Registered: 01/16/04
Posts: 5108
Loc: Desperately Seeking Salt
I have a Dell laptop that aquired a virus. I re-installed all of the software but after doing so it does not recognize the battery. I have to keep the unit plugged in all the time and if unplugged it only lasts maybe 15 minutes. Any suggestions?
Registered: 07/13/07
Posts: 1859
Loc: Behind The Furnace
What model? Qperating system ? "re-installed all of the software" you mean the restore CDs to reinstall the OS and factory software? Some batteries have diagnostic LEDs, does yours?
Registered: 01/16/04
Posts: 5108
Loc: Desperately Seeking Salt
Originally Posted By: ovidtech
What model? Qperating system ? "re-installed all of the software" you mean the restore CDs to reinstall the OS and factory software? Some batteries have diagnostic LEDs, does yours?
1)dell vostro 1000 2)windows xp 3)yes and yes 4)how can you tell?
Registered: 10/20/09
Posts: 36
Loc: Seneca County, NY
Unfortunately as a long-time user of Dell laptops this is not an uncommon problem. I have been using Dell laptops for about 8-9 years now and in my experience the power supplies last somewhere around 1-2 years. That being said; one of the common issues I see is the connector where the power supply plugs into the computer; often that seems to loosen on the MOBO.
I would first try to go into BIOS (usually F2/F11 -- press while computer first turned on); and under the power supply page see what the value is. If it says "unknown power supply" then it could be that the connector is flaking out or that the power supply is making the slow transformation from ac/dc converter to brick.
I have only seen one dell laptop whose connector was so bad that I had to rig a paper clip around it and tied to the fan inlet in order to get it to work; however that was a pretty bad one.
If the Dell BIOS will not recognize the power adapter it will automatically prevent it from charging the battery so it is a little of a catch-22 since a flaky adapter will drain the battery but if the connector is bad even a new adapter if not recognized by the BIOS will not allow the battery to be charged.
_________________________ Seneca County Resident & Taxpayer
Registered: 08/25/00
Posts: 3817
Loc: Conquest, NY
Originally Posted By: pepper
Originally Posted By: Josephus
I dunno! That's a new one on me. Have you flashed your BIOS? It's a shot in the dark, but I wonder if the problem may lay in that?
not a clue what you're talking about. Please dumb it down a bit.
BIOS is the Basic Input Output System. It is the very first program to run on your computer when you press the power button. It's checks the various components on your computer and, loads the operating system, and then provides communication between the various elements of the computer. Essentially, it's your computer's communication system. Every once in a while, the manufacturer will improve it and they advise updating it, which is done through a bootable diskette. It's called "flashing" your BIOS.
I was wondering if perhaps you needed to do this. But, if you're using all the original software that came with the computer, you probably don't have to.
