Re: Why are there 4 connectors on laptop batteries?

Peter Smithson wrote: 
Hello,

Glad to hear you got round your laptop problems.

I have to do the BIOS update for Windows 2000 to install.  It's
currently half way through replacing Windows 98 so now I can't do
anything with it.  Windows 2000 is required to use an iPod.

I've done quite a lot of searching.  After 4 hours of messing around
and downloading a utility, I got the BIOS boot floppy converted to a CD
(took that long as I had to go into work to use a PC with a working
floppy - you couldn't convert straight from the IBM download to CD and
a virtual floppy wouldn't work for me).  So I was ready to kill myself
when it turns out that you really do need a charged battery.  Found a
posting from IBM support on a forum saying that there is no way to do
the BIOS update without a battery.  Lots of people seem to come across
this problem so finding a way around it would be great.

Yes, I'm thinking seriously about potential problems with connecting up
a power source - I was hoping to get some info from ths newsgroup.

Thanks.

Peter


Sometimes my news server doesn't show all the posts, but I have yet to see any clue as to which laptop you have or the cell technology.
It really does make a difference.
The laptop may converse with the battery. If so, even if the laptop runs, it may not think it has a charged battery and still not update.

I'd try posting to a local newsgroup to see if somebody is willing to let you come over and use their battery for 15 minutes. Maybe there's a local service center with a friendly technician. Computer club, school lab, craigslist...I've got a battery for a Thinkpad 560 that's 11V...nope, it has five pins.
....all assuming you have way more time than money.

It's amazing how much of our lives we're willing to waste fixing junk
trying to save a few bucks.
I've been working for three days solid on a Thinkpad 560 that was used on a boat and is still
gonna be worthless crap if/when I get it working;-(
mike

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