Solved My Vista desktop thinks it's a notebook...

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N7AS

New Member
I have an Acer AX1700-U3793A desktop with Vista x64 SP1. There is a battery icon in the tray and the power management options have a section "On Battery" in addition to "Plugged In". I went to install SP2 and it stopped and told me I'm on battery power. My wife has the sam computer as they arrived the same day. Hers is not showing this. I got stuck with the odd-ball.

Is there any way to fix this other than restore the operating system with her restore disks. I hate to have to reinstall all the stuff I have on this computer plus getting rid of all the crapware and bloatware that's preinstalled.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
Hello N7AS, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Is your desktop computer connected to a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) type of battery power backup that is also plugged into the wall? If it is, then you would see the battery icon as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Brink said:
Hello N7AS, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Is your desktop computer connected to a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) type of battery power backup that is also plugged into the wall? If it is, then you would see the battery icon as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
Click to expand...

Yes it is, but that would not produce the this result. My wife has the same computer as we purchased them together on the same day and her's is connected to an separate identical UPS as mine. Maybee there is a registry item that had to be modified???
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
I know this may sound silly, but double check to see if the UPS is plugged in or the outlet has power to it.

As a test to see if it may be just tht UPS battery, switch the UPS batteries to see if it stops for you afterwards and if it starts on hers.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Brink said:
I know this may sound silly, but double check to see if the UPS is plugged in or the outlet has power to it. As a test to see if it may be just tht UPS battery, switch the UPS batteries to see if it stops for you afterwards and if it starts on hers.
Click to expand...

This is not UPS related. This problem had been going on since I first got the computer. My wife has an identical computer and her power management is normal and no battery icon in the tray.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
Sorry, but unless you had the battery icon before you had the computer connected to the UPS, then it is related to the UPS.

This is suppose to work like this in Vista by design when a computer is connected to a UPS, or on a laptop/notebook, so that you can adjust your Power Plan Options for when you are on AC or battery power.

I'm not certain as to why your wife's computer is not showing this as well, unless the UPS software is not installed on her computer.

If you just want the battery icon gone from the notification area in the taskbar, then this tutorial will show you how to remove it. It will not change anything in Power Plan Options though.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
There is no UPS software installed on either computer. I was at BestBuy today and looked at the power management on their display computer and no battery icon or the 2 sections in the power management screen... "plugger IN" or "On Battery'.

The point is that when attempting to install SP2 it said I was on battery power. The power management thing and the battery icon displaying in the tray has been from day one. If I was actually on battery all that time since May 12, the computer would have shut down long ago. It is an OS problem. I'm going to call Acer and get some answers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
The battery icon will always show regardless if you are on AC or battery power though. It doesn't indicate that you are on battery power.

I'm not sure as to why it says that you are running on battery power when you try to install SP2 unless it's this.


Hopefully Acer may know of this issue and can suggest something for you.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
I have the same computer, and its hooked to a UPS. No battery icon on mine.

But I don't have SP2 on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire X1700
    Motherboard
    ASUS
    Memory
    3 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1 gig GeForce 210
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Vizio 21" tv
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 resolution
    Hard Drives
    1 terabyte sata in 1 partition
    Cooling
    fans that came with it
    Keyboard
    basic USB
    Mouse
    basic USB
    Internet Speed
    3 megabits on a cable modem, wired
JimJoe said:
I have the same computer, and its hooked to a UPS. No battery icon on mine.

But I don't have SP2 on it.
Click to expand...

That's my point. Having a UPS has nothing to do with having a battery icon in the tray.

BTW, I have SP1 and could not install SP2 because f this. It would not allow me to continue.

JimJoe, do me a favor and go to your Control Panel and click on Power Options... then click on Change plan settings. You should have just one column with 2 drop-down boxes. One says "Turn off the display", the other says "Put the computer to sleep". On my pc I have two columns with 2 drop-down boxes each. The 2 columns are labled "On battery" and "Plugged in" each having 2 drop-down boxes for a total of 4.

After talking to Acer and getting a run-around with some outsourced guy in India who was hard to understand they wanted me to pay for support. This pc is hardly 3 weeks old. They said if I install SP2 it will void my software support. I say it's a registry key issue. They will not help me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
Not at home when I saw this, but I have looked before. Only one column as you say.

