Dell laptop battery problem

[bmbsqd]

I have a Dell Inspiron E1705. Great computer. One problem is that my computer does not recognize my battery as being installed. The Power Meter says "Not Present" under the battery logo.

Problem is....my battery is there! But if I unplug my power cord the computer goes off. It does not switch to battery power. It does not charge. NOTHING!

Is there a magic button or CTRL string of buttons I need to push?

Thanks in advance.

[dougage]

How old is the battery? Sometimes if the battery is no good, the puter wont see it. If the battery is still under warranty, tell Dell to replace it. If you have another battery, try that one.

[Mini-Poly]

The same thing sort of happened to me. I have a Dell Inspiron 2650. I tried to unplug the main power chord and use my router. Now mind you this thing has been plugged into the computer for weeks and I thought it would be constantly charged right?? Wrong. I had to unplug everything and "re-charge" the battery. After that everything was ok.I don't know if this helps,but thought I would share anyway.

[Sltwtr1]

I also have Dell Inspiron and I recently switched out batteries. With the replacement battery, I have to push my battery "up" towards the keyboard (in other words push up from the bottom), when I try to turn the computer on and to have Windows complete the start up. Might try it....?

I am going to Macbook next time.....:(


Good luck!

Sltwtr1

OUT

[bmbsqd]

I'll try these things to see if I get a response.

But let me clarify....my computer basically says there is no battery installed. If I take the battery out and lay in on the table there is no response on my computer and there is no change in the power indicator whether it is in the computer or not. If unplugged there is no activity but that the computer turns off immediately, no switching to battery power. When plugged in there is no charging taking place. The power meter gives no reading or indication it is installed.

If I push Function (Fn) and F3, the Battery Meter box comes up, but there is nothing in the spaces for Total Battery Charge, Primary or Secondary.

The computer simply does not recognize the battery as being installed.

I got the computer Dec 06 brand new from Dell. Warranty is expired. I am a Dell guy, and love this computer and have NO issues with it. I would buy another. Pricey....but worth it. I just wish I had a battery!!

Thanks again.

[Sharky]

Try going to Dell's website, putting in your computers info and checking for driver updates. My old Dell Inspiron 600m was having some issues a while back. I called Dell and they walked me through the driver updates. That alone fixed most of the issues I was having. Call them up. Even if your warranty is expired it doesn't mean that you cant get tech help from customer service. Mine was 4 years old at the time. That's why the next computer I bought was also a Dell.

[dougage]

dood, get a battery....

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GENUINE-DELL-INSPIRON-6000-9200-E1705-BATTERY-U4873_W0QQitemZ220192507830QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6025 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[FrmrNGMP]

It's a squirrel conspiracy. They realize you're gathering intel that will lead to their demise. The little saboteurs have hatched a plan to save their tails from harvesting. The battle between good and evil has just entered a new front.

[dougage]

FrmrNGMP , you either took this to a whole nuther level or youre in the wrong topic.

[bmbsqd]

It's a squirrel conspiracy. They realize you're gathering intel that will lead to their demise. The little saboteurs have hatched a plan to save their tails from harvesting. The battle between good and evil has just entered a new front.

Dont worry Dougage....NGMP's comments are well understood....and that is some phunny shiut! :cool: I think the squirrel may know the true purpose of the wheelbarrow full of water out back, and has sabotaged my computer!

Just checked the Ebay link.....I think I will go ahead and buy another one. Good gouge...thanks

[dougage]

Now I get NGMP, just figured it out youre the same guy with the squirrels. That was fuunny....If you could catch one of them, perhaps a squirrel powered hamster wheel to power the laptop? Just thinkin out loud.

[Axe]

I have been buying Dell laptops and desktops for home and work for quite a few years now around 50-60 or so. At first, they were great. Worked well, no issues other than eventual obsolescence.

The past 6 desktops and laptops have been one train wreck after another. Mother board failures, hard drive failures, etc, ad nauseum. Covered by warranty? Yes. Still a PITA and time waster to rebuild info? Absolutely!!

I know a manufacturer is only as good as the parts they get from their suppliers and that is to some extent out of their control after QC spot checking incoming parts, BTDT-I am in the manufacturing biz now myself, but damn!! One or two problem children I could understand, but six? Different models and types? Back to back?!! :(

I am trying to figure out from whom to start buying from now on, I just haven't had time to do the research yet. Dell isn't going to be getting any more business anytime soon.

/rant off/

[Axe]

Double tap.

[Greenhat]

Sounds to me like the battery is kaput. Happens. Two years is about right for some. Replace it.

[Saw7616]

:(

I am trying to figure out from whom to start buying from now on, I just haven't had time to do the research yet. Dell isn't going to be getting any more business anytime soon.

/rant off/


Brother, I was in the same situation as you where... And Trust me when someone pointed me into this same direction I almost gagged..

