This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I bought my Gateway laptop in January. Randomly last night it said "Plugged in, not charging" on the battery meter. I know this is NOT an issue with Gateway because I have googled this issue and the common problems seems to be Vista. I tried following these four steps that some have claimed work
1.
Click Start and type device in the search field, then select Device Manager .
2.
Expand the Batteries category.
3.
Under the Batteries category, right-click the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery listing, and select Uninstall .
WARNING: Do not remove the Microsoft AC Adapter driver or any other ACPI compliant driver.
4.
On the Device Manager taskbar, click Scan for hardware changes .
Alternately, select Action > Scan for hardware changes .
Windows will scan your computer for hardware that doesn't have drivers installed, and will install the drivers needed to manage your battery's power. The notebook should now indicate that the battery is charging."
but I didn't have much luck with that at all. I really need someone to tell me how to fix this problem because the fact that this has clearly been a big issue for Vista users everywhere over the past 2 or so years is completely unacceptable and honestly I'm getting really annoyed with the issue. So please help me with this Vista problem and I know for a fact its not a problem with Gateway because it's a practically new computer.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Answer accepted by question author
Here is what I've done and it worked for me:
first 2 steps as you have written
step 3: instead of uninstall, I've selected disable. I've waited for 2-3 minutes and enabled is again.
Once I've enabled, it started to charge.
I can't guarantee it will work for everyone, but it worked for me. Give a try and let me know if it worked.
After 2 days of researching, I finally fixed this myself. My Gateway Md78 is only a yr n a half old, and about 3 months ago I started getting the "plugged in, not charging" ____. I thought it was because the battery is dying, so I just bought a new battery. Same problem was happening. Then I read somewhere else to uninstall the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery. So, here's what I did when I put a bunch of ____ together:
Shut down Computer. unplug AC. Take out battery. Plug in AC. Start up computer. Disable Microsoft ACPI CC Method Battery (I really didn't see the point in uninstalling it...). Shut down computer. Unplug AC. Insert battery. Plug in AC. Turn on. Enable Microsoft ACPI. Then it was working
I did the whole shut down, unplug, plug, scenario because it was suggested all over the place, and sometimes with the process of disabling the program. Whether that worked is what worked, or just disabled/enabling it, I don't know, but either way, it worked. And Now here I am with 2 perfectly fine batteries and I'm expecting this problem to happen again.
I also noticed that even though it was saying the battery was 0 power and not charging, when I unplugged the AC and let the computer run its course, it lasted 2 hours. So frankly, it wasn't the battery at all and they were charging/charged despite the indicator.
Sorry, but your assessment that this is a Vista issue is incorrect. It is a hardware issue. Either the adapter is faulty or the charger component on the motherboard is not working. In most cases, the problem is with the motherboard. The fact that the computer is new is irrelevant; in fact, if hardware is going to fail it will usually do so quite quickly or go for years. Contact Gateway tech support for repair/replacement.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
First of all, I don't work for Microsoft. I don't have anything to "own up to" nor is it "my" problem. I gave you advice based on years of being an independent computer tech/repair person. *Volunteer* advice because I like to help people, not because I'm concerned about Microsoft losing customers. In my experience, this issue has always been caused by a faulty charger on the motherboard. If the adapter works with your brother-in-law's laptop, then all you've determined is that the issue isn't with the adapter. Hence it is probably the motherboard.
*However* I can't see or test your computer from here. Take the machine to a competent local computer tech and have them test it. I don't recommend using a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place.
I'm sorry that I was unable to help you.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Its not a hardware problem because thousands of people are the same problem that don't have Gateway and the common denomenator is Vista. The fact that you guys don't want to own up to this problem is making you lose customers. I know its not a hardware problem I'm not a stupid person. I've dealt with a laptop with a bad motherboard before and this computer has already been checked and the motherboard is fine. The charger is also fine because it charges my brother-in-law's laptop who has the same computer but downgraded to XP because he was having this same issue and now his laptop is fine. Search google and you'll have people having this same problem every since Vista came out. I don't understand why you guys can't look into the problem and not blame it on he hardware when its clearly you guy's problem!
