One of the reasons why we love our laptops so much is because they are mobile. When the battery dies, our work stops.
A faulty battery or adapter is often to blame when a Dell laptop battery problem occurs. Testing the battery is not difficult. When the system is fully powered on, unplug the AC adaptor. Check to see how long it takes the laptop to die. You can also remove the battery and try to run it on the AC adaptor alone.
If you are having a problem with your laptop, always check to see if it is under warranty. If it is, you can likely get it fixed at a minimal cost to you. Opening the computer or working on it yourself may void the warranty.
Dell Laptop Battery Problem
Although a battery problem might be directly tied to the laptop battery, that is by no means the only possible problem. Consider the following list of issues that may be to blame and how they can be fixed.
Check the Power Supply – If this problem comes on suddenly, it may be an issue with the power supply at your home. Check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker and test the receptacle by plugging something else into it to see if it works.
Bypass any power strip or UPS device and plug the AC adaptor directly into the wall. You can also try using another receptacle in another part of the home.
Check the AC Adaptor – One of the first things to do when your laptop does not seem to be working properly is to inspect the AC adaptor. They tend to take a beating as we use them so checking them is important on occasion, especially when we experience problems.
Check for any visible damage to the adaptor. Look carefully at the power cable for any cracks or exposed wires, especially at the ends where they tend to experience more wear and tear. If there is any damage, replace the adaptor. Do not try to fix it.
Look in the plug that connects to the laptop. If the pin inside is bent, try to straighten it. Doing so may be a temporary fix but, more than likely, you will have to replace it as it may be weak.
Check the LED Indicator Lights – Is the LED indicator lit on the AC adaptor? If so, it is getting power from the receptacle. Is the battery LED light lit on the laptop? This may indicate it is charging. We have more information about LED battery lights and their meaning below.
Try Checking in BIOS – Reboot your laptop and enter BIOS mode by restarting the computer and tapping the F2 key when you see the Dell Logo. Check the settings in BIOS to make sure it is recognizing the adaptor.
While you are in the BIOS, check to see if any updates are available or recommended. Updating the BIOS may help.
Try a Full Shutdown – There is more to a full shutdown than just turning the computer off and on again. A full shutdown will also drain any residual power in the laptop. Here is how to do it:
- Fully shut down the laptop
- Disconnect all cables, including the power cable
- Remove the battery
- Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds
- Reinstall the battery
- Plug in the laptop and restart it
Although it may seem somewhat cliche, shutting down the laptop and restarting it really does help with many common computer problems. This includes some problems with the AC adaptor working.
Check the Wattage – At times, you may be getting an error message that lets you know there is a problem with the AC adaptor. The charger that came with your laptop is specific to that model. They are not always interchangeable.
Some of the common wattages used by Dell include 45, 65, 90, 130, 180, and 240. Trying to use the wrong wattage adaptor with the laptop may result in unexpected problems. These problems may include the following:
- Slow CPU Speed
- Hot AC Adaptor
- Slow or No Charging
- Error Message Stating that the AC Adaptor is Not Recognized.
Problem with the Battery – Although Dell uses high-quality batteries in their laptops, they are one of the weakest links in the machine. They tend to slow down as they age and will eventually fail.
You can test the battery by trying to run the laptop with the battery removed and the laptop plugged into the AC adaptor. If it continues to run on the AC adaptor, the problem is likely with the battery.
You can then unplug the AC adaptor after letting the battery charge for an extended amount of time to see if it dies quickly or immediately. If so, this is further proof that the battery is defective.
Dell Laptop Battery Not Charging
If the battery is not charging in your laptop, you are limited to how you use it. You may still be able to use the laptop but you will have to do so while connected to the power in your home.
Generally speaking, a problem with a Dell laptop battery not charging is tied to an old battery. As they age, the length of time a laptop battery will stay charged will diminish. It is also possible for a laptop battery to suddenly fail so that it will not charge at all. Another possible issue is that the AC adaptor has failed.
There are ways to test both the battery and the AC adaptor so you know what is wrong to a large extent. Try the following.
First of all, are you able to operate the laptop while plugged in but the battery dies quickly when you unplug it? That is a clear indicator that the battery is failing or has reached the end of its usable life.
You may have access to another AC adapter, either to the same model Dell laptop or to a separate model. If the plug fits into your laptop, you may be able to use it as a general test.
Be aware that there are different wattages of AC adapters and not all of them are going to work equally as well. In some cases, an adapter that worked on one Dell laptop is going to fail in another. It will either charge slowly or may cause the CPU to run slowly.
If your Dell laptop recognizes a different AC adapter, it may be suitable for this test. We are not trying to run the computer off of the adapter but rather, just to charge the laptop enough that we can test the battery.
For the purpose of this test, it is not necessary to run the laptop while the AC adapter is plugged in. It is better if you leave the computer shut down for an extended amount of time and plugged in so the battery charges as fully as possible.
If you are using an AC adapter with the wrong wattage, it may heat up slightly. It is always a good idea to check carefully and ensure that you are not overheating the AC adapter in causing a fire hazard.
There is a battery driver that may need to be reinstalled or updated. It is not very common that this happens, but it’s a good idea to test this possibility and do any adjustments if necessary.
Your BIOS may also need to be updated. You can check for any necessary updates and if needed, flash update the BIOS.
If you log into BIOS, you can look at information about the battery and the AC adapter. This may also give you an indication if the battery is failing or if it is a problem with the adapter not charging the battery.
Dell Laptop Battery Discharges Quickly
It is not uncommon for a laptop battery to discharge quickly when you unplug from the AC adapter. That being said, it is also something that needs checked.