Select a Value added reseller for your business needs. And here is why,

I chose Pcconnection and the IBM/Lenovo brands... ( I can get you my sales rep and he will probable cut you the same discounts I get as a referral)

Instead of waiting on Dell or Gateway or buying direct from HP or IBM. I get a machine in 1 or 2 days. The others can't beat that.

Once you build up the rep with the new VAR they are all too glad to pass the savings on to your personal purchases.

I use the IBM ThinkCentre lines and the T60 x61 models in laptops. I can still get XP Pro and they are here quickly.

I have been running IBM now for 5yrs the great thing is most of the parts are interchangeable. However the better part... I haven't had any PITA failures.

I've got about 10 servers, 60 client machines here...

I avoid HP like the plaque... There Laser printers and switches aren't bad but damn, the laptops and workstations.


HTH

Good Luck

[bmbsqd]

Just bought a new battery so hopefully that will solve the problem. I do not really use the battery that often, but this spring/summer I will in the field...in a vehicle...alot. I just got Verizon wireless for my laptop so that I could have I-net out in the field. Without a battery I'd basically be plugged in to the cigarette lighter all day. So now I have to get it fixed.

Also...I detect a bit of angst against Dell in general. Let me say this.....this past summer my daughter spilled Fanta Orange Zero on the keyboard and it died hard. It would half-way power up then shut of...then never would even turn back on. I called Dell and was advised I had only a few week remaining on the warranty. So, I mailed it to them and without blinking they replaced the Mother Board. I am certain they saw orange cola funk, as I did not take it apart to clean....just did a basic wipe down. My point is that Dell did this no questions asked! They even sent a box and paid for all postage.

COULD THIS BE RELATED TO MY CURRENT PROBLEM?

[Saw7616]

I never discount the destructo power of Cola and kids under 5 ;)

Dell's support is fantastic for consumer products... My wife has a E1505 and loves it. I run a Lattitude 300m at home... But here again that's home use... (we got these before my reseller clued me in he could get me good pricing on business models... DAMN)

As far as the Cola causing your current problems... Unless that did a crappy job replacing the Motherboard the power connector should have been on the motherboard. It was on earlier models. So I doubt it's associated.

The wife's Batttery on her E1505 lasted about 2 yrs but she runs that thing like a cell phone. She'll charge it up and let run it until it's dead... It was acting a lot like this but, it still saw the battery in BIOS... Which has me concerned that it's the port not the battery... But, what are the odds...


I bet $20 that it'll work and I'll toss in a frost beverage of your choice if I loose. :)


The Verizon cards are the Bees Knees in most markets... Here in the Charlotte Area we work them pretty hard. You'll enojy that...

Now get after the AL-Squierrla ... That's much more entertaining... I vote more cat captures. They are sympathizers anyway.

[bmbsqd]

Ok...but here is my issue with this....if it is the battery, which basically means it has lost it's ability to re-charge, then why does the computer not even see it as being installed? Even a 100% DEAD battery should show up on the Power Meter...right? Right now it does not show even "0%".....it says there is "No Battery Installed".

What indication are you given on your laptop when a battery no longer holds a charge?

But....I have bought a new battery off eBay and will give that a try. For the record I sat for 1 hr/12 mins last night on hold with Dell. Downside to Dell is that their CS is in India. So after 3 hours I will eventually get an Indie name William who will tell me to reboot my computer about 20 times!

[Saw7616]

Depends on the laptop really. I've seen some pop up message boxes stating replacement is needed.. I've seen others just give up. Like this one has...

I think you're on the right track.

[morelocks]

Ok...but here is my issue with this....if it is the battery, which basically means it has lost it's ability to re-charge, then why does the computer not even see it as being installed? Even a 100% DEAD battery should show up on the Power Meter...right? Right now it does not show even "0%".....it says there is "No Battery Installed".

What indication are you given on your laptop when a battery no longer holds a charge?

But....I have bought a new battery off eBay and will give that a try. For the record I sat for 1 hr/12 mins last night on hold with Dell. Downside to Dell is that their CS is in India. So after 3 hours I will eventually get an Indie name William who will tell me to reboot my computer about 20 times!

I've had 4 different Dell laptops through either work or personal purchase in the last 5 years. When there was a problem, it generally meant replacing that part or the entire laptop. Dell was usually good about taking care of it too.

Quick way to see if the battery can be "seen" by your laptop is to boot to the BIOS by hitting F2 to enter setup. One of the screens you can page to will show the power settings and detect if there is a battery installed.

[dougage]

I have a Dell, a dead battery, and if I look at the battery page in the bios, it does not show one being connected. You would think it would detect it, but it doesnt.

[bmbsqd]

Dougage...how do I do that...check the battery page in the bios. Thanks.

[morelocks]

http://support.dell.com/support/BatteryRecall/Latitude/Draining.aspx?c=us&l=en&lang=en&s=gen