Dell AC Adaptor not recognized../sigh

The adapters cost nowhere near $100 - they're usually in the $30-50 range.  And yes, they're proprietary, as they are on your cell phone, Sony, HP, Apple, etc. notebook, your GPS, electric shaver, or just about any other electronic device.

It was not wise to use a known-faulty adapter - you may have damaged the mainboard.  Try a new Dell adapter - if it doesn't work, you're in for a major repair expense.

As for paying for post-warranty support - go buy yourself an $80,000 Mercedes.  Once the warranty ends, if you have a problem, you'll pay a hefty diagnostic fee to the dealer just to find out what's wrong.  Same thing for a $15,000 Hyundai.

They are $84 off the Dell website. So yes.. they are near $100.  And as for my cell phone, shaver and probably every other computer, tv, stereo etc... I can go and get cables and such from ebay, future shop or maybe even walmart and as long as the connections fit they will not tell me "HAHA! no way !"

 My Dell is definitely not a luxury car but Im pretty sure if I had a problem with my Mercedes (i wish) I could find someone to talk to about it with out having to pay

If you drop the negative attitude, you'll get further.

"...as long as the connections fit they will not tell me "HAHA! no way !"

That is not true for many items... Motorola Razrs come to mind, as do several other items. The mini USB connector may be standard to connect, but many have learned (perhaps you've been lucky) that they are not all the same.

Since you mention eBay, have you looked for a replacement power supply there? I just did a quick search, and there are several Dell power adapters available for under $20....

At least some of your anger should be directed at the place that sold you something that does not meet your needs. Obviously the word 'universal' was misused.

"...My Dell is definitely not a luxury car but Im pretty sure if I had a problem with my Mercedes (i wish) I could find someone to talk to about it with out having to pay."

Same with Dell... I don't believe you have been charged for talking with people on these forums...  (if you have... well, bummer for you)

EDIT: By the way... What is there to talk to about? You need a new AC Adapter. Seems pretty clear cut to me....

You won't have a public forum to use for venting when your next system fails - and they all do, eventually.  Most other vendors do not provide such a forum.

Remember:  70% of all notebooks worldwide are built by just two companies (Quanta and Compal, both of Taiwan).  The other 30% come from just a small handful of companies more (ASUS/Pegatron, Wistron, Clevo, Inventec, Samsung and a couple of others).  The name on the outside may say "Sony" or "Apple" next time, but the hardware on the inside will be the same as on your Dell.

I guess I have been lucky. I havent had this problem with anything so far. This is a first for me and I find it extremely frustrating. I did look up ebay models and if you look at the pictures they all say replacement and were not made BY Dell.(I found one in the uk that looks dell) I have read that many people buy them and have the same problem. Im not spending more money on something I cant use

haha....and ya its clear cut now because I have come here saying this is what I need and hoping to find a way around it. To start off with it would have been nice to be able to call Dell and say " I am getting this prompt but my adapter is the same specs as the old one whats up?" Instead of spending time googling and searching for tech forums and posts from other frustrated people with same exact  problem. The thing that makes me upset is that there are these other adapters out there that are the EXACT same thing and they wont work. Why? because Dell has made sure that you HAVE to buy replacements from them. So you have no choice! And just because other companys use the same practice but it doesnt mean its right.

Thank goodness I didnt have to pay to use this site.. its been the most unhelpful out of all I have visited because everyone is being defensive. Obviously you all love your Dells but Im sorry Dell doesnt have the best customer service..wait.. they dont have any customer service for me ..(unless there are people on this forum paid to help and they just havent gotten to me yet). If thats the way it is then so be it. I wont buy from Dell anymore..

/quit

Did you get fix? or this guys scare you away.:emotion-2:

Regarding eBay... If you find one that says it charges and powers your specific computer and it did not work, I'd guess that would be grounds for returning it.

Which brings up two questions...

1.) Does the alleged universal one you bought claim  it will work on your machine? If so, have you tried to contact the manufacturer to find out why it does not? It could be as simple as bad luck of getting a faulty adapter off the shelf.

2.) Why not return the universal and order what you need? I can't imagine the universal was THAT much cheaper.... For me, a product that works beats a lower price any day of the week.

(Note: Dell does sell refurbished adapters from time to time for much less than new... If you look up your adapter, maybe you can find a refurb one.)

EDIT: What laptop do you have? I was just searching the Dell sales site and did not see any adapters for $84. Then I saw your name, and thought you may be Canadian, so I checked the Dell Canada site, and still did not see a Dell AC adapter for $84. It did, however, get me to thinking about the price. The $84 (if your are Canadian) would equate to about $70 USD. Hardly an unfair price... But, if you say what computer you have, someone may be able to help find a better deal.

