Battery indicator is stuck on "estimating"?

Question

After installing Ubuntu 10.10, the battery indicator worked fine (both percent remaining and estimation on time). I then installed and configured some software (Skype, Pidgin, Thunderbird, removed Empathy and Evolution, ect) and the battery meter, when clicked, always says "(estimating...)"

I've tried running the battery down to zero and charging it fully again. If I go into the history or details, the percentage is recorded correctly.

Any ideas?

Solution 1

This is known bug that affects HP, Compaq, Dell and other manufactures. This is because of a change made in gnome-power-manager where by the estimate is done on time remaining, rather than percentage. This change does not play nice with some hardware and is why you are seeing (estimaing...) constantly.

The bug report about it is here if you fancy a read: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/gnome-power-manager/+bug/629258

At this time, I believe there is no fix available. However you can click on the estimating... and it will bring up a more detailed view of your battery info, which will display the percentage of charge.

Solution 2

Battery Status is a good alternative applet that will show the battery percentage.

http://www.webupd8.org/2010/11/battery-status-ppa-finally-updated-with.html

Run these two commands to install a ppa for the new indicator:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:iaz/battery-status && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install battery-status

Now start the new battery indicator (it will replace the default indicator for future logins):

nohup /usr/lib/battery-status/battery-status --indicator &

If this bug affects you, say so at the bug report:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/upower/+bug/629258

Solution 3

Bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-release-notes/+bug/629258

Entry #91 fixed my x64 HP Pavilion:

Steps to apply @Brian's PPA update:

1) From a terminal window:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:brian-rogers/power

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

2) Reboot

3) Login normally, click on the battery icon

Comments

[xd1936]

My apologies. I didn't find that when searching. I'll leave the question undeleted though, just because it has more details.

[Nico]

Having same problem with my Lenovo N200 with 11.04. Going to try the applet.

[mlibre]

try install/reinstall gnome-power-manager. maybe fixed

[Kamal Dhamija]

power IC or Charging IC must have Failed. Take it to a engineer to get it changed.

[sugab]

after 11 years, now I am facing this problem in 2022 with Ubuntu 20.04

[dhojgaard]

I'm using an original power adaptor so that is not the case for me, but I will try loading with a previous kernel. I am running an unstable one so that may be the reason...

[dhojgaard]

You were right. When I use the kernel 35-22 Ubuntu can estimate the time left... Thank you..

[xd1936]

But why did it work before?

[James White]

I'm not sure, but if you have one of the systems specified in the bug report, there's not much you can do at this time.

[James White]

Correction, it's a bug in upower. A patch has been released to enable timed statistics to work under the affected laptops/netbooks

[Nico]

I works great. And it should be the answer for the question.