Macbook X battery problem
Ahh the adventures of hardware. Clouds are so much better.
After my last employer closed shop, I bought my laptop from them. It’s a Macbook. White. The computer itself has always run beautifully. But the physical casing has left something to be desired. With less than one year’s worth of wear and tear, the casing has cracks and chips in two places. Apple offered to fix it free of charge, but wanted me to give up my laptop for 8 days. Now, with a new MacBook Pro, I am ready to take them up on that offer.
Today added fuel to the fire to take this 11 month old machine back into the Apple store.
Suddenly, the battery has vanished. At least that is what the computer seems to think.
In it’s place, is the dreaded MacBook X Battery Problem. Chris Johnson wrote about it almost 18 months ago .
Dan Benjamin ran into the same dead mac battery problem. He says:
This problem is known to Apple and they will replace the battery if your Macbook (or Macbook Pro) is under warranty. It can be easily avoided by shutting your Macbook down if you won’t be using it for more than a day.
Hopefully he is right. David Morgenstern recently wrote about the same battery issue.
I’ve tried running the Battery Update 1.2 and 1.3. 1.2 didn’t improve the situation. 1.3 wouldn’t run on my Macbook.
I’ve tried Resetting MacBook and MacBook Pro System Management Controller (SMC) . That also didn’t help.
I’ll let you know how the kind folks at Apple store help me resolve the problem… at least I hope.
Rod,
I had the same issue. Check this page: http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/
If you have any of the symptoms listed, Apple will replace your battery free of charge, even out of warranty.
I printed the page and took it in to my Genius appointment. They replaced it there and then.
N
oooooooooooooh! Me too! I SAW IT HAPPEN! I was editing and the battery started to run low so I plugged up. Next thing I know, the screen dims and won’t do much so I restart. When it comes back up–no batter (or the computer thinks so). We contacted the nice folks at Apple and got our new one today. Installed and…..still nothing showing up. Anyone care to make a guess?
I have the same problem, one day my battery was no longer recognized by my macbook. I tried all the recommended treatments by apple and nothing. I then contacted apple and even though my mac is 3 months out of warranty they sent me a new battery, although this did not help. This problem has lasted 4 months already (i have not had the time to leave my laptop into a apple store) but lately my battery has been recognized for an hour or so before once again disappearing… any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Note: I just spent an hour on the phone with Apple regarding my “x battery” issue. My battery cycle count is 533, and even though battery health shows up as good and every other indicator shows up as good, they won’t replace my battery due to the high cycle count. Over the phone, we reset the PMU and the PRAM, which “fixed” the x issue, but the battery still won’t power the computer. So Apple’s sending me a box. The tech on the phone said there’s a 50/50 chance they’ll send the computer back without doing anything if they determine the problem is the battery, which is a “consumable.” I’m an unhappy AppleCare customer right now (the tech was very nice, BTW, and did everything he could do to try to qualify me for a replacement via phone).
Oh mine has the same problem too. I’m wondering if Apple would give me a new one or not because I already throw that battery away.
My girlfriend just got off the phone with apple. Her MB is 1yr and 6mo old. After a bunch of double talk Apple won’t cover the battery but will sell her a new one for $130. Screw them there are after market ones available for $89. I hate to say it but apple products just aren’t what they used to be. We both have MBs and both have had trouble.
Back in April 07 I put together a little site to collect all the details about ‘the’ macbook battery problem in one place. http://www.macbookbatteryproblem.com
Check out the blog too, there are links to threads where some people were getting Apple to replace the battery even out of warranty. But I think that depends on how many cycles the battery has been through.
I had the same “X” battery issue. Please note:
1. I tried the battery update. - No change
2. I reset the SMC. - No change
3. After some convincing (and happening to find a nice rep at the apple store), I procured a brand new battery and replaced my old one. I plugged in. - NO CHANGE
4. I reset the SMC again with the new battery. - No Change.
I’m out of option here. I’m going to send it in to the pros. Hopefully, I’ll get my old macbook back, but it looks like a hardware (non-consumable) issue.
We just encountered the “x” problem after coming back from holiday - the laptop and battery was perfectly fine prior to our trip, may have left it in sleep mode so may have drained power.. not sure
Tried all the recommended fixes - no help. Being in NZ with no official Apple stores and just techs contracted to fix Apple stuff, we took to one of those - they told us the same thing we already know, said battery wasn’t covered by the replacement program because cycle count was over 300 (370) - how they got that is beyond me since the laptop doesn’t recognise there’s a battery…
Anyways, long story short, we had to pay for this ‘diagnosis’ eventhough the Apple website said it’s free to get it checked out *sigh*
About to ring AppleCare for the 4th time haha, wish me luck!
Hey guys,
Im having the same x battery problem, I have followed all the steps and still nothing. I have not yet called apple because I tested my battery in my friends MB and it was perfect the computer accepted the battery and everything was A+ so it seems that my problem may be deeper than just the battery any help would be great!
Hi,
I had this same problem, my macbook was over 1 years old so no warranty. The guy at the apple shop said my battery was dead and i had to buy a new one (130 euros). I went home without one and called apple. After telling them the problem there was no problem to give me a new battery for free. So I could go back to the shop again and pick one up.
