Saturday, March 21, 2009

Dell 65W AC Laptop Adapter Warning

This one is strictly for electrical engineers . The 40 odd Dell Vostro A840 laptop we have on campus sometimes stop booting with this warning screen. If you figure this out, do drop me a line.

Dell AC Adaptor Warning

Warning

The AC power adapter wattage and type cannot be determined.
The battery may not charge.
The system will adjust the performance to match the power available.
Please connect a Dell 65W AC adapter or greater for best system performance.
To resolve this issue, try to reseat the power adapter.

at
Labels:

42 comments:

  1. VikasApril 15, 2009 at 11:59 PM

    I am facing the same problem with my INSPIRON 640m... But when i use another charger (Borrowed from a friend of mine) the system works fine. So how did u solve this problem? Any leads?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ArkyApril 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    Try turning off AC Adapter warnings in BIOS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 21, 2013 at 3:03 PM

      Isn't this ignoring a health warning which may result in damaging the laptop or battery?
      sorry for bad english!

      Delete
    2. UnknownJune 10, 2013 at 6:57 PM

      Anon...it's perfect English! The warning however is purely to indicate that the Laptop will operate without charging the Battery as the wattage isn't sufficient to operate it and charge, so simply replace it with a 90w charger and the problem has gone.

      Delete
  3. Dell ChargersJuly 31, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    Hi there ,this is due to the wattage checker dell has implemented into its laptops and chargers , all you need to do is disconnect the power adpater untill the pc has passed bios / booting up , then reconnect it.

    hope this helps

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 3, 2009 at 4:11 AM

    There is a chip inside the adaptor that sends a signal back to the motherboard to inform it that a genuine Dell adaptor has been used. If a break in the signal occurs, the laptop issues this message. On some laptops (like my Inspiron 6400) - it means the bloody motherboard will not charge the battery - even though I do have a genuine adaptor.

    So if you are an electrical engineer, the following links will show you how to remove the offending chip from the adaptor, and solder it directly to the motherboard.

    http://getsatisfaction.com/dell/topics/_ac_power_adapter_not_determined_and_power_adapter_wont_work

    http://www.laptop-junction.com/toast/content/inside-dell-ac-power-adapter-mystery-revealed

    http://www.laptops-battery.co.uk/blog/dell-ac-power-adapter-type-cannot-be-determined-solution/

    ReplyDelete
  5. ArkyDecember 3, 2009 at 2:16 PM

    Thanks for the hints Anonymous

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJune 17, 2010 at 9:02 AM

    Great post about dell news.

    ReplyDelete
  7. aisyaOctober 26, 2010 at 12:05 PM

    when i enter the battery in my laptop, it can't charge..
    but it can just plug in only..not charging...
    so,how?
    it is my batery is defective?

    ReplyDelete
  8. ArkyOctober 26, 2010 at 3:43 PM

    Aisya, You can check the health of the battery in BIOS. Please get in touch with Dell support if you find the battery is defective.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 15, 2010 at 2:09 AM

    I'm having the same problem which occurred this past week, and I have resolved the issue. My dell adapter, which i had for 3.5 years is broken. I believe it is similar to what the anonymous user previously said concerning the Dell ID chip.

    Since I'm not an electric engineer, the next solution is to buy another AC Adapter. Fortunately, my brother has one, so I'm using his for the time being and now everything works fine.

    ReplyDelete
  10. muhammad khan Buzdar jaisvyMarch 28, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    DEAR THIS IS NOT DUE TO AC ADAPTER, THIS IS DUE TO CHARGING IC CHIP, U SHOULD MB TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I HAD A SAME PROBLEM, CHANGED AC ADAPTER, AND BETTERY BUT STILL MY PC WAS ILL, IF U ARE A RICH MAN THEN CHANGE UR MOTHER BOARD OR ???

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMay 12, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    This has to do with a breakdown in the Foxconn connector. You can buy them on eBay for about $4. My local Radio Shack fixed the mobo with one. Since then the problem has come up again.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJuly 16, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    alsaidi Safwan
    1.change the AC adapter
    2.cancel the error message from the BIOS option
    3.run the pre-boot system assessment
    it should work fine. If it does not work then you have to move to the next level and change the chip from the AC adapter and stick it to the motherboard.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ArkyJuly 26, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Not everyone is able to do the hardware replacements. It easier to buy a AC adapter I guess :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. ArkyJuly 26, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    muhammad khan Buzdar jaisvy, Please do not type all capital letters. It is consider that you are SHOUTING when you type like that :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJune 11, 2012 at 3:46 AM

    The gold center-pin inside the end of the charging adapter broke off of mine, but I was able to fix/jerry-rig it by cutting and filing a piece of a safety pin and sticking it in the center pin hole of the laptop.
    It needs to be just the right length: long enough so that it contacts the stub that is left of the gold pin that broke off, but short enough that the jack is still held in place and the other contacts connect when the plug is plugged in.

    The center pin just connects a wire that tells the laptop that the charger is an authentic DELL charger of the right voltage/amps, so it is not a big deal if the center pin connection is lost because you happen to bump the cable, except that your battery wont be charging.

    I actually broke the center pin off when trying to figure out what was wrong with my adapter, as I had the "plugged in, not charging" issue.
    Turns out my original problem (before I accidentally broke that pin) was because there was a short in the wire to the golden center pin between the charger and the laptop, right where the wires meet the plug you plug into your computer. This part of the cord get hits by me more often than any other part.
    I would bet that most charging problems are caused by a short in this wire, and that they usually occur in the location mine was, or in other parts that get bent frequently. The wire to the center pin on my E6400 charger is green.

