Plugged = runs okay, Unplugged = Shuts down

So my grandpa got a new laptop for his birthday a while ago... Strong laptop, nice hardware. Can't remember the name or model though...
Anyway, so he runs Windows 7, and he told me that every time when he pluggs out the charging cable, the computer shuts down. But when the cable is plugged the computer runs just okay and the battery is full.

Any ideas on what might be the problem?
He only has this latop for a few weeks now, he said he didn't drop it or hit it in any kind of way...

BDani said:

So my grandpa got a new laptop for his birthday a while ago... Strong laptop, nice hardware. Can't remember the name or model though...
Anyway, so he runs Windows 7, and he told me that every time when he pluggs out the charging cable, the computer shuts down. But when the cable is plugged the computer runs just okay and the battery is full.

Any ideas on what might be the problem?
He only has this latop for a few weeks now, he said he didn't drop it or hit it in any kind of way...

Your Grandpa probably has a pretty similar problem as a friend of mine last year. For some reason the battery of his new laptop was damaged. And like your Grandpa's laptop, his laptop did also shut down whenever the power cable was disconnected. Anyway - the issue was solved by replacing the corrupt battery...

This happened to my friend down the street. It is so obvious we were all laughing in the end. The battery compartment normaly has a security latch which locks and unlocks the bay. Some laptops 'think' there is no battery if the compartment is unlocked. This may not be the case so follow the advice on the above posts

I helped one user solve this type of problem - somehow the power management was set to shut down the computer when the battery reached 99% charge.

If grandpa is in another town - you might want to talk him thru installing TeamViewer - that should let you remotely control the computer and help him out of this and other jams. The Windows Mobility Center should show you if the battery is being seen by the operating system... but since you said that the battery is showing to be fully charged, then the OS probably already "sees" it. Removing it and putting it back in a few times might clear the contacts, but I would not spend too much labor on this if the laptop is under warranty.

I have an older ASUS netbook. Even when it is turned off, the battery still discharges -- so I have to disconnect the battery if I am putting it away for a while (it is the computer I take on trips).

Probably not the problem grandpa has since his comptuter is new, but as the others have said -- either the computer is not recognizing the battery or it is not charged.

I'd say ask your grandpa to remove the battery and visually inspect the contacts. and make sure that it is properly connected, everything should sit flush.