Wow, Thank you, thank you, and thank you. This is def the most helpful reply yet. I'm still waiting for the new battery to arrive but I'm gonna have to check this stuff out.
On Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 3:49 PM, Bob Proulx <b...@proulx.com> wrote: > Peter Rapisarda wrote: > > This is something I was afraid of. I have NO idea what version of debian > I > > installed, and I don't know how to find out. > > You can tell the version of Debian by looking at the > /etc/debian_version file. > > cat /etc/debian_version > > That will say one of the following: > > 5.0.8 -- Lenny point release 8 (current oldstable) > 6.0.1 -- Squeeze point release 1 (current stable) > wheezy/sid -- Sid Unstable (daily bleeding edge bits) > > > While doing the setup I don't recall it saying ANYTHING about a > > laptop and I think this has something to do with my problem. > > No. There isn't anything particularly special about laptops. The > installer doesn't ask any questions specific to laptops during the > installation. It isn't needed. The device drivers in the Linux > kernel will detect if you have a battery and do the right thing. > > > I ran the Dell diagnostic utility > > You ran this from the BIOS at boot time? Or you ran it from a > bootable disk? > > > and it goes through a few things and then I get a message "No > > diagnostic Utility Partition found. To run diagnostics insert your > > Dell "Drivers and Utilities" CD, then select OK to restart the > > system and boot off the CD". > > You said you replaced the disk. The factory partition existed on the > factory disk. Your replacement disk did not have this partition. > > > Thankfully I do have the CD and did exactly as the message says, but > > after a minute or two It comes up with a message "Result code: > > 0E00-0002. Msg: SYSTEM_ERROR. This system is not recogized as a > > supported Dell PC. These diagnostics may not run on unsupported > > systems." I did it a few times just to be sure and I get the same > > result every time and my battery problem has not been fixed. > > Grr... Vendors can be such terrible citizens. If the disk really > does match the machine then it is probably objecting to the difference > in the size of the disk drive between the old and new. I have seen > this before myself. > > But just the same even if you could run it I doubt it could "fix" your > battery problem. I think your battery is bad as a hardware problem. > Nothing in software can fix it. > > > As I was explaining in another reply I did find a directory called > > /sys/class/power_supply and in there is another directory called AC. > > And no directory called something like BAT0? Then your battery has > fully failed and is not responding. > > > Again please excuse me if this sounds dumb but I assume has > > something to do with the AC power outlet on the computer. > > Yes. > > > Should there be something else in that directory with regards to a > > battery? > > Yes. > > The /sys is similar to and a newer interface that is also available in > /proc. On my machine: > > $ find /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0 > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0 > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/uevent > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/subsystem > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/device > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/power > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/power/wakeup > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/type > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/status > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/present > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/technology > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/voltage_min_design > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/voltage_now > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/current_now > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_full_design > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_full > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_now > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/model_name > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/manufacturer > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/serial_number > /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/alarm > > > Does this have something to do with installing the "laptop version" > > of debian? > > No. But it has everything to do with having a failed battery. > > Bob >
