I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
For as long as two months now, I can't charge my PlayBook with a computer or anything that the USB cable connects to. My wall charger and dock charger both work, but the USB cable will only let me manage files. Upon connecting, I'll get a ! message at the top of the screen that reads it can't be used as a power source. I never had a problem with just charging with a plug, but Hurricane Sandy has left me without electricity. I can only charge with the cable, even though I can't. Anyone have an idea why this might be?
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
I was never able to charge the playbook from my macbook air :(
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
The original cable that came with the playbook is a charging cable, standard usb cables are different. Also with the new 2.1 you could get a message that the source isn't given ng enough power to use as a charging source, but it will charge slowly if you turn off the playbook. With playbook on it'll probably use more power than usb can provide. Usbs on pcs give 400 to 500 miliamps and playbook charger puts out about 2 amps. If you don't have electricity you are probably better off using your pc in short bursts and turning off when not using.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
yeah I had the same thing but opposite. I could charge but not sync. I switched to theoriginal usb data cable and yay now incan sync to desktop again. people tend to forget how important an oem product really is.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
So you want to charge the playbook through the usb port of a laptop not plugged to an AC power supply ? :raised-eyebrow:
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
Originally Posted by
tarektoverso So you want to charge the playbook through the usb port of a laptop not plugged to an AC power supply ? :raised-eyebrow:
Seems a lot of people want to do that. Must be a shortage of outlets as it will charge but only if the screen is off and nothing is accessing it but it will take forever.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
The PB could never charge via USB, it's only in recent updates that it (annoyingly) points that out.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
try a different wall outlet,...maybe its not the cable or the playbook
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
It DOES charge, however it goes very slowly so that's why you'll receive that message.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
The usb port on a computer/laptop has always provided VERY LITTLE "outbound" power. If the pb was being used while attached to a computer usb port, the battery would get depleted as the usb port could not provide sufficient power to charge a working pb. If the pb was OFF, the usb port could provide a very slow charge.
The latest 2.1 OS updates now throw a message on the screen saying that usb will not charge. Folks have found that it still works like it did - very slowly if OFF and depletion if the pb is used but now there's a message explaining "no charge."
There are usb CHARGING ONLY cables - those could work somewhat since they apparently short or cross wires and provide NO data so a bit more power over both lines. AT&T sells one as do others.
I _THINK_ that the original usb cable that shipped with the pb was a data-charge cable as that would allow folks to copy files to/from the pb and allow use of the Desktop software to backup. If it were a charge only cable, no backups would be possible. But I'm guessing that was the type of cable rim initially provided was data-charge.
edited to add: Since the OP mentioned Sandy, I would guess they have no power and are trying to leech off of a somewhat charged laptop to provide power to their pb. Best wishes to those hit by this tragic hurricane/storm. This Bronx boy's got cousins and old friends back there.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
Originally Posted by
SifJar The PB could never charge via USB, it's only in recent updates that it (annoyingly) points that out.
The PB could ALWAYS charge vis USB ports.
OP, the answer is in post number 3. Charge with the PB in standby. Sometimes the backlight comes on when charging while turned off. It could take 12 hours to charge this way and you may end up with a depleted laptop battery and hardly charged PB.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
...
I _THINK_ that the original usb cable that shipped with the pb was a data-charge cable as that would allow folks to copy files to/from the pb and allow use of the Desktop software to backup. If it were a charge only cable, no backups would be possible. But I'm guessing that was the type of cable rim initially provided was data-charge....
The cable supplied with the playbook is a usb data transfer cable and charging cable also.
some usb cables sold here and there are indeed data transfer only.
I think that you can never charge anything through the usb port of a laptop[ if it isn't itself plugged to a main electricity supply. its USB ports will shut down to save the battery. they will allow only data transfer.
Re: I Cannot Charge with Micro USB Cable
Originally Posted by
Chaddface The PB could ALWAYS charge vis USB ports.
OP, the answer is in post number 3. Charge with the PB in standby. Sometimes the backlight comes on when charging while turned off. It could take 12 hours to charge this way and you may end up with a depleted laptop battery and hardly charged PB.
Fine, it could never charge properly via USB.