Lenovo™
Skip to main content
Country / region  (Select)     English (Change)
 
     Home      Products      Support & downloads      My account      About Lenovo
 
ThinkPad battery will not charge or discharge and gives an "irreparable damage" or "battery cannot be charged" error message
Applicable countries and regions
Select your preferred language from the list below:
English Spanish Italian
Chinese - Simplified Spanish Korean
Chinese - Traditional Finnish Portuguese
Danish French Swedish
German French    


Symptom

A small number of ThinkPad users have reported receiving an error message about their battery. If you have received an "irreparable damage" or "battery cannot be charged" error message from your computer's battery, you may click here to run the newest version of the Battery Verification Tool (released 25 Feb 2008). The Battery Verification Tool will tell you if your battery failed due to this issue, and if so, will direct you to the site where you can request a replacement.

Only the following battery FRU part numbers are affected by this issue and eligible for replacement with this web tool:

ThinkPad model
FRU part number
R60, R60e, T60, T60p
92P1137, 42T5246, 42T5245
X60, X60s
92P1167, 93P5027, 42T5248, 92P1171, 93P5029, 42T5249
X60 Tablet
42T5208, 42T5251, 42T4507, 42T5204, 42T5250
Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p
92P1127, 42T5244
Z60t, Z61t
92P1121, 42T5257, 92P1125, 42T5243


Note: This issue is not related to previous safety recalls and does not pose a safety hazard.

To see examples of what this error message looks like, click the links below.

View the error message shown by Message Center

Message Center bubble error message

Message Center error message irreparable damage

Message Center error message battery cannot be charged
View the error message shown by Power Manager

Power Manager error message zero percent

Power Manager error message 84 percent

Power Manager error message battery cannot be charged
View the error message shown in the Taskbar

Taskbar error message zero percent

Taskbar error message 84 percent

Taskbar error message battery cannot be charged

Solution
  • If your battery has failed, use the Battery Verification Tool to determine if you are eligible for a replacement. If you are eligible, you will automatically be directed to the site where you can request a replacement.
  • Lenovo is offering replacements only for batteries that have failed due to this problem. Lenovo will replace these failed batteries for up to 6 months past the expiration date of the battery warranty.

Note: Only a very small percentage of batteries will fail due to this issue.

battthinkpad.gif Verify your battery is eligible for replacement

About the Battery Verification Tool:

  • You must be connected to this site on the computer you wish to check. The failed battery must be installed on the computer you wish to check.
  • The Battery Verification Tool automatically downloads to your system and checks your battery. The tool removes itself once it is finished.
  • If you are not redirected to another Web site with further instructions, please temporarily disable your firewall software and run the tool again.
Additional information
View Frequently asked Questions
1. A message about "irreparable damage to the battery" appeared on my computer screen. What does this error message mean?
A. It means that it is no longer possible to charge or discharge your battery. While this is a permanent failure of the battery, it is not a safety issue.

2. What caused this problem?
A. Internal detection in the battery determined that it was not charging properly and disabled it. While this problem can cause any battery to fail, certain batteries are more susceptible to failing than others.

3. What is Lenovo doing about this problem?
A. If your battery has failed due to this problem, Lenovo will replace it for free. Use the Battery Verification Tool to determine if you are eligible for a replacement. Lenovo will replace these failed batteries for up to 6 months past the expiration date of the battery warranty.

4. What is the battery manufacturer doing about this problem?
A. The manufacturer of these batteries has made improvements to the battery that will help eliminate this problem. Only a small percentage of batteries will fail due to this problem.

5. May I have a replacement battery, even though my battery has not failed?
A. No. Only a small percentage of batteries at risk for this failure will actually fail, so we are offering free replacements only for failed batteries.

6. My battery has failed. What do I need to do?
A.
  • If your battery has failed and you have gotten a message about irreparable damage, click here to run the Battery Verification Tool. The Battery Verification Tool will tell you if your battery failed due to this issue, and if so, will direct you to the site where you can request a replacement.
  • If your battery has not failed, you do not need to do anything at this time. Only batteries that fail due to this issue are eligible for a replacement. Lenovo will replace these failed batteries for up to 6 months past the expiration date of the battery warranty.
7. Does this problem pose a safety hazard?
A. No.

8. Which ThinkPad models are affected by this problem?
A. Please note that only a very small percentage of the systems listed in the chart below will actually fail due to this problem.
ThinkPad model FRU part number
R60, R60e, T60, T60p 92P1137, 42T5246, 42T5245

X60, X60s

92P1167, 93P5027, 42T5248,
92P1171, 93P5029, 42T5249
X60 Tablet 42T5208, 42T5251, 42T4507, 42T5204, 42T5250
Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p 92P1127, 42T5244
Z60t, Z61t 92P1121, 42T5257,
92P1125, 42T5243


9. The Battery Verification Tool said I did not qualify for a replacement battery. Why not?
A. In order to qualify for a replacement battery you must meet the following criteria:

  • The battery must have already failed due to the Irreparable Damage error.
  • The battery FRU part number must be on the list support by the extended warranty shown in the model/part list on this page.
  • The age of the battery must be no more than 6 months past the expiration date of the battery warranty.

10. I am not able to run the battery verification tool because the battery causes my ThinkPad to freeze or hang. How can I order a replacement?
A. The system cannot communicate with the battery properly which may result in a system hang. If your battery meets the criteria outlined in question 9 above, please send your battery bar code number as well as your ship-to information (address and phone number) in an e-mail to logistpe@lenovo.com to arrange for a replacement. Please see this picture for a sample battery bar code number:
Battery Bar Code


Applicable countries and regions
Worldwide

Back to top

Document id:  MIGR-67765
Last modified:  2008-05-05
Copyright © 2008 IBM Corporation
Copyright © Lenovo 2008, all rights reserved
 
Document options
Printable version 
Lenovo Forums

Get help at Lenovo Forums New!


Lenovo RSS Feeds

rss_icon.gif

Subscribe to downloads and drivers updates


Take our survey
http://www.lenovo.com/i/v15/icons/cvm_plus.gif Help us improve your visit

Printable version



    Terms of use Privacy Contact