Question x1 extreme brand new doesn't not power via battery

Jul 27, 2020
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Greetings!

I have an x1 extreme gen 1 4k that I just purchased and open boxed it myself. Warranty expired 1 day ago and can't get it fixed.

Laptop runs fine with power cable but if I unplug the AC power the system shuts down immediately.
  • the battery info is displayed in windows 10 and charges though slows or stops about 80%
  • I ordered A NEW BATTERY and the same thing happens. It won't boot on battery alone and only runs when AC is plugged in.
  • Drivers and bios all updated. Hard reset does nothing special.
  • Battery charging light comes on.

Help!

I check the fuse out of the battery (on motherboard) and it's ok. I was going to check the mosfets after the battery but thinking this is a software problem? Maybe I can jump the battery mosfets with the AC unplugged.

**I haven't bricked anything yet and have been careful. But I'm out of options. Any thoughts? It's a pricey machine that doesn't work!

I've got an 8 channel digital logger I can use to check for signals but figured I'd wait and bring y'all along on this journey...
 
Jul 27, 2020
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BIOS hadn't updated but just did the update today version 1.29 to v1.30. No difference -- still turns off when AC adapter removed.
I wonder if there's an older bios version to try. Eitherway still tbd on hardware/software issue.
 
Load default BIOS settings

did you ever do this?
https://download.lenovo.com/lts/RTPW1880/FOF/RTPW1880-P1_REM_FRU_00_DisableBattery.mp4

Insert a straightened paper clip into the emergency reset hole to reset the computer.

try things from page 29 of this maintenance manual
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x1p1_x1_extreme_hmm_en.pdf

Eventually you can check the battery with the Lenovo Solution Center program which provides an automatic battery diagnostic test (page 67)

Are you sure that you ordered the new battery correctly?
voltage and Ah. Please post the link where you bought it from. Is it a Lenovo original battery?
 
Jul 27, 2020
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I brought the laptop to the shop I bought if from...they tried things...they sent it to their lenovo supplier who "tried things" but no one could fit it. They said order a new battery. I ordered a new battery same problem when installed.
Note: I'm using the original battery now (cycle count =1, charges fine in windows, but unplugging the AC adapter immediately powers off the laptop).

- Yes, I tried the DisableBattery. Actually, from what I can tell -- I've tried everything normal...though yes, I will validate the voltage on the coin cell battery.

- I assumed the Lenovo supplier technician would have done a battery diagnostic test. But the fact that the problem persists with different batteries suggests that it's not the battery.

- I've tried every possible bios update old and new (newest is 1.31 released this week).

There appears to be a known problem with the power management of x1s. Maybe related to ACPI:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=203199
or the battery stats:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X1_Extreme_(Gen_2)#Invalid_stats_workaround


https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkP...ty-battery-and-shuts-down/m-p/4561156?page=12

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/new-x1-extreme-wont-power-up-2248776/
 
Jul 27, 2020
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Well, I soldered a wire to bypass the first mosfet out of the battery on the motherboard and... works! I believe the first 2 or 3 mosfets at the battery positive are related to over voltage protection or monitoring? I'm not sure what the side-effect is but the laptop seems to work fine now. I may order a part replacement IC or check to see if it's being signaled from the super-io but for now I'll take it.

I recommend this Youtube channel for laptop electronic repair:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCooKQlg-HZ0PFAPc4Ymg3RA
 
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