M15x - Battery just won't charge/"plugged in not charging"

Thank you for you answer Inap!

 

I have had this happen one time. I did the power drain method to fix it. I have had this happen only one time so far.

 

Any word on a possible fix? Mine has been doing this for a while but now will not charge at all.

 

Hemingsent- welcome to the forums.
This is not uncommon, here's the fix:
While you laptop is plugged in, unsnap the battery
wait a second and snap it back into place. presto. fixed.
Why: it is a battery contact issue, and shouldnt happen again. -h-

 

That's not so simple.

When you plug the cord, a check is made by the hardware and sometimes the charger is nor recognized correctly and thus the battery won't charge. You then have to do the power drain trick, and clear the bios.

The fix you describe is also needed sometimes, but it will not work alone every times (I do know about it as I do have this issue more than often).

A bios fix has been released for M17x (see previous page) but we're still waiting for the M15x fix.

 

how do you clear the bios?

I bought one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-Battery...ps=63&clkid=7582106878568804605#ht_2093wt_914

it says its genuine but I guess not, since when I do the remove battery,wait,then replug it in trick has it charge for a sec then it stops.

and it refuses to charge, I tried everything so far

uninstalling the ACPI manager driver;
removing the battery, waiting a min, and plugging it back in;
The power drain trick;
good old restart;

Currently using A08 bios, should I try updating to A09?

 

Have you tried hub1100 trick posted above.

 

yah, that was the first one I tried.'

it'll charge for a sec then stop charging again

 

Try disconnecting the coin battery and doing a power drain.

 

I'm gonna try updating the Bios first, (been meaning to do so)

if that doesn't work, I'll pull this guy apart and find that little battery, its that circle one right?

 

Yeah its the circle battery, just disconnect the wire, you don't have to actually take it out.

 

I tried disconnecting the RTC battery + the power drain trick, nothing happened, (well actually haha it messed up my configuration with my schools network. Luckily, I just had to reinstall the drivers. Was afraid I had fried something)

any other ideas?

(im starting a conversation with the ebay seller now, maybe they have seen this problem before)

 

can't think of anything else, hub1100 trick normally fixes it. could be a hardware issue. have you tried calling dell to see if they can send a new battery and psu?

 

maybe, I'm gonna see if I can get a replacement 9-cell battery from the ebay seller first.

my old 6 cell battery works just fine, it recharges and etc.

if not, I'll try to see what I can get out of old Dell.

 

If the 6 cell is working fine, I see this as a clear indicator: the 9 cell you bought on eBay is not recognized by you computer and it just refuses to charge it.

You should buy a 9 cell from Dell. Is it more expensive but it will work without hassle (in theory).

 

My computer was as well showing the same problem( ex plugged in, not charging and incorrect ACwatt prompt on boot) so I contacted Alienware.
Their method for dealing with the problem under warranty is to send me;
- new AC adapter
- new battery
- new motherboard.
If the first two new items don't work then the motherboard will be changed.
They will send a techy to come install everything too.
Just posted this for help to those who are still under warranty.

 

I think this is the standard HelpDesk procedure applied by people who doesn't know anything about the issue. They heard "not charging", let's start by replacing the power unit, then the battery, then the mobo.

Do not forget, the same issue happened with M17x r2 and was solved by a bios update.

So maybe, this issue was hardware related and replacing hardware part will solve the issue, but a simple bios update is also possible which will make the “error detection mechanism” less touchy so it will stop reporting false alarm.

 

i still don't understand why there is no bios fix for this yet, the M17xr2 has gotten it awhile back and they said they were looking into the M15x too.

 

They had me upgrade to BIos 9 before a addressing my problem. I still had the same issues after. So they just gave me the new adapter and battery. Problem seems to be solved, no issues since. And obviously they held off on the new mobo. Thanks to this forum for all the help.

 

WOW THANKS MAN WORKED LIKE A CHARM THANKS A BUNCH

 

Tried Inap's method and it worked on the first try
Thanks! +rep

 

I just started having this issue. My M15x is a little over a year old, how is it that my power adapter has gone bad so quick?
Is there a cheaper option that works, other than getting an OEM from Dell?

 

I am having this problem as well... Started out a couple of months ago with the startup message and now it says "plugged in, not charging" and I have to be very lucky (seems almost random) if it starts to charge!

 

There are cheaper alternatives but they don't last long (speaking first hand) what is causing the problem is the ground wire in the ac adapter it comes unattached at the brick from wrapping it around it's self. Best option is the Dell one even though they charge an arm and a leg for it. I tried to fix the Dell one when it went bad but I couldn't get it apart even after smashing it on the ground several times lol. I ended up just buying a new one $150

 

got a new ac adapter and that didn't work.

When I attempt the "wait 10 secs" trick, it works for a second and then stops.