alienware m17x r3 plugged in, not charging

Hi detour21,

It is unfortunate that the computer is not being charged. There is a possibility that the battery or motherboard might have failed.

Request you to try using a known good battery (if available) and check if it works. If the issue gets fixed then replace the battery. If the issue still persists then the motherboard may have to be replaced.  Also you may check if the AC Adaptor is getting detected in BIOS (F2 at startup).

You may use the below link and check the warranty status:

http://dell.to/12Bz4Il  

If the computer is out of warranty you may contact the out of warranty repairs team on 18002884410 (U.S only). They will check and provide you the options.

If the computer is in warranty do send me the system service tag via private message. I will check and see what can be done.

To send a private message, click on my user name and select start conversation.

Hi Detour21,

Great troubleshooting done there!

If you have an active warranty and you live in the US or Canada, send me a private message to help you out.

thanks dude - but computer is out of warranty in May.  checked the BIOS - it seems to know the battery/charger are there.  drained battery to 0, it has begun to charge, 3% up to 8%, but I have to head to work now.  will check when I get home to see if it kept going or not, but right now it seems to have stopped at 8%.  may just get a new battery and try that, but if it doesn't hold a charge with a new battery, i'm all out of options I know how to do.  thanks for touching base!

Hi detour21,

Thank you for performing the above steps. As I mentioned in my previous response either battery or motherboard is failed. Request you to try using a known good battery (if available). If this doesn’t work then you will have to contact the out of warranty team to get motherboard replaced.

still baffling that the old battery passed the alien autopsy test, though...

Well normally batteries tend to endure a couple of years, it depends if you leave the computer with the charger plugged in even if you're not using it. Hope you have no further problems!

I am only jumping in on this conversation because for three years now I have dealt on and off, more often than not, of seeing 'plugged in but not charging' on my M17X. It's a major pain! When it first happened, a month after receiving the computer, tech support sent a rep with a new battery and charger. Was good to go for a couple months then it all started again. Bios was updated, motherboard was worked on, internal plug opening is not broken or dislodged and this always continue to happen. The FN/F2 option doesn't always work either and when I say doesn't work I mean it doesn't even open or show up on the screen to toggle between the three choices.

There are times I would like to unplug the laptop and move somewhere around the house with it but I find every time it's unplugged even, whether I am charging it or just using AC power? BOOM, there comes the 'plugged in not charging issue' again. It's extremely aggravating when this issue comes up and I haven't unplugged it, nor moved it nor had a lack of power running into the computer. I just happen to notice the battery status at the bottom of the screen, for no reason. Last night was the last straw and why I am posting my complaint. I have or had the battery disabled, using only AC power and during a game it tells me, out of the blue, 'plugged in, not charging' and the toggle switch, again, would not open. I restarted and the toggles came back BUT it is still telling me not not charging. Tech support gives me the same answers over and over again. 

I've seen so many answers of removing the battery and putting it back in and such...REALLY is this a bonafide answer to a laptop that costs as much as it does? It's not like this is a featherlight lappy to be just turned over and remove said battery either.  It's a pain, especially when using the laptop for gaming or school classes. WHY can't this issue be fixed? Something clearly is wrong since there are so many complaints over this.

Any replies would be appreciated.

Hi Mystwolfe,

Checkout this article for the troubleshooting done for this issue. Also, this article might help you know what parts normally we replace on laptops. If you want, add me as a friend and send me your service tag through a private message.