    I fixed it by locating the break using a multimeter measuring resistivity. The break was located at the very end of the cord at the end plug that goes into your computer. I had to cut/plier open the black coating of the plug and break away the clear plastic that lets the blue LED shine through to get enough length of the remaining wire to splice the two ends together. It works great now, except that it now looks like franken-charger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJune 11, 2012 at 8:38 PM

      Fantastic! Consider writing a blog post with the pictures on how to fix the charger( for those who are not good with electronics).

      Delete
    2. AnonymousOctober 7, 2015 at 4:38 PM

      Same problem. My baby cut off this wire. I added new wire and now all is ok.

      Delete
  16. ZaidJuly 23, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    Hi, when I plugged in the charger , the message show that , "plugged in but not charging", and message show "Connect Dell 65W AC adapter" charger is not working why ??? :(
    is my charger is out of order ??? INSPIRON N5040

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJuly 23, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    I'm facing a problem with my INSPIRON N5040 , when i plugged in message show that"plugged in but not charging" and "Connect Dell 65W AC adapter", is my charger out of order ?? please reply me m worry about this.

    ReplyDelete
  18. lockjaw94August 23, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    I have the same issue with my dell vostro 1014 . But i manage to get my adapter working after some struggle of 5-10 minutes.

    1.leave your Power adapter plugged to power source idle for 7-8 minutes and then connect it to your laptop. you might need to connect and reconnect several times .

    2.At the junction where the chord to laptop starts try twisting and plugging to laptop .

    3.Make the chord to laptop straight by pulling it and apply pressure with your fingers along its length to settle any kinks then plug it .

    4.try step 3 and 4 together.

    I know its weird but better than paying dell for their sick adapters.
    Good Luck !!

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    i have the same problem now with my dell N5040
    any help... i'm through with dam dell

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousOctober 1, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    i sove my same problem as follow
    * remove adapter pin from supply then just close the inner plates of plug which is connected to charger one side using paper pin and connect again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 14, 2012 at 2:23 AM

      hey...can you explain in detail..? I don't understand by this..

      Delete
  21. dell laptop ac adapterOctober 18, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Well that's superb article! Thank you for this great information, you write very well which i like very much. I am really impressed by your post.

    ReplyDelete
  22. jo-anneDecember 12, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    I am getting this message every start up and I am not using a laptop..Whats going on here????

    ReplyDelete
  23. jo-anneDecember 12, 2012 at 5:29 AM

    I keep getting this message every time I start up my computer I am NOT using a laptop I am using a desk computer...Help, its driving me mad having to press f1 every time...How do I stop this please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownDecember 12, 2012 at 8:21 AM

      You can go into BIOS settings when your computer boots. And turn off AC Adapter warnings option.

      Delete
  24. UnknownJanuary 22, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    where can i find the bios settings?

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownJanuary 22, 2013 at 7:24 AM

    where can i find the bios settings?

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    @Arky r: that just suppresses the error message.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 5, 2013 at 12:36 AM

      Yup! Let me know if you have a better solution.

      Delete
  27. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2013 at 12:03 PM

    hey i have that message in my vostro too, its not about boot problem sometimes, its on my ac adapter problem which is effect on my laptop performance, because my adapters no longer capable to supply power on laptop requirement, which cause on slow performance(laggy) and uncharged battery :(

    ReplyDelete
  28. AC Repair Kendall FloridaMarch 14, 2013 at 4:37 PM

    Thanks a lot for sharing, Really your information was used for me when i'am searching about ac.

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousApril 3, 2013 at 5:35 PM

    Dell really sucks with this.

    Deliberately crapping-up the performance of a system you have paid for because you dare to not have THEIR own brand PSU, for whatever reason - including that own brand PSUs keep dying!

    They Dell-mark other parts too - such as CD/DVD drives. If you get one out of a dead Dell, it will refuse to work properly in any other computer, or in a caddy.

    Restrictive practices at their most petty, and - to the company - damaging.

    Dell - the last on my list of laptops to buy.



    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousApril 19, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    Laptop: Dell Vostro 1015

    Situation: Bad Battery replaced with new Battery from Dell. Adapter doesn't charge the new battery. Error Message Says "AC Adapter not connected". BIOS says "AC Adapter not connected".

    When I remove the battery and I power on the laptop by connecting to Adapter, laptop works fine.

    So what do I do?

    ReplyDelete
  31. yaronMarch 27, 2014 at 3:22 AM

    Hi Guys, more AC power problem,
    My original Dell AC power adapter cuts out as soon as i plug it to the laptop
    the green led turn off and comes on only after unplugging completely from the power socket and the laptop.
    any ideas for a fix?

    ReplyDelete
  32. UnknownNovember 20, 2014 at 10:39 AM

    i have the same problem,
    but its work when i connect the charger after bootup.
    is it the solution by making fool to bootup process?

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousAugust 2, 2015 at 4:44 AM

    when i switch on my laptop i face the problem that no battery is detected whenever the charger plugged in..but when the charger removes auto matically it switches off...how i can solve this problem???

    ReplyDelete
  34. Laptop Repair in GurgaonJanuary 17, 2017 at 3:44 PM

    My dell laptop adapter has the same issue sometime and i am very frustrated about this , thanks for this post help a lot.

    ReplyDelete

You can leave a comment here using your Google account, OpenID or as an anonymous user.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts