M6600 Won't Boot with AC Adapter Plugged In

Brief Background: Within the past year or so I was having some common battery/charging problems. I was suffering from "Plugged In, Not Charging". According to the usual checks, the Power Supply appeared to be working properly. I replaced the battery with a replacement model from Amazon - NOT a Dell OEM battery because of the high price. It immediately charged to 100% and worked normally for about a year. Then the error message started again, "Plugged In, Not Charging." During that entire period, the BIOS stated "Battery Not Recognized" AND "Power Supply Not Recognized", even though both were working for awhile. After much trying solutions, I gave up and bought both a new Dell OEM Battery and new Dell OEM Power Supply/AC Adapter. I uninstalled the old drivers and installed both with new drivers. That's the background.
NOW, the new OEM battery is charging perfectly, up to 100%, and running the machine for many hours, as it should. The desktop memo states, "Plugged In, Charging." So far so good. However, the machine will NOT boot, cold boot, reboot or even wake from sleep mode, while the new AC cord is plugged in. If I unplug it, the machine boots and wakes from sleep normally on the battery, but it just goes to a dark navy blue screen and sits there if I try to start it with the AC cord plugged in. NOTE: It's NOT a BSOD. That's a different blue altogether. AND, it will not get to any state where I can press F2, F8 or F12. None of those work while the AC cord is plugged in.
I ran a repair start, reset to an earlier working state and Dell online diagnostics, but got no helpful results
M6600: Windows 7 Pro
ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS IS?

 

I had a similar problem with an M4800. I can't remember if it was the same or opposite, but like yours, it wouldn't boot in one of the situations (either AC cord plugged in or just on battery). Fortunately, the machine was still under warranty, and Dell fixed it. It was a bad motherboard.

 

Just curious if you recall. Did Dell fix it for you on site or did you have to mail it to them?

 

I've been thinking because of the prior problems I had with "plugged in, not charging" that the DC in jack/chip may be faulty. The MOBO seems to be working properly for all else and all diagnostics, including some robust third party tools, find no diagnostic problems. Not sure any of them would find a faulty DC in jack/chip. I had a faulty DC in Jack/chip on an old daily driver from Sony VAIO and changing the DC in jack and board fixed it.

 

If the system is under warranty with NBD service then Dell will perform part replacements like the motherboard swap on-site.

These systems do have a DC jack that can be swapped out but it doesn't have a separate chip or board, it plugs right into the motherboard.

 

Dell fixed it on-site.

 

Also posted this inquiry on the Dell Community M6600 site. There are a lot of entries there for Dell replacing the OEM 240 watt charger with an under powered 180 watt power supply. I checked my factory power supply and, sure enough, 240 watts. I checked the Dell replacement they sent me, yep, 180 watts. Any chance the under power adapter is causing my problem. I am reaching out to Dell to complain that they sent me the wrong power supply for my machine - even thought it is still listed as the correct one for an M6600 on the M6600 parts page. If you search parts for a 240 watt power supply, it is available separately, but is not associated with M6600s. I think they've got a site error on their hands.

 

Indeed, you should be using a 240W adapter and not 180W. With 180W, you will get throttling at the very least. Look on eBay for "PA-9E" and you should be able to find some in the $30-$40 range, way cheaper than getting them from Dell. (Do be sure to get a genuine Dell part and not an off-brand one, though.)

 

I think I've run into the problem about the M6600 power adapter on the Dell site. I think I had a coupon and thought about getting a spare adapter via Dell. The problem is that their website only covers the newest Dell products (e.g. - M7720). The 240W adapter they list should work with the M6600 (I think the gal I chatted with told me that but I got my spare adapter via Ebay or Amazon 'cause it was still cheaper than buying at Dell with the coupon. ). But, as Aaron says, the better choice is to look on EBay (or I'd try Amazon, with them returns are a lot easier if the adapter's not compatible) for a PA-9E or equivalent. I wouldn't worry too much about getting an off-brand vs. Dell. Read the reviews and that'll help too. Good luck!

I agree, the Dell website should do a much better job of supporting the M6X00 series. I know it isn't in production but I've got several that are alive and kickin' - hopefully for some time to come.

 

Any (Dell) 240W adapter should work fine with the M6600. They used the exact same model up from the M6600 all the way to the 7720. They changed it for the 7730, it's a little smaller/slimmer, but that one would work as well.