[Naderfan]

What does it mean when my MacBook recognizes that it's plugged into the adapter but says "Battery Not Charging?" The orange light on the magsafe is on, and occasionally the battery percentage goes up a point or two, but that's over a very long period of time. However, if I unplug the magsafe, wait 15 seconds or so and then plug it back in, the light doesn't come on at all (though the computer notices when I plug it in). Is this just an issue with the adapter or am I facing bigger problems here? (It's a mid-2009 MacBook for reference.) It's happened a couple times and I've let it just run down the battery to the point where it shuts off and that seems to reset everything. But I have all my dissertation research and teaching stuff on here and I really hate risking that. (I have everything backed up, but I think I'd still go into heart failure if it suddenly died on me.)

Thanks.

[FFL]

Have you tried resetting the SMC yet?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

[Naderfan]

No, thanks, I'll give that a try. After being plugged in all night, the battery is only up to 72% charged.

Edited to add: Tried it and no change.

[FFL]

Tried it and no change.

Bummer.

I'd zap the PRAM, and then try the SMC reset one more time.

After that, I'd be looking for a power adapter that I could borrow to see if it changed the behavior at all.

How many cycles has your battery been through (System Profiler > Details > Power)?

[Naderfan]

Originally Posted by FFL Bummer. I'd zap the PRAM, and then try the SMC reset one more time. After that, I'd be looking for a power adapter that I could borrow to see if it changed the behavior at all. How many cycles has your battery been through (System Profiler > Details > Power)?

Cycle count is 381. I'm thinking I need a new adapter. In addition, I've noticed one of the pins sometimes gets stuck (though not every time I have this problem).

[FFL]

Originally Posted by Naderfan Cycle count is 381. I'm thinking I need a new adapter.

Sounds like it.

If you don't have access to borrow one for testing purposes, go ahead and buy a new one. If it doesn't help, it can be returned for at most a small restocking fee.