6 months later I turn my macbook on again after not using it for a few weeks, and i got the same problem again.. Great!
I’m pretty sad. I have the same issue with my macbook not recognizing the battery. It’s been that way for months and I hadn’t had a chance to try and fix it until recently.
I’ve followed all the steps listed on the apple page; downloaded battery updates, then reset the SMC. I shelled out $129 for a new battery from the online apple store. The new battery had no effect on the problem, even after resetting the SMC again.
I drove an hour to the closest Apple store and had to check it in for service ($45 + tax). They called the next day and said they weren’t sure of the problem, but were going to systematically replace parts until it was fixed (charging for each part and service of course).
They started with the battery connector ($25 + $45 additional labor charge). I got a call two days later saying it didn’t fix anything. The next part to replace was the logic board ($696 + labor charge). I laughed at them and drove back up to get my new “desktop computer” as it will always need to be connected to an outlet now.
Fortunately they didn’t charge me for the battery connector or the additional labor charge. I’m going to return the new battery, as it’s no use to me. According to my computer, it has no battery anyway. Sad, sad day.
You MB still works right?
Just happened to me…thanks to this board I will not be going out to buy a new battery. I’ll be sure to check my battery in another mac.
OK…so this will provide new insight. I have done all the resets described above and the X still appears. So, I took my laptop to a friends and exchanged batteries. Putting her fully charged battery in my computer allowed it to run without the cord, BUT the black X was still there! When I put my battery in her laptop her computer showed a black X. When I exchanged batteries back her computer displayed the battery charge correctly and mine still had the black X. Really don’t know what to do at this point…not buying a new battery just yet.
I am having the same problem showed up, my battery didnt work at all. I bought a new fake battery and it STILL doesnt work. I really hope it is the battery connector!
good luck you all
Hi! It seems i’ve got the same problem with my Macbook: The X shows on the battery icon, the battery cord always shows the green light and the battery never seems to charge. The computer will never turn on without the power cord, but when i disconnect the cord after the computer is on it will stay on for a few minutes before running out of power again. In “about this mac” it says the battery is not installed.
I have tried lots of things including resetting the smc, updating the battery, formatting the Mac…
When i reset the smc and power up the mac, the cord turns orange again and the X dissapears from the battery icon, revealing the charge time. But only for about a minute!! After that the X appears again and i dont know what to do!
If anyone has any idea, please tell me!
thanks
I’ve fallen victim twice to the X. Both my daughters Macbooks have the same problem. For one of them we got a free replacement battery from Apple, but it never fixed the problem, a few days later it happened to my other daughters Macbook. I’ve read in some places that this is a logic board issue.
I really think this is a design defect that Apple should continue to cover even after the warrantee is over. This will probably be the last Macbooks I ever buy, not just because of this problem, but also because one of the Macbooks has had to go in for repair 8 TIMES and my wife’s Macbook Pro 4 TIMES and the optical drive stopped working about a year ago and we decided it was not worth getting fixed.
I had this happen to me 3 times now. Ive tried everything and the only things that have worked for are as follows:
1.) at the time Battery update 1.2 fixed my first issue
2.) later apple had to replace the battery
3.) just recently I had the same problem with my new macbook and I found battery update 1.4 on apple support site, fixed it right up.
hope that helps
well, all of you here seem dead on for my problem. I also have a problem where closing the laptop does not put it to sleep. Seems this could be the battery connector. Does any one else have the sleep problem and have you (or apple) replaced the battery connector?
Just replying to say that just got this issue as well.
At first, the battery wasn’t detected at all.
Resetting the SMC allowed my battery to be detected, most of the time, but it will fall into low-battery state despite being full after about 10 to 30 minutes. The Apple Store tested the battery… it’s not the battery.
The Apple Store said it’s either the battery connector or the logic board. My own thinking is that this is some severe firmware issue with the logic board. It’s completely out of whack. It sucks that such a severe defect cost $400 or so to repair. I probably won’t buy another mac, this one was the “test”. Viva la revolucion of the hackintosh.
Thanks for all your messages, it helped put my mind to rest. I just saw the x icon about 20 mins ago. I bought my macbook in feb this year. initially it wont come on. i checked the battery level at the back , 2 bars. i removed the battery and put it back in. restarted it, but it wont come on. I now connected it to the charger and tried putting it on and it did, then i noticed the black x. It comes and goes. I removed the charger and it goes off. I restarted it with the charger and then removed it again. Well 30 mins now, my MB is still on, but the x comes and goes but the system is still working. I think am just gonna switch it off and wait till it charges completely and try again..wish me luck!
I have been meticulous about the care of my laptop. It is 2 years old and still under applecare. Also Last night i was at 100% battery health but at 5% life and then I plugged it in my girlfriends charger and woke up to the black x. Mind you her macbook has been through 2 batteries that I have bought her and lectured ber on charging it all the way letting it die out. So I am thinking this came from her charger. I did the SMC reset with no luck. The funny thing was I was in the apple store talking about how great my macbook has been. Ironically enough mine craps itself last night. But has anyone had similar results by a charger??
mattyborges@gmail.com
I have the same issues as all of you unfortunately. It seems that Mac should just replace all of our laptops. Macs are so expensive and supposed to be elite to PC, but our MB’s are just not living up to the expectation.