Have you put the 'battery' column on the same settings you use for the 'plugged in' settings ?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire X1700
    Motherboard
    ASUS
    Memory
    3 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1 gig GeForce 210
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Vizio 21" tv
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 resolution
    Hard Drives
    1 terabyte sata in 1 partition
    Cooling
    fans that came with it
    Keyboard
    basic USB
    Mouse
    basic USB
    Internet Speed
    3 megabits on a cable modem, wired
JimJoe said:
Not at home when I saw this, but I have looked before. Only one column as you say.

Have you put the 'battery' column on the same settings you use for the 'plugged in' settings ?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have all of them set for "Never". I can live with this, but, this problem prevents me from installing Service Pack 2. When windows 7 comes out, this will probably prevent me from upgrading to that as well.

As the other posters are saying this is normal when plugged into a UPS, that may only be a fact if, and only if the UPS is connected to the PC with a USB or RJ45 or serial cable is connected AND the UPS software is installed AND running. But I doubt even this would produce this problem. It has to be OS related.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
N7AS said:
JimJoe said:
I have the same computer, and its hooked to a UPS. No battery icon on mine.

But I don't have SP2 on it.
Click to expand...

That's my point. Having a UPS has nothing to do with having a battery icon in the tray.

BTW, I have SP1 and could not install SP2 because f this. It would not allow me to continue.

JimJoe, do me a favor and go to your Control Panel and click on Power Options... then click on Change plan settings. You should have just one column with 2 drop-down boxes. One says "Turn off the display", the other says "Put the computer to sleep". On my pc I have two columns with 2 drop-down boxes each. The 2 columns are labled "On battery" and "Plugged in" each having 2 drop-down boxes for a total of 4.

After talking to Acer and getting a run-around with some outsourced guy in India who was hard to understand they wanted me to pay for support. This pc is hardly 3 weeks old. They said if I install SP2 it will void my software support. I say it's a registry key issue. They will not help me.
Click to expand...


The more important question I think is, "Does the pc think its on battery/UPS DC power supply?" If so, It could be a faulty PSU issue. Kill the AC power, or Disconnect the UPS from the wall- not the pc, and see what happens. You may not lose power, but if the PSU is faulty, it may not be putting out enough juice to your system. Our desktop has this icon, but it doesnt show by default unless there is an issue with the AC.

Try unplugging the system from the UPS, and plug the cord directly into the outlet. Is the battery symbol gone from the taskbar?, Can you boot? try a demanding game-does the pc crash?

If your PC is running on DC, it will not allow Utilities or SP installation. You can also check to see if it is PSU related, by setting Power management to "High Performance", and checking the CPU speed. it will most likely automatically downclock below 1GHz if it is running on DC as opposed to the rated Ghz speed.

The icon looks different for AC then it does for DC.

here is the AC icon (notice the power cord up against the battery)
That means it is running on AC with a DC backup, Runnng on DC does not show the powercord, and the "battery" indicator will fluctuate. If your UPS is plugged in, the battery will not fluctuate due to the continuous AC charge- so unplug the UPS from its AC power supply, and see what happens.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB)
    and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive:
    Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
Problem fixed...

There was a line in device manager for batteries > HID UPS Battery

I didn't uninstall it, but disabled it. Now the battery icon is gone and the power options are the same as in my wife's pc.

I don't know why it was there, my wife's pc didn't have this entry.

I'm going to try installing SP2 later when I get a "Round Tuit".
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E7300 2.66GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia G100
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB
    Mouse
    Logitech V450 Nano
Good !

Checking my desktop, no power cord and no battery icon on my desktop tray. I have a UPS.

wall socket->UPS->computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire X1700
    Motherboard
    ASUS
    Memory
    3 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1 gig GeForce 210
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Vizio 21" tv
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 resolution
    Hard Drives
    1 terabyte sata in 1 partition
    Cooling
    fans that came with it
    Keyboard
    basic USB
    Mouse
    basic USB
    Internet Speed
    3 megabits on a cable modem, wired
N7AS,

I read this post because I was experiencing the same issue with my new i7 920. I went to disable it in device manager as you did and discovered that it said "American Power Conversion USB UPS". I thought, how in the *&$% did it know what UPS I had. I then unplugged the RJ45 from my UPS and it disappeared. How embarrasing - I don't even know what I have plugged in!

Joe
 

My Computer

System One

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