MacBook Battery Icon Shows X, menu says "no batteries installed"

Question

MacBook Battery Icon Shows X, menu says "no batteries installed"

Hello, I'm fixing in a client's MacBook 13" (white) 2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM. It is out of warranty now. I am having the same issue. Here's what I've tried and found out so far:

- Macbook only runs on power adapter... when unplugged it shuts down immediately. Does not run on battery.
- Battery works in another MacBook just fine; 2nd MB's good battery has same issue in the broken MacBook, so I'm thinking it isn't a bad battery issue.
- Tested multiple magsafe power adapters; all react the same way... green light, no orange to signal charging. Battery indicator in top right tool bar (by clock) shows an "X" in the icon. Clicking on the menu say: "No Batteries Available"
- reset the SMC = did not fix issue
- reset the PRAM = did not fix issue
- reseated battery in case = did not fix issue
- checked magsafe adapter for debris, bent/missing pins, etc. = did not fix issue
- purchased and installed a new Battery Connector (Energy Star MacBook) = did not fix issue
- updated battery firmware to 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 = did not fix issue

Next Troubleshooting Things to Try: (please let me know if any are unnecessary)
1) place battery in refrigerator for 1 hour to "reset" it...then try replacing in MB and connect power adapter. I have seen one person say this fixed his MB battery X issue.
2) call Apple for replacement battery (not sure it will help as my good MB battery doesn't work in this MB either, and the battery from the broken MB works fine in the good MB)
3) purchase and install new MacBook DC-in board (I've done this on an iBook before), which might help the MB charge the battery... but seems like if the DC-in board was broken now, that it would not provide power at all.
4) replace logic board (ugh.. at $800+ it's best to just suggest a new MacBook for my client)

Please let me know if you think of any other ideas or have a solution suggestion to this problem. Thanks.

Brian Hernandez
Photographer, Designer, Mac Consultant
Mac Support & Education for the Walla Walla Valley
http://vizualgraphix.com

Mac Pro 2 x 3.0ghz Xeon (8-core), Mac OS X (10.5.7), 8GB RAM, 3TB of Hard Drives

Posted on Aug 25, 2009 11:45 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 26, 2009 11:13 PM in response to vizualgraphix

I'm going to replace the DC-in board this week and see if that fixes it. If not, then the battery replacement would be the next step. After that I'm afraid I'd be out of ideas and assume it's a faulty logic board... at least my client can use the MB while using AC power.

i'll update this after trying the new part.

Brian

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Answer 2

Sep 1, 2009 9:12 PM in response to vizualgraphix

OK, so I'm updating my previous posts... I just finished installing the new Macbook DC-in board (energy star) and tested the follow, to no avail.

1) after installing dc-in board, I replaced the original battery and tried to power on the macbook. Nothing happened. So I plugged the power cable in and booted on AC. After OSX loaded, I still saw the dreaded "X" in the battery icon in the menu bar. Ugh! Still no battery detected

2) Next I took a perfectly good battery from my wife's MacBook and put it in place of the older MB battery. I was hoping with the new DC-in board and the new battery connector that all would be well and that this MB with the AC plugged in, would charge the newer (good) battery. No luck though. Even my new battery wouldn't boot this MacBook.

3) I placed the older MB battery in my wife's new MB. The battery did not boot the mac. What was really weird was that the new MB magsafe power adapter light changed from green to orange (as it should) to signal charging of the (old) battery. But after 2 hours, the old battery still displayed only one green dot on the power meter underneath. And the power adapter light had changed back to green as if to signify that the charging cycle had completed; but the battery still remains lifeless.

4) Now I'm stumped. If it's not the battery connector, dc-in board or battery, the only thing left is the logic board (or wiring shorts). But I would imagine that if the logic board wasn't functioning (all or in part) that I wouldn't be able to boot at all or use the Mac. hmmmmmm

Any ideas?

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Answer 3

Sep 1, 2009 9:35 PM in response to vizualgraphix

One more thing...

While I had the good MB battery in this mystery mac... I unplugged it from power, and what do you know?! It ran fine off of the battery... but the "X" remained in the battery icon in the menu bar. Grrrr. But if I did the same (unplugged from AC) with the older battery in the MB, it immediately shuts off.

please please please...someone help. It's not under Apple Care so I can't ask Apple for help via phone. Thanks.

Brian

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Answer 4

aqfire

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2009 9:02 AM in response to vizualgraphix

I have the same exact issue you describe:

Macbook from Mid-2007, 2GHz core 2 duo
Bought a new battery recently, button on the battery shows that it has a charge.
When I plug in the AC adapter, I can use the macbook just fine, it boots and runs like nothing's wrong. Take out the AC Adapter, and it suddenly shuts down, with or without the battery.
The plug does not change to orange to indicate that it's trying to charge the battery, and the battery icon shows a big X through it.

I haven't begun switching out the battery connector or the logic board, but I think that's what I'm going to do, in that order. You can find a logic board for about $400 at a lot of different places, ifixit being one of them. However, I just bought this for just over 400 so I'm not going to do that.

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Answer 5

drumz718

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2009 8:48 PM in response to vizualgraphix

Hey I had the same problem. I did some research and it looks like you need to buy a new heat sink. If you look around, you can find one for about 20-30 bucks.

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Answer 6

drumz718

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2009 8:50 PM in response to drumz718

the heatsink gets too hot and the Shuts off the PMU in the computer, therefore it won't charge and may shut off as it did in mine. Hope that helps solve it.