My Macbook pro core duo packed up with only 30 cycles on the battery and less that 2 years since purchase, and the x appeared, and i was told in january 09 i could not get the battery replaced under the battery replacement program because Apple
” say (s) free replacement does not apply to newer core2 duo machines”
despite it being well documented world wide on apple sites that macbook pro batteries are not fit for purpose.
needless to say I reset the smc etc to no effect.
I have subsequently be told by other ppl that that the apple battery replacement program covered core duos in general and it didn’t finish until May 2009.
I complained to Apple Europe in Jan 09 and they couldn’t even be bothered to reply.
I’m very annoyed, at apple for selling garbage, and lying to me to avoid replacing their duds.
Is it that difficult to sort this out?
For a premium product….Its shoddy behaviour
I just read everyone’s posts because I am having the same problem.
HOW HAS APPLE NOT ADDRESSED THIS?
This isn’t right. I bought a Macbook because they are supposed to be superior, better quality. I’ve loved having it up until this point. I, too, am confined to my desk because the X battery shows up and the battery isn’t recognized.
We have to do something about this.
I have the same problem. The battery shows up as X even when its in the macbook and the power supply is hooked up. But I have another problem. now when I turn my computer on the screen shows for a couple of seconds then it goes black, then I wait a few seconds and hit a couple of buttons then the screen comes back on, then goes back to black after about 5 seconds, repeating this process and getting nowhere…. can anyone please tell me if this has happened to them and were you able to recover all of your documents? Is it just the screen or battery? Ive also heard somewhere that the hard drive can be taken out and put in another macbook so you can get all your documents back…. thanks
This is a BIG FAT annoying pain in the rear. I am a 59 year old techno nerd who just today went into the Carlsbad, CA Apple store telling them my almost 2 year old laptop won’t start unless it’s plugged in. They told me I needed a new battery. So for around $130 I had one installed. Was so excited to get home and be able to carry my laptop around my house while working on decorating projects. Damn, if i didn’t work and now I have that black X in my battery on my screen. I am still strapped to a cord to get energy for this thing. This is just WRONG. When I take this BACK to the Apple store, I am taking a copy of all of your messages with me. Definitely am considering NOT, NOT, N.O.T. taking another chance at buying another Apple laptop unless this issue is resolved. What a pain.
Just decided to give a ‘nearly new’ mb on ebay a miss having read the posts. Of course what you must realise is that Apple today is about bucks and not customer care and they certainly are not alone in that. It wasn’t always so. Back in the good old days of the SE (most of you are too young to remember that one - take it from me) Apple were really customer friendly. Job’s only concern now is the bottom line, not your issues. Your only course is to collectively sue the b……s. After all under the Apple logo is a PC ethic with a dollar sign.
After months of being tethered to wall I finally brought my 4 year old MBP in to the Boston Apple store. They shipped it to the repair facility in Texas and for $300 promised a new battery and superdrive (CD reader hasn’t worked for years) upon its return. Three days later I have it back, in the same exact condidion. Apparently a minor dent in the corner voids all possibilities of repair. But they’d be happy to fix it for $1,200. I think I’m just going to get a netbook and put Linux on it.
yeah, apparently since the computer overheated (fans were on o/d) and warped the plastic somewhat… that took my 3 month old macbook out of warranty.
the guy said he “Tweaked” some things so it may work for awhile, but i get home, computer is not understanding that it is plugged in. and its turned off on me twice.
i don’t get it. :(
I just received a donated MacBook. I only have the MacBook and the power cord. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
And the battery icon is an X.
It only works plugged in; shuts down as soon as the power is unplugged. I heard about the firmware fix (from wikipedia), and downloaded the 10.4.8 and the fix, only to learn they had already been applied. Doh! I ran Software Update, and got a security update and iTunes 9.1.
I reset the PMC (shutdown, unplugged, removed battery, pressed power button for 15 seconds, installed battery, plugged back in, restarted), but no help.
The machine is stock (core Duo 1.8 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB HD, combo optical drive) and running 10.4. I’d be willing to spend for Snow Leopard, a new battery, RAM, and HD if I had confidence that the battery problem is licked. Then this would replace my 1.4 GHz PPC Mini (Leopard, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB HD) and MiniStack (500 GB for time machine). But that’s the dollar limit. I would suspect Mac OX X 10.7 will require core 2 duo (64-bit) or more than 2 GB RAM
I’m going to see if Battery Update 1.2 or 1.4 helps
I never post on these blogs but this is an exception. I have a 2 year old machine with the BATTERY X ICON. Tried everything posted. Why can this not be fixed? Why is Apple not responding to . THey are loosing customers and tarnishing their name.
It is seemingly a simple problem to fix - so why is nothing working.
APPLE - wake up!
i have exactly the same problem lame as. the computer is only 6 months old. The SuperDriver Has stoped working 2 weeks before this keept ejecting discs. The function key keeps getting stuck what it blows up