I am having this same problem (among many others) with my I5150.
This machine's build quality really dissapoints me, as I have been a very loyal Dell customer and have done $250,000+ of business with them. I do not think I will be purchasing Dell hardware for personal use in the future.
Your comments about the "thick accent" are also another very large problem driving my business elsewhere.
While a notebook computer is plugged in, it is not really a mobile computer. Moving the system while plugged into AC power, or with other cables plugged in can damage the ports. Even shifting the system on a table should be done carefully to avoid damage. Cables should unplugged before picking the system up off the table to move it.
If the port is damaged then the motherboard will have to be replaced. If you have another system available, you may want to trade AC adapters to test if the problem is with the port on the system, or the plug on the AC adapter. In either case, you will need to contact Technical Support to have service arranged.
Thank you for the input. However, the power cord attachment problem occurs while the computer is being used at a desk. the computer is not being moved around.
To complicate the matter now, the computer will not even turn on. I have made 3 calls to the service desk. I was promised that a pre-addressed box from Airborne would arrive yesterday. It did not. I called again today as the box did not arrive today either. I called Airborne and they had no record that they were supposed to bring a box for me to return the computer. As a result I am sitting here Friday night with a computer I cannot even turn on, a conference in another country next week and I can't get any data out of this thing to present at the conference, and now am told it will not be fixed or returned for possibly 2 more weeks. More frustrating than I I need or desire from a company this large.
I have been a loyal Dell user, but the company has changed dramatically over the past, the customer service is horrendous and I won't be purchasing again. Neither will my company as I have previously purchased some $300,000 in the past few years.
I have the same problem. In fact, it is the second time I have had this problem. Approximately four months ago, one month after my warranty ran out, my "brand new" second motherboard "failed to operate." Never again will I purchase a Dell. I have trouble relying on a "laptop" that I cannot operate on my laptop.
I have an Inspirion 5100 with the same problem. This seems like a bad deisgn on Dell's part, I have three other non Dell laptops and have never had this kind of problem on any of them after years of service. This is the first Dell I have purchased and unless they agree to fix this free of charge and in an expedient manner it will be the last.
I too own an Inspiron 5100 with an AC port issue. The AC adapter no longer fits snuggly into the AC port and getting it connected well has become a chore. I've been very pleased with how well the other components of this laptop have held up over the past 1.5 years. It's a shame I may have to toss it because of an issue even the cheapest electronics makers have solved.
Incidentally, I find Dell forum comments such as "Even shifting the system on a table should be done carefully to avoid damage" to be infuriating. I realize there are people who do abuse their computers; however, I (and probably the vast majority of Dell owners) do not, if only because I paid nearly $2000 for the machine. Please do not blame a lousy AC port design on your customers.
This is certainly not encouraging, since I travel and train everyday. I've only had my 8600 since January and it is frightening to think of the money that has been dropped on something that doesn't last a year.
My ac went out in the middle of a training class on Friday. Unfortunately, I could not use any other system because my server, which the class logged into, resides on my laptop. The battery drained so quickly (70% 2 1/2 hours remaining= 30 minutes) that I didn't have time to adjust and transfer everything over to a desktop.
I'm now stuck at a desk attached to a docking station. I thought my 8600 was heavy enough as is, just imagine what it will be like lugging around my docking station as well.
I have an Inspiron 2650 and this just happened to me, past the warranty of course. If anyone reads this in the future, you may be lucky enough that the connection can be soldered together, but chances are that you need a new motherboard. I have always been worried about that flimsy connection. The end of the AC adapter looked so thin and weak that I've had a cord wrapped around it just to add girth and prevent twisting. I'm disappointed that such an expensive appliance can be made useless by a minor bump or, as said above, shifting its position on a table. The Dell representative that replied makes it seem like we use our notebooks like stationary desktops; in that case they should be built as sturdy. Anyway, as I've been quoted a new motherboard would cost me $690 including some $260 just to send it to them. Bad, bad design flaw.
i have the same problem with my Inspiron 600m. I can't believe the company let this happen again and again. Since last Friday, i couldn't move my computer at all. Even a slight move will shut the laptop down. Today things become even worse. The laptop won't turn on at all. Whenever the ac adaptor is connected to the laptop, the light on the ac adaptor will turn off. By the way, i call serive center. After trying all kinds of things, the guy i talked to suggest me to change the motherborad, which they charge for $699, since my laptop was out of warrenty since this May.
I am having the same issue with my two and 1/2 year old Inspiron 3800. They now want me to invest more money for a system board! I can't!!! :smileyvery-happy:
I was having these problems for a good long while. Then I started having to fiddle with my cord a bit before it would work. Now, just within the past couple of days, I've had to do some HARSH fiddling with my cord, even wrapping it around the computer in strange positions, or lying the laptop down ON TOP on the cord in such a way that the monitor is practically on the surface where the rest of the computer should be sitting. I tried to sit it that way so that it could charge, and it did, but now it won't do it anymore. It is officially dead. And I am currently rinning off of one hour of battery life left. My computer didn't even last a year, either. I NEED my laptop to work NOW. I'm supposed to be editing some video footage from a convention, and people are desperately awating it. I have a deadline to meet, and I won't be able to access my footage after an hour. It had BETTER not be the motherboard. I can't wait for a motherboard! And why should I have to pay an extraordinary amount of money on a motherboard when I wasn't personally the one who wrecked it? There's nothing else wrong with my motherboard, right? Isn't there some way to just replace the the input piece?
Although I truly hope that a new power cord will do the trick, I don't think it is the answer, since she was able to use the existing cord by wrapping it around her laptop.
An update on my situation:
I was fortunate enough to still have my 8600 under warranty. Dell sent a tech out to the city I was working in and replaced the motherboard. The tech displayed the problem on the old board, which was the result of the internal connection not securely mounted.
Well, it would appear to be the motherboard after all. I tested the conductivity in my cord and it was still running fine. And, yes, luckily I am still under warranty, so I will be able to get this fixed. It's simply unfortunate that this all had to happen at such an inconvenient time for me and my work.
Crizz
15 Posts
0
May 28th, 2004 15:00
I am having this same problem (among many others) with my I5150.
This machine's build quality really dissapoints me, as I have been a very loyal Dell customer and have done $250,000+ of business with them. I do not think I will be purchasing Dell hardware for personal use in the future.
Your comments about the "thick accent" are