Thank you all for your ideas. I can see that I was less than clear in my question. The error message referred to the back-up battery rather than the main battery. level of back up being recorded as zero.
I have tried the folded up paper in the battery compartment, makes sense to try this, with no success. Thanks for the suggestion.
Anyone else have any other ideas ??

[lenb]

BHP "any other ideas"

Don't know whether this is any help but I occasionally had a similar problem with my 5mx. Taking the backup battery out and cleaning it with a cloth did the trick. I also made sure I didn't touch the flat faces with my bare fingers before putting it back in.

Len

[BHP]

Dear All

Thank you for all your ideas. As quickly as the problem arose, it has disappeared. I am now again firing on all cylinders with no error messages about my back-up battery.
I have no idea how the problem resolved itself. I had put some folded up paper in the back-up battery compartment, I had cleaned the contacts all to no avail.
Woke up this morning, opened my Netbook and found that the error message had disappeared; no apparent rhyme or reason.

Logically, now would be the time to attempt to trace the source of the problem. I have no further ideas as to what to eliminate or how to track down the problem. Equally, it seems to me that life is too short for such a sensible approach. I'm just delighted that the error message has gone.

Thanks again everyone for your ideas. It's good to know people are listening and prepared to take the time to help.

Bye for now...........

[cshandley]

BHP,

I too haven't seen the mysterious battery message for some time either, which is odd.

When I was getting it, it seemed to happen more often when it was being heavily used (CPU working hard), which might back-up someone's suggestion that it was caused by the 7book's faster processor not being supplied enough current by a Series7 motherboard.

But since your messages appeared at start-up (mine didn't), this answer may not apply to you at all.