Laptop help needed

[yoshie]

I have a Dell Laptop which for the past 9 months has failed to charge the battery. I have just been running it from the mains lead. Last month it would not turn on however, after a number of attempts it burst into life.

Yesterday it refused to turn on. Is the battery likley to be the issue? does it need some sort of life in it to allow the mains power to work?

Thanks in advance.

[Albannach]

It should start up with no battery. Is the PSU wiring OK?

[Ben_D]

Most laptops will have a light on the casing somewhere that will indicate whether or not there is power getting to it. My last few dell laptops have ended up dying at the point where the DC jack is soldered onto the board, worth checking for any wobbel there too.

Cheers

Ben

[Calos]

measure the out put from the PSU, the battery is most likely goosed, careful buying a replacement DELL PSU, they have a chip in them that the motherboard reads to see if it's a genuine dell supply, and won't run with one that is not.

It may also just be what's known as "battery lock" if the PSU read ok, then take off the battery for 5mins, then plug the PSU and try running it without the battery attached.

cal

[gwh200]

You are all kidding right!!

[Albannach]

I didn't like to say, so early in the conversation. But I did laugh at the 'meter suggestions'.

[marky]

What model is it & how old is it?


Marky DELL DCSE & ESF Certified DELL Engineer for 10 years

[BUSHWHACKER]

CMOS battery died?

[angloabroad]

mine does the same, what i have to do is release the battery for only a second a quickly put back in when the "other" green light comes on, dont know why or how but its worked for me last 2 months

[yoshie]

Thanks all for the replies I will give all of the above a go. Don't worry Graham the wife will stand by with the 999 call given my love affair with electrics.

[yoshie]

Power lead was the issue, I have ordered a new one.

Thanks.