AC Adapter cannot be determined.

I have this problem where I start up my xps laptop and I get a message saying that the AC adapter type cannot be determined and that this will prevent the computer from running at optimal performance. I have three options at this screen, the first is to enter the setup utility where it states the ac adapter as "unknown" I can choose to disable the message so that it won't pop up again, even though that solves nothing, and I can just ignore it for the time being and continue the start up sequence.

I've had this problem before and I ended up sending the computer in to dell. The guy told me it was one of three things: the battery, the Ac adapter itself or the motherboard. Well I sent it in and they sent it back not long after with a new AC adapter (as far as I could tell, I wasn't actually told what they did). The computer worked just like new for the better part of a year before the problem came back.

Now I'm not sure if this AC adapter has the same problem, or if the old problem simply wasn't fixed and has come back to haunt me. Either way I'm noticing the same dip in performance and its getting quite frustrating given how many issues I've had with this type of computer's ac adapter.

I would hope that this problem would be on file at Dell by now and that a simpler solution to sending the whole thing back can be provided.

Responses(5)

GodfreyOuwens

274 Posts

0

June 7th, 2006 22:00

hey.. what model xps do you have? Gen1, Gen2 etc etc? ...... but what it sounds like to me is that the power brick is either bad again, or the end that plugs into your laptop has a small wire that should be in the middle of the connector... if that breaks off or is bent, then your laptop may not be able to detect your power brick correctly.. look in the center of the connector that plugs into your laptop.. and see how it looks

..if you boot on battery power only, do you get the error?

..if you take the battery out and boot on the power brick, do you get the error?

..if you are able to boot on battery and not get an error, then it is most likely your power brick or cable....

check this stuff out and let us know... good luck!

Message Edited by GodfreyOuwens on 06-07-200606:19 PM

OniDrEvil

7 Posts

0

June 8th, 2006 20:00

As far as I know my xps is Gen1. It's an inspirion xps that I bought roughly 2 or 3 years ago. It's the older grey version with the snap on snazzy cover, not like the new shiny ones, which is why I think its Gen1. If you need the express service codes or whatever I'll dig them up.

I probably should have mentioned this in my initial post but there is a slight difference between the current issue and the one I had a while ago. Originally it happened all the time, which is why I was forced to call dell and send it in. Now, however, the problem is happening intermittenly. For example I could go for a few days without it giving me the message, then suddenly it comes back for another few days. Its been going through this cycle for about a month. I thought I could live with it but if the performance is dipping even without the message being displayed then I have to fix the problem.

Anyway, I say this because after I did the tests you suggested, I can't be sure if the results are sound. I checked the center wire in the end of the AC adapter and it's straight as an arrow. I booted up the computer with only the battery and did not get the message. I booted the computer up with only the ac adapter and I still didn't get the message. And finally I booted it up with them both again and still no message. Now I will try to conduct this test when the message comes back, but I came here in hopes that someone might be able to tell me just what was happening. Any idea why it would happen sporatically like this?

Thanks for your help.

OniDrEvil

7 Posts

0

June 9th, 2006 12:00

Okay, I got the error message again and tested your suggestions. When I first turned the computer on both the battery and ac adapter were plugged in, this gave me the message. I turned off the computer, unplugged the ac adapter and turned it back on using just the battery. The message did not come on when I did this. I turned it off again and removed the battery and plugged back in the ac adapter. When I did this the message returned.

So based on what you suggested it seems that the brick is the problem. Does this mean I can just order a new brick and my problem will be solved?

GodfreyOuwens

274 Posts

0

June 9th, 2006 18:00

Okay, I believe it to be your power brick... it still could just be the cable from the brick to your computer ( it could be loose on either end, shorting internally ect.. )

If this were happening to me, I would take an OHM Meter or multimeter and check the voltage on the power brick with the laptop wire out of it, then I would put the wire into it and check voltage on the laptop connector end..... then I would disconnect the wire from both the brick and the laptop and ring out the wire ( continuity test ) to see if the wire is still good

but be careful not to short out the contacts when checking for voltage...

I would also check and see how loose your connection is on the laptop when plugging the brick into it.. I've notice that alot of XPS's have a very loose fitting connection...

Good luck! ..and you may want to contact Dell Service with your Service tag and tell them it is happening again.. maybe they could look up your history and tell you what they did to fix the problem the first..... Keep us informed

M

malsulmar

1 Message

0

August 3rd, 2007 22:00

I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but the problem may or may not be the power brick. Troubleshooting the signal chain seems to be logical, but it really is invalid. This works because the message relates to the power adapter, not the batery. The computer recognizes the adapter via an identification chip, so if there is any problem with either software, adapter, motherboard, or just a specific problem on the motherboard with the adapter jack, then the identification shows up negative, and the signal chain is broken. Also, I'm guessing if the current/power dissapated is too low, then the message shows up. The point is, if you give the computer no power supply to identify, then it won't identify a problem with the power supply. I'm having the same problem with my Inspiron E1505, and the problem happened gradually, which seems to be the trend in the newer models. Read the thread titled "Ac adapter can't be recognized." The thread circles a couple times, with people re-vamping the idea, but Dell's refusal to respond is just as consistant as the problems.

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AC Adapter cannot be determined.