Has my AC Power adapter gone bad?

Question

For the past few weeks, my dell laptop has been running on the battery power, even though I have it plugged in to my adapter. I usually don't notice it until I get a pop up message from my computer telling me to change the power source. The battery will usually start charging when I change outlets. Now, all of a sudden last week, I can't charge the battery at all with the adapter. I plug it into an outlet, and it won't charge. My battery is dead dead dead. I am thinking it is the adapter, the little green indicator light won't even light up.

I ordered a new adapter from Dell this morning...

Any ideas or input?

FYI - it is a Dell XPS M140 - less than one year old

Answer 1

First thing ytou should have suspected was the battery. Second thing you should have thought about is the system board. If your battery isn't charging it's either battery or power source. In my time in the IT industry I've heard of the power adapter going bad maybe once.

Not saying it's not the power adapter, but if you look at the battery and then the system board then you look at parts that are under warranty and can be replaced for free depending on your warranty.

If when you plug in your adapter it shows the power light and not the battery light indicating that you are running on AC power chances are the adapter is good. Yopu may need to order a replacement battery or worse case have it serviced to replace the system board.

Answer 2

Yep, sounds like your adapter got shorted out somehow. It happens. To keep it from happening again, always plug your adapter into a circuit-protected power strip.