Battery not recognized could be both a  "motherboard charging circuit problem" or a battery problem.  Known good replacement is the ONLY way to know.

Hi tmmoehlmann,

We can perform few troubleshooting steps to isolate the issue.

1. Remove static power (if any) from the computer.
2. To remove the static power, disconnect the AC adapter and battery from the computer, then press the power button for 10-15 seconds.
3. Connect the battery and AC adapter, power on the computer and check if it gives you the same error message.
4. Also check in system set-up if the AC adapter is detected.
5. Switch on the computer and tap F2 key repeatedly at Dell logo to enter the system set-up.
6. Please check the AC adapter type in system set-up.

Hi, thanks for your response.   II tried your six steps above and the final result is the same.  With the error in front of me now, the exact message is "Warning:  The battery cannot be identified.  This system will be uanble to charge this battery.  Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the........etc.  

So then I hit F1, it boots up, I checkk the battery icon and the bubble says "1% available (plugged in , not charging)

No change what-so-ever.  

Hi tmmoehlmann,

Disconnect the battery from the computer and power on the computer only with AC adapter. Check if it provides any error message.

Try to connect a known good battery (if available) and check if it gives the same error message

If issue persists, then it might be the Motherboard which is causing the issue and needs a replacement.

Does the computer have an active warranty? You can check the warranty status here. In case of expired warranty scenario, we would not be able to extend warranty entitled services. If the warranty on the computer has expired, you may contact our Expired Warranty Services (this is for US based customers).

If the computer is in warranty, I request you to private message the system service tag number. To private message, accept my friend request; click on my user name and click start conversation.

Hi tmmoehlmann,

Hello, disconnecting the battery and then turning on produced no error message (no boot override like I normally get - F1).

I have tried two 'good' batteries, and both get the same boot up error when connected that I must override (ie battery is not recognized) and the same lower tray message 'plugged in, but not charging."

The laptop does not have a warranty.

I also tried the 'static power' removal test where took the battery off and disconnected the AC, then held down the power button for 10 seconds...also no change.

I'm still hoping it's not the motherboard as the laptop overall works OK, but only when wired.   The intent of the laptop was to take it with me to work assignments where I could work off of battery power at any conference table.   Any more suggestions?  Is there a charging circuit I can replace vs the entire motherboard?  Or, any other simple and inexpensive fix?

Thank you for your help.

Hi tmmoehlmann,

The problem seems to be with the motherboard connector as the battery is not getting detected.

You can contact our Expired Warranty Services (this is for US based customers) for the information on the replacement Motherboard.

Hi tmmoehlmann,

Okay, it's not the same model of Studio but I have a similar problem.

I have a Dell Studio 1749, it's about three years old now. Back in mid-december the charger I'd had for a year suddenly stopped working and my laptop ran out of battery and I had to buy a new charger. (The laptop had been giving me warnings that it couldn't recognize the charger, and it would run but not charge).

It took longer than expected to get a new charger since I left town but while I was visiting family, I borrowed my uncle's universal charger, snapped on the right tip and charged my laptop and was able to use it for the whole time I was there. Then I came back home to find my two chargers I had ordered had arrived (I got one of the old model I had previously, and one of the dell official 90w chargers). They both worked swimmingly for the past 8 days, until tonight. I accidentally fell asleep with my laptop running on battery. Obviously it died and when I went to plug it in... nothing.

The light next to the dc port wont turn on when I plug a charger in. I've tried both chargers and neither work. My roommate has a universal adapter which I will try tomorrow. I've done the standard reset where you take out the battery and unplug the brick and hold down the power button for a minute. It didn't help at all. I can't turn my laptop on because the battery is totally out of juice, so I can't go do some BIOS bullshit or whatever the forums tell me to do.

What's of note is that the batter I have is a 9 cell replacement battery I ordered off Amazon in mid november, so in about a month and a half of having it, there has been an inability to charge twice.

So here's what I need help with: Is it the battery? Should I buy a new one and see if that makes a difference, perhaps returning to the 6 cell that the laptop originally used?

Is it the DC port? Is that something I can replace? And if so, is it simple?

Or do I need a new computer, which I hope isn't the case because I don't have much money right now. Which is why I'd also prefer to not bring the computer to a shop. Am I going to need to have it looked at by some experts behind a counter?

Thanks, I'd really appreciate any help I can get. I hope I've given enough info here to make the solution easy to deduce.

I also have a recharing issue.  I have ordered two replacement batteries and neither will re-charge.  The battery ICON on my Dell Studio 1737 never shows charging.  I replaced my power adapter over a year ago and have had no issues until the original battery would no longer re-charge, I ordered a replacement extended life battery through Amazon, it would not recharge and drained.  I ordered a replacement and noticed it was not charging beyond the capacity it came with and would also no re-charge.

What do I need to replace?  Hopefully not the motherboard.

I had exactly the same problem with a Dell Studio 1535.  All that I needed to do to resolve the problem was to update to the latest version of the BIOS.  Do you have the latest version of the Studio 1735 BIOS - A05 ?

Check the BIOS setup  -- F2 at powerup.  If the AC adapter is listed as unknown, the battery will not charge.   In that case try a new Dell OEM adapter -- if that doesn't solve the problem, replace the power jack.

If it's a third-party battery and the AC adapter IS recognized, note that third-party batteries can be problematic.

Just check what version of the BIOS your machine is running !!!  As I said in my previous post - all I had to do to get the Dell Studio to recognise the battery was to update to the latest version of the BIOS. In my case the laptop was running version A02 of the BIOS and would not recognise the new battery. As soon as I upgraded to the latest version - A06 - it recognised it immediately and began to charge it. Don't let Dell con you into buying one of their expensive batteries or AC adapters. I've had loads of 3rd party laptops in the past and none of them have ever given me any problems.

Stalag, there are a number of reasons that a Battery will not charge, BIOS is only one of them.  Just becaue it worked once doesn't means that it will always work.  In general, here is what I would do:

- Update the BIOS, or if you are already on the most reset, restore BIOS defaults.  If you have an out of date BIOS or corrupt BIOS, this will fix that.

- Try a known good A/C adapter.  If that works, get a new A/C adapter.  If it is your A/C adapter and your machine is under warranty - get it replaced.

- Try a known good battery.  If that works and the battery is under warranty ==> replace it.  I always instruct the guys to work for me to do this BEFORE SELLING A BATTERY if possible.

- If non of the above work -- it is the charging circuit.  That is on the motherboard.  In this instance -- I also replace the DC in as well.

Thanks, had exactly the symptoms described, updated the computer and the battery was recognized and started charging immediately.  Good forum advise is always appreciated. Thanks, again!