http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=17886 Apple admits laptop battery issues Apple ships battery update for MacBook/MacBook Pro batteries Jonny Evans Apple has released a software update designed to improve performance problems the company has identified that can affect some MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Battery Update 1.2 (244K) aims to repair a number of problems, the company explains in this note on its website. http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/ "Apple has recently discovered that some batteries used in its MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks may have battery performance issues," the report explains. The update is designed to improve performance, and is available through Software Update or for direct download from its support website. http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/batteryupdate12.html The update should be run on all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers and extra batteries that were purchased between February 2006 and April 2007. The company stressed that the batteries used pose no safety risk – you can continue to use your battery securely. The company is also offering free battery replacement for users whose batteries exhibit any of the following problems after the update is installed. Free replacement is available "for up to two years from the date of purchase of the computer," the company said. Replacement checks can be conducted at Apple retail stores, Apple Authorized Service Providers and can be arranged using Apple's telephone support. Affected batteries will have one or more of the following symptoms: – Battery is not recognized causing an “X” to appear in the battery icon in the Finder menu bar. – Battery will not charge when computer is plugged into AC power. – Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300. – Battery pack is visibly deformed. MacBook or MacBook Pro batteries that don't have any of these symptoms won't need to be replaced. Once the update has been installed, each battery inserted into your laptop will automatically be updated, but you must have the power cable connected and plugged into a working power source.
X mark on batt icon what could be wrong if there is an x mark on the battery icon? my friend just texted me asking what could be wrong with both his and his sister's macbooks. both have an x mark on the battery icon. seems to me that their batteries are dead, kasi ayaw daw mag on yun laptops without the chargers plugged in. it started with one then a day after, another macbook. they tried to swap batteries and it says battery not available. if not mistaken, both are fairly new and should still be under warranty. would apple care replace their batteries if found faulty?
Re: X mark on batt icon you need to bring your mac to the nearest apple center and have the batteries replaced. it's still covered by warranty. Read on this to give you peace of mind. Enjoy your mac afterwards. http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/
Re: X mark on batt icon X means that the laptop knows a battery is installed but cannot recognize it in order to give the user feedback on its state. The link uio posted explains the problem. Apple will replace the battery free of charge.
Re: X mark on batt icon This happened to my sis in law last week. Istudio replaced the battery in les than a week.
Re: X mark on batt icon cool! will let him know.. na sa province sila now due to the election thing..
Re: X mark on batt icon That same problem happened to my macbook as well, a few months ago. When I brought it to powermac for diagnosis, they said the battery connector was not functioning properly. My battery wont charge and/or would not work unless the power cord is attached. After having the said part replaced, my mac has been running smoothly.
Re: X mark on batt icon wow, what are the chances of that happening? 2 macbook batteries in the same household (im only assuming they're in the same household) getting busted almost at the same time? weird...
Re: X mark on batt icon This happened to my wife's macbook. I brought it to iStudio last tuesday and they replaced the battery yesterday. But because my wife had to go to Alabang to vote, we were only able to try out the new bat tonight. After connecting the new battery, we noticed that the battery icon still has an "x" on it. We figure it's probably a problem with the laptop itself because the clicker on the trackpad stopped working na rin. I guess I'll have to give iStudio a call tom morning. Good thing it's still under warranty. The strange thing is, while she was in Alabang, she found out that her bro-in-law has the same problem with his macbook. I find it lang strange that these things are happening to all these macbooks at relatively the same time.
Re: X mark on batt icon core duos are really problematic hehe =) thats what i have concluded so far hehe
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues Ok, my MBP experienced the random shutdown thingies today (THRICE) and i was pissed. My Work oh my precious work. And so i head to Philmug to look for a discussion. Saw this battery thread and after reading the first to paragraphs, downloaded the battery update. But then when i saw the bullet points. Stench na malagkench. • Battery pack is visibly deformed. I look at it and.. OMIGOSH THIS IS HAPPENING TO MEH!!!! WAAAAH NOOO I HAVE WOOOOORK!!!!! The Aluminium plate seem to be convex. I cant press the battery-charge-checker-button now. The update hasn't finished yet so i still have to watch out what other symptoms i have. Man, this is frustating ladies and gentlemen. This is already my second battery. My first one was included in the recall Apple had last year. I waited three weeks for a replacement. And then in December, the cord of my charger burned up, exposing the wire, almost electrocuting me. I waited for a month for the replacement. And now this. I'm suppossed to have the greatest computer on earth yet i'm plagued with issues. It's sad. Hasssssssssssle. Anyway, the update finsihed already. Need to restart. Let's see if there are more problems. I hope i can still come back. RAAAR
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues ok. no other problem. will be waiting if random shut downs occur again. but dammit, my deformed battery!!!
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues Bring it back to Apple and have it replaced. Run it off the wall til you get a new batt pack or ask if they have a spare demo one they can lend you in the meantime.
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues My macbook recently started to shutdown without showing the low battery warning. It used to show low battery warning and shuts down with around 3% batt charge left. Now even with 13% batt charge left, it shuts down. My batt has around 43 cycles only, and calibrated as recommended. Does my battery also covered by this issue? I already installed the battery update and nothing has improved. =(
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues That's it, i will go to Ynzal now. My MBP shut down again. I hetchu Apple! Give me a new MBP! I've still got 2 years in my APP, but wouldn't it be nice if the computer never ever konks out and "just works" as advertised?
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues my mbp batt is starting to lose power... 169 cycles... only current batt capacity 47% (2628mah) this is wrong.. what shall i do? any tricks to condition the batt?
Re: X mark on batt icon that's a bit hasty to say at the very least. we can say and are entitled such generalizations but best of all, the manufacturer acknowledged the issue and took action on it. that in itself is commendable. just imagine if they know the problem all along and they didn't do anything about it. anyway, who promised that the core duos won't have flaws?
Re: MacBook/MacBook Pro battery issues THE ANSWER TO MY BATTERY PROBLEM!!! Thank you very much for this post! I replaced my battery twice in 8 months because of sudden drop of charge capacity. If it wasn't for this update, my 3rd battery would also lose its charge capacity. With just 20 Cycles, it dropped 3% already.
