topic Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure in PCs & Accessories

Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

tpmann — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:04:33 GMT

My VGN-FE21M recently awoke from Sleep for me to find that "No battery is detected".

This was a complete suprise as it was operating fine. Once a month I completely discharged the battery and then fully charged it.

I have reinstalled Windows Vista too make sure it wasn't a software problem and still it doesn't detect the battery.

Is there any way to test the battery to find out if I need a replacement?

VGN-FE21M
Windows Vista Ultimate
Intel Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz
1GB DDR2 RAM
160GB Hard Drive
nVidia GeForce Go 7600 with 128MB RAM
Battery: VGP-BPS2C
Purchase date approx: August 2006

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Blencogo — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:12:22 GMT

Hi tpmann and welcome.

I suppose the only way to test if it is the battery or a software problem is to go to the Sony Centre or PC World with your Vaio and ask if you can borrow a working battery for 10 minutes!

Does the battery show up in Device Manager?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

tpmann — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:42:02 GMT

Thanks for your help.

Under "Batteries" in Device Manager there is:

Microsoft AC Adapter
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

I'm guessing neither of those is the actual one inside my notebook.

Is it normal for a battery to die after only 1.5 years? It just stopped working rather than deteriorating over a period of time.

Cheers,

Tim

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Blencogo — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:37:11 GMT

Hi Tim,

Device Manager seems to know there is a battery attached. Try right-clicking on 'Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery' -> Choose Uninstall and reboot the Vaio to reset the drivers.

Most Lithium Ion batteries have a life of 300 to 400 charges - so it depends how often they are cycled. Unlike Nickel Cadmium batteries they have no 'memory effect' so there is no advantage to carrying out a full discharge and charge - it just uses up another charge cycle. It is a little unusual for a battery to die after 18 months but by no means that uncommon.

As I said, the only way you will know is by trying a good battery in the Vaio and seeing if it works OK or not.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

swishi — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:48:40 GMT

I have exactly the same problem on exactly the same machine VGN FE21M at approx exactly the same date... since a few days?

Please let me know any outcome!

Regards and a happy new Year!

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Jurec — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:53:36 GMT

Exact the same problem with my FE31Z on Vista. Has anyone found a solution?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

ansymon11 — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:27:09 GMT

Just had this happen today on my 15 month old FE31Z upgraded to Vista Home Premium. Battery part number is VGP-BPS2C.

I'd like to know whether I need a new battery or whether my machine needs a repair.

Is there a trend emerging here?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

swishi — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:32:21 GMT

At my end it was the battery!

Regards

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

RLJMesser — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:19:12 GMT

Exactly the same happened to my VGN-AR21M running with a VGP-BPL2C battery on 27.01.2008 with Vista Home Premium. Battery is approx. 1 year old and suddenly 'died' after restarting.

Seems suspicious to me.

Ok running on the original battery supplied.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

AlexCC — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:42:32 GMT

My VGN-FE21M recently awoke from Sleep for me to find that "No battery is detected".

Is there any way to test the battery to find out if I need a replacement?

I don't have an answer, but I do have the same problem so I thought I'd add my experience to the thread in case it helps. VGN-FE21M, with Windows XP Media edition. The battery was working fine as I intermittently use the laptop as a DVD player and watch movies on battery power. I last did that a couple of weeks ago. Today I unplugged the laptop to move it and everything went dead, which is when I discovered the problem. The battery monitor says there is no battery present, which is obviously nonsense. The hardware driver says everything's working fine.

I've tried:
- rebooting (several times)
- deleting the battery driver and reinstalling
- restoring back to the last time I know the battery worked fine

No luck. The battery is a VGP-BPS2C like everyone else's. That's particularly weird.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

DarkKnight — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:10:43 GMT

Anyone determined what the problem is? I have an AR21S, bought last year in Jan (approx 1 year old too), battery just suddenly died 2 days ago, Windows Vista Home Premium says "No battery detected". This can't be normal after 1 year can it?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Thalamus. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:42:54 GMT

Hi all,

has anyone tried taking their Vaio to a local stockist and ask if you can try another battery in your Vaio, this would help to identify if it's a battery problem or not.?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

ansymon11 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:05:55 GMT

Hi all,

has anyone tried taking their Vaio to a local stockist and ask if you can try another battery in your Vaio, this would help to identify if it's a battery problem or not.?

I took my battery (a VGP-BPS2C) to 2 local Sony stockists, but neither had a machine that it would fit. In the end I ordered another battery from vaio-link, which has sorted out the problem for me.

I have to say that I'm extremely unhappy that my battery suddenly failed after 14 months of use. There was no degradation, one day it was fine, the next it wasn't. I've used other brands of notebook over the years and never before had a battery fail within 3 years. In each case there was a progressive reduction in capacity before the battery became unusable.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Thalamus. — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:13:14 GMT

I took my battery (a VGP-BPS2C) to 2 local Sony stockists, but neither had a machine that it would fit.  In the end I ordered another battery from vaio-link, which has sorted out the problem for me.

I'm glad to hear that it's a battery problem an not something more serious but as you said it's strange that there were no warning signs..

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

eaglesrest — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:50:43 GMT

Same problem here.

Battery died after 14 months of ownership on an AR21S. Seems like a Sony battery problem to me, and conveniently after the warranty has expired.

Only ever been used on AC power so it's not like the battery has been worked hard.

Sony should be replacing these batteries FOC!!

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Thalamus. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:25:03 GMT

Hi eaglesrest,

it does seem strange that these batteries keep failing..

Out of curiosity could you all let me know the model number and part number of your dead battery please.?

The part number can be found on a white sticker next to the connector under the bar code..

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

ansymon11 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:47:59 GMT

Model Number: VGP-BPS2C
Part Number: 175663431-1109337
Failed at 14 months

I've noticed battery issues being raised in other forums as well.

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Thalamus. — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:10:55 GMT

Model Number: VGP-BPS2C
Part Number: 175663431-1109337

Thanks for the information MrGreybeard..

Anyone else..?

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

tellyaddict07 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:21:34 GMT

hi my vaio vgn-fe41z battery went exactly the same way after 7 months in dec 2007 but luckily i got mine replaced free of charge under the guarantee, it is the same battery model number vgp-bps2c but i haven`t got the part number anymore because i chucked it after i recieved the new one

Re: Vaio FE21M Battery Failure

Thalamus. — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:10:47 GMT

Thanks tellyaddict07..