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AC Power Adapter Issue
Hello,
I have a Dell Inspiron N5110 laptop
I have been receiving the following error message upon boot up:
AC power adapter wattage & type cannot be determined.
The battery may not charge.
The system will adjust the performance to match the power available.
Please connect a Dell 65W AC adapter or greater for the best system performance.
Strike F3 if you do not wish to see power warning.
Strike F1 to continue.
I have not changed anything and I am using the power adapter that came with the laptop.
I tried unplugging and plugging back in and it is not charging...says 92% available (plugged in, not charging)
Thank you in advance for reading and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Carol
robert p
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July 21st, 2015 08:00
Hi Carol,
Thanks for posting.
This message can indicate several factors. The power supply may not be working properly, the battery may be discharged beyond the recharge point, or there may be a motherboard issue.
If you are still under warranty, please contact tech support for additional troubleshooting over the phone and possible repair or replacement. If you are no longer under warranty, you could choose to take it to a local repair shop or fix it yourself.
Batteries are warrantied for only 1 year, so if the battery is not holding a charge, a new battery would have to be purchased.
Post back if you need additional assistance.
Regards,
Robert
ckopyta
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July 21st, 2015 10:00
Hi Robert,
Thank you for responding!
So, where would you suggest I start? Replace the battery or replace the AC adapter.
Just a little FYI -I have had the laptop approximately 5 years - I never take the laptop off of the power supply to use it on battery and I believe I have replaced the battery at least once before (maybe 2+ years ago) but I got an error message saying something obvious like the battery needs to be replaced.
Carol
ejn63
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July 21st, 2015 11:00
If the AC adapter isn't recognized, it's the first thing to replace. Use an OEM Dell adapter - NOT a third party unit.
If that doesn't get the adapter recognized, the DC power jack board is the next thing to replace:
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If that doesn't get it recognized, the mainboard would need to be replaced. Whether you want to spend that much on a low-end system this age is up to you. The boards run in the $200-300 range depending on video type; if you have to pay for the labor to swap the board, you could see a final bill in the $300-400 range -- half the cost of a decent new notebook system.
The battery is a separate issue - it may or may not need to be replaced as well. If it does, and you use the system as a desktop, it may be a moot point.