Member Avatar for Pete Keaney

Switched off my Dell laptop going to bed. The following morning absolutely dead. AC adapter is OK. When I plug the adapter into the socket green LED comes on but as soon as I plug it into the laptop it goes off.

I do not want to buy a new battery if it is not a battery problem.

Any suggestions ????

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by avhunt

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Building on 's post and the initial pointers from and , here is a concise diagnostic plan and what each result generally means. The behaviour described points toward the power-input path rather than the OS or disk. Common hardware culprits are a faulty DC jack or its solder joints, a blown input fuse or protection device on the motherboard, failed charging/regulator components (MOSFETs/diodes/capacitors), or less commonly the adapter itself. Smoke residue or pet hair can worsen corrosion or thermal issues but usually do not cause an instant hard short.

Practical, safe tests that add to earlier suggestions:

  • Verify the adapter output with a multimeter at the barrel plug (check the adapter label for the rated voltage; many Inspirons are ~19–19.5V). If the adapter reads the correct voltage unloaded but collapses to near zero when connected to the laptop, that indicates an overload/short on the laptop side.
  • Try a known-good, correctly rated Dell adapter if available (not a cheap generic). A replacement adapter that behaves the same narrows the fault to the laptop.
  • Inspect the DC jack and its surrounding area for looseness, melted plastic, burn marks, or lifted solder pads. Wiggle the plug gently (power off first) to see if the contact is intermittent.
  • If comfortable opening the chassis, look for a small SMD fuse or scorched components near the power inlet; these parts can sometimes be replaced at low cost. Static precautions and battery/disconnected mains are essential.

When measurements show the adapter is fine but voltage collapses under load, professional repair is usually required (jack replacement, fuse swap or component-level board repair). Repeatedly plugging a failing unit risks damaging another adapter or creating a safety hazard. For older, low-value laptops, salvaging the drive and RAM can be a practical option.

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Member Avatar for HoustonIT

remove the battery and ac power for a few minutes, then plug the ac power back in (leave the battery out) and boot it up. If it boots correctly, shut it down, insert the battery, and try to boot it again.

Member Avatar for Pete Keaney

When I leave the battery out and I just use the AC , nothing happens either.

I did not actually realise that the laptop would boot without the battery as I thought current went through the battery

Member Avatar for avhunt

Is the laptop used in an environmnet where there are smokers and/or furry pets?

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