The most common reason why a laptop battery will discharge quickly when you unplug it from an AC adapter is that the battery is failing. An aging battery will not charge as easily and it will not retain a charge for as long. It may also be a problem with the agency adapter not operating properly and not fully charging the battery.
One thing that you can do is to enter BIOS in the laptop during the startup process. Press the F2 key when you see the Dell logo on the screen at the beginning of the booting process. This should allow you to enter BIOS.
Inside of BIOS, you will see an indicator of the battery health. You may need to go through some of the settings to find this particular information. Checking the battery health will let you see if the battery needs to be replaced or if it is another issue.
Dell does offer a limited warranty and you may have purchased an extended warranty that would cover the battery. If the laptop is less than a year old for you have an extended warranty, see if the battery is covered. It is an easy thing to replace once you have the new battery in hand.
Dell Laptop Battery Flashing
At times, a battery LED flashing symbol was not going to be a problem and is just a part of the normal operation of your laptop. On the other hand, it could be an issue.
If your Dell laptop is flashing green, it means that the laptop is charging properly and the battery has almost charge fully. If the light is solid green, it means that the battery is currently in the process of charging. If it charges for an extended amount of time and never reaches full charge, there may be a problem.
Typically, there will be an LED flash sequence and you can use this to identify what is wrong or what is going as it should. There are also different colors that may indicate different problems with the laptop as well.
Along with the flashing of the LED under the battery symbol, there may also be other indicators that there is a problem with your Dell laptop. For example, they have a system built into the laptop so that it will give an audible beep if there is a problem.
Some of the issues that may be associated with an audible beep or with a flashing light include a problem with the memory, such as no memory being detected at a problem with the motherboard.
Dell Laptop Battery Flashing Orange
A battery indicator flashing oranges is not always a bad thing. It is just there to alert us to the need to take action.
Typically, a flashing orange LED indicator on the side of your Dell Computer means that the battery is running low on power. It flashes to alert you to this issue. After the LED light turns to solid orange, it means that the charge in the battery is at a critically low level.
Dell Laptop Battery Flashing White
If the Dell laptop battery light is flashing white, it may have different reasons for doing so, depending upon how it is flashing and what other lights are flashing.
If an amber light blinks with a steady white light, it means the battery has failed but the AC adapter is still present. You should turn off the computer, remove the AC adapter, take out the battery and put it back in or try another battery if you have one available. Restart the laptop.
If the battery light is blinking from Amber to white, it means that the AC adapter is not supported with the laptop. If white light is on solid, it means the battery is in charge mode and the AC adapter is plugged in.
Dell Laptop Battery Flashing Red
Typically, you will not see a red flashing light on a Dell LED battery indicator. If you do, it means some action is necessary on your part.
Generally speaking, a laptop will flash either orange or red when the charge has dropped to the point where it needs more attention than simply being plugged into an AC adapter. If you are plugged in and see a red flashing LED on your Dell laptop, try turning the computer off and allowing the charge to happen while less CPU drain is taking place.
If the battery is not charging and the LED indicator is blinking four times red, it may mean that the motherboard has gone bad. You should take the laptop in for service.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on October 29, 2021.
Dell Laptop Battery Flashing Green
When your battery indicator on your Dell laptop is flashing green, it usually means that everything is working as it should.
As your battery charges, you will see a solid green LED indicator light on the side of your Dell laptop. That is the battery indicator light. When the green light is almost flashing, it indicates that the battery is charging and has almost reached a full charge. It will change from flashing green to solid green once your charge is at 100%.
Dell Laptop Battery Swelling
A problem with the Dell laptop swelling is not very common but it does happen on occasion. It’s an issue that requires action on your part.
In most cases, a swollen battery in a Dell laptop is not an issue that needs to be corrected immediately. It is not something that causes a safety problem, but it does require some action on your part. Once you detect a problem with the battery swelling, it is important to replace it as soon as you can. Otherwise, it could cause some damage to the laptop.
We often rely on external factors to identify a problem with a swollen battery in our Dell laptops. Otherwise, we would have to open the compartment and visually inspect the laptop battery directly on a periodic basis.
The following are some indicators that the battery is swelling:
If you put the laptop on an even surface and all of the feet are in place, it should sit level without any problem. If the system is rocking on such a surface, however, it may indicate that the battery has swollen.
Inspecting the areas where the laptop case comes together can indicate if there is a problem with the battery. You may see that the seams are uneven or that the enclosure is splitting in those areas.
At times, the battery may swell and cause the keyboard to lift out of place. It might also cause the touchpad to lift, and that is usually where we discover the problem first.
If the swollen battery is not replaced, it could potentially damage the interior of the laptop. If the battery does leak due to swelling, the laptop should be repaired to replace or clean any internal components that have become contaminated before the system is used again.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 29, 2021.
The lithium-ion batteries that are used in Dell laptops are fantastic, but they do swell as they age at times. This can also be associated with exposure to excessive heat or charging through many cycles.
When the battery swells, the performance of the laptop may suffer. Discontinuing using the laptop and replacing the battery is important to make sure that no further problems occur.
Dell Laptop Battery Test
It’s a good idea to test the battery in your Dell laptop on occasion, even if things seem to be working properly.
You can test the battery by entering into the battery health status in BIOS. Enter BIOS by pressing F2 on startup when you see the Dell symbol. After you are in BIOS, you can navigate to the battery health status.
You also have the availability of the Dell Power Manager, and Windows diagnostics that will allow you to test the strength and working status of the battery.
If you have a Dell laptop battery problem, it is often associated with an aging battery that is reaching the end of its lifecycle. Replacing the battery is one of the only ways to fix this problem, aside from always operating the laptop while it is plugged in. If it is not charging or working, even with the AC adapter plugged in, it could be an issue with the AC adapter as well.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 29, 2021.