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Answer 7

Sep 10, 2009 9:10 AM in response to drumz718

Hmmm. I hadn't thought about the heat sync as being a cause to the problem. Thanks for the suggestion! I will have to look around for one online. Just to clarify, is this the large fan in the center (near the screen side) OR the CPU heat sync? Or are they the same? Thanks

Brian

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Answer 8

Sep 10, 2009 9:29 AM in response to vizualgraphix

UPDATE Sept 10, 2009

OK, so I've made some assumptions based on my procedures above and below:

1) Installed new DC-in board = No change, still not charging battery or booting from batt.
2) Installed new battery connector = No change, still not charging battery or booting from batt.
3) Purchased and installed new Apple battery = No change, still not charging battery or booting from batt.
4) Keeping new battery in... swapping out new/old DC-in board and new/old battery connector = No change, still not charging battery or booting from batt.

So.... my hunch is that it's the Logic board that's gone bad. Or possibly the heat sync as another user mentioned.

*Logic Board Replacement Parts*
$459 used from Mac Recylcing
http://mac.macrecycling.com/logic-board-ghz-core-duo-macbook-13-white-p-100851.h tml

$679 from We Love Macs
http://www.welovemacs.com/6614395r.html
*NOTE* They say that the CPU + Heat sink is ON the logic board, so we can't replace those separately.

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Answer 9

Sep 10, 2009 9:40 AM in response to vizualgraphix

UPDATE: The heatsink for the CPU is on the motherboard, but some sites say it's replaceable. Here's a link to the part on Mac Recylcing for about $30. http://mac.macrecycling.com/heatsink-12mm-macbook-13-core-duo-1832-ghz-p-100834. html

I now see that the FAN is a separate piece and isn't expensive to replace either....

but I still don't see how this would have anything to do with my issue.... battery "X" in icon (by clock) and battery won't charge with AC plugged in... nor will the MB boot from or run on battery.

I think I'm giving up and assuming a bad logic board. Being that they are so spendy to replace (even $450 used is too much), I'm going to return some parts and bill my client for my time. At this point, she'd be better off getting a new Macbook anyhow, and continue to use this one plugged into AC, as a desktop.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I hope my problem and trial/errors help others.

Brian

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Answer 10

Oct 4, 2009 9:16 AM in response to vizualgraphix

Hi Brian (vizualgraphix),
I am experiencing a similar problem with my (refurbished) 2006 MacBook.
My 'symptoms':
All of a sudden my battery icon showed the dreaded 'X' and my system info says no battery is installed (and there is).
The indicator light on the cord is green, as if the battery were fully charged.
If I unplug the AC adapter it dies quickly and completely.

I've taken the battery out and tried to reseat it about 10 times to no avail, as well as resetting the PRAM. I have not tried any of the other attempted fixes you listed.
A couple other problems I've noticed, and I don't know whether they are related, is it won't recognize CDs (music CDs only, however, it seems to be able to read DVDs) and I've noticed that the fan does not go on anymore.

Have you found a solution to this odd problem? Should I replace the heatsink? Replace the battery?
Get a new computer?
Thanks!
James

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Answer 11

missuze

Level 1

4 points

Oct 6, 2009 11:56 AM in response to jaybee755

Having the exact same problem with late 2006 MacBook 1.83GHz. Battery will not charge at all and displays "x" symbol, however magsafe light is orange.
Tried infinite PMU/SMC resets, all battery firmware updates to no avail.
My MacBook also has another issue whereby the fans gradually build to being on full blast (6200rpm) from startup. Ran a copy of the Apple Service Diagnostic disk which indicated issues with temperature sensors - which is why i found it interesting that it has been suggested that heatsink could be a potential factor in the battery issue?
SmokeWizard2 also mentioned fan issues (although the opposite to my problem!) which could be coincidence or something more...
Anyone had any luck with heatsink replacement?
Cheers,
-Suzie

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Answer 12

H_Dog

Level 1

0 points

Oct 14, 2009 1:47 PM in response to missuze

same problem with my wife's MacBook a dual 2.16Ghz, called a local service and they told me that they had a computer with a similar problem and they ended up replacing the Airport card, which fixed the fault, can't figure that one, but it sound like it will be the power management on the logic board, that will be expensive, as far as overheating, I'll check it out, but here is the other thing, I have 3 MacBooks all similar age, the one that has the issue is the only one that has been in a protective plastic cover, maybe it cause some overheating issues? anyone have any thoughts on that?...

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Answer 13

Nov 15, 2009 2:11 PM in response to H_Dog

i like how there is 5 people on here with the same problem but no solution from apple.

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Answer 14

Cosmos3

Level 1

0 points

Nov 23, 2009 6:14 PM in response to Flyboy1111

Yeah, Same problem here too. My macbook shows the black X. Tired most of the stuff above without replacing dc board, and some other parts. Apple doesn't give a **** about it if its not under applecare either. All they do when i go into the store is tell me that i should have gotten apple care. Anyone figured out how to solve this problem and have a laptop again (instead of this really small desktop). It seems like apple could at least address this issue that multiple people are having.

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Answer 15

shlek

Level 1

0 points

Dec 8, 2009 2:35 PM in response to vizualgraphix

add another one to the list. same exact symptoms as all the other. 13" Macbook (White) Late 2006 1.83 GHz. Battery icon has big X on it and system will not work unless AC power connected. Having a hard time finding a replacement logic board, nobody has them in stock anymore. Maybe for the best considering this looks like a painful fix, the logic board is really buried deeeeep inside this machine. let us know if anyone finds a solution or if gets apple to do anything.

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