Third party sellers have Dell adapters for around $30. Here's an example from Amazon:

Dell Power

My daughter bought one last year for about $30, and it worked fine.

You need an official Dell, as the supply sends an additional signal to tell the laptop which adapter is being used.

I know how you feel.  With my Inspiron 5150 I went through 4 adaptors - 3 of them on warranty, one I paid for myself, as the laptop was off-lease and off-warranty and was now a personal computer  (incidentally it died less than 6 months after it was off warranty).  Now I have a Vostro 1500, I've had it for a little over 1 year and guess what - the adaptor went "zap, zap" and died!  I use my laptop for instruction, we are a small business and our laptops are crucial to our work and to have it go without warning like this - I thought it was just the Inspiron - an anomaly, but now I see that it seems to be an endemic problem with Dell's laptops.  This has made me rethink ever buying a Dell laptop again.  I have communicated my complaint to Dell the last 3 times I've had to replace adaptors, and each time the techie on the other side responds that this is the first he's hears of it.

Dell has to fix this if it ever hopes to sell me or my company one of their computers again.

We have six Dell laptops in our household, and NONE has had any adapter or battery problem....

We have six Dell laptops in our household, and NONE has had any adapter or battery problem....

I'm glad to hear Dell has come through for you.  Our family has gone through many Dell computers too, and never had any problems in the past, which is why I kept buying from them.

But my experience with the latest laptop is pretty discouraging.  I bought an Inspiron 640M in April 2007 and had the adapter for it (PA-12) die 11 months later.  The Dell laptop I owned before that had four years of use without a single problem, so I was surprised that it went out so quickly.  I figured it was a freak occurrence.

Dell sent a replacement adapter under warranty, and now that one has gone out 10 months later.  Seems like a pattern.  After looking at product reviews and reading different comments online, I've come to the conclusion that mine is a problematic adapter. 

It saddens me that Dell's products seem to be going downhill.  I never hesitated to buy from them in the past, and in fact chose only Dell.  But I don't look forward to buying a $65 adapter every 10-11 months, and since Dell doesn't seem to acknowledge there's a problem, I don't think I'll be buying Dell products in the future.

F.Y.I.  It would not matter whether you buy a no name adapter or a Genuine Dell adapter, from now on you will continue to have this problem and it doesn't matter what adapter you buy, they will not work. 

 I know as I have 2 Dell E1705 Notebooks, the first one I bought had the Dell adapter die about 3 months after purchase in the same manner as yours, Dell replaced it twice  then they replaced the motherboard and adapter, the adapter went out again after 2 months.  Unfortunately I used the good adapter from my other E1705 in the other notebook (who would think that this would start this problem in this notebook but it did).  Again I had the adapter replaced several times and then the motherboard and adaper.  Each time the adapter starts to go out it starts with the  Dell AC Adapter not recognized . . . even though I am using a "Genuine Dell Adapter".  I also tried a ebay adapter (of course that did not work).  Both systems are out of warranty now and even though Dell was never able to fix the problem under the original warranty, they want me to come up with another 169.00 each to extend the warranty, and oh, by the way, the new warranty will not cover the adapter.    What does that tell you.  Dell is fully aware of the problem, but would rather lose its loyal customers then spend the money to really repair the problem.  Oh by they way, from what I have learned, this problem could have been solved with a bios upgrade patch, but Dell makes too much money selling their "Genuine Dell Parts" to allow that to happen.    I spent 79.99 each to replace the Dell Power adapters after the warranty expired, but I am done with it and I am saving my money to buy anything but Dell.  After researching this problem, I have found hundreds of people with the same exact problem, all getting the same exact answer from Dell, "SORRY" 

So you have a right to be MAD don't let anyone else tell you otherwise and spread the word  "DO NOT BUY DELL".  Also there are several notebook forums that I have found where class action suits are being started because of this "problem".   

I am really unhappy about this problem, because I have been buying Dell for many years, for work and home and there are a lot of things I like about Dell but none of them can make up for the way Dell is now treating their customers. 

Yes I have a bad attitude, but anyone that has been through what I have with these computers would have.  Oh, and about this forum, no one on this forum has tried to help with the problem

If you decide you want to fix the problem, you'll either need to try having the power jack replaced, or have the mainboard replaced.  There was no need to try multiple adapters - once a second one failed to work, the problem was clearly not the adapter.

I have this very same problem on my Inspiron 8500:  AC adapter is not recognized, your system will not run a full speed.

Hundreds if not thousands of people are having this same problem with their DELL laptops.     A new adapter will not usually help.   Most likely your

motherboard is fried.     There is a center pin on your adapter that plugs into your computer.   This is a sense pin telling what adapter you have.   If the mb cannot

recognize this sense pin it will think you are not using the correct AC adapter.   If your computer is under warranty you should get a new motherboard.