Dell Latitude Power Issue

[Brandon Quam]

I am the owner of a Dell Latitude C640 notebook running Windows XP Pro. I run it through a docking station a lot of the time and I take it out when I want to do some computing on battery power in the more comfortable areas of my house....not sure if this has any relevance to the problem at hand, but I figured I'd add it in because I wouldn't rule it out completely and the problem began around the time I was switching the computer out from docking mode and I didn't eject it "properly".

Ok, so here's my problem: My computer no longer accepts current from my AC adapter/power supply. Not only will it not run off it, but it won't charge the battery either. When I plug the adapter into a wall socket, the little LED light comes on and when I press my ear against it I can hear activity going on inside it, however, the moment I plug the other end into my notebook, the LED light instantly fades out and won't come back on until I unplug the adapter and replug it back in. I purchased a (very expensive) Targe universal AC adapter hoping it was an adapter issue, but alas it gives me the same result verbatim. So I don't think it's the AC adapter.

I don't think it's the battery either. The computer will still run on battery power fine, as I'm running on it right now. I've borrowed a friend of mine's old dinosaur of a latitude and have been charging the battery using that and putting it back in my C640 when it's done charging, repeating when necessary (basically I'm running on back to back charges of battery power). When I check the battery indicator on the battery itself, it still identifies the total amount of charge correctly, and it doesn't blink.....which is a sign that it's probably running ok. So I don't think it's the battery....especially since it still won't run on AC power, even when I take the battery out.

I don't think it's the wiring in my power jack on the back of my notebook, because the computer still won't switch back from battery power even when I dock it and run the power cable through the docking station.

I tried updating the BIOS, but upon installation/flashing, it told me I was already running BIOS version A10 (the most recent one), and I have already done an ALT-F Factory reset on it, hoping it would rectify the problem. I don't think it's a virus either because it won't charge or pull in charge, even when the power is off.

I'm honestly stumped :confused: ....any of you guys have any ideas on what could be causing this problem?

[Erik]

Sounds like the issue is with the charging circuitry in the laptop itself. You have eliminated just about all other possibilities by using a different battery, different charger, and different laptop same battery/charger. The charging circuit works the same in docked or undocked mode soo...

Most likely this means a motherboard replacement if the charging circuit is indeed bad. Is this still covered by warranty? If not it might be time to decide if it is worth fixing or buy a new laptop.

[Brandon Quam]

No I don't think it is still covered....I bought it from a friend who's had it for awhile now....and even if it were covered, he didn't exactly take the best care of it. It would probably be dismissed due to neglect by any inspection team that may decide to look at the computer....the problem becomes more understandable when you look at it from that perspective.

I'll probably have to buy a new notebook....which isn't so bad.....I only paid $250 for the notebook, docking station and new 40 gig HD. I like to think of it as less of "replacing a computer" and more of an "excuse to upgrade" ;) .

Thank you all for your time....

--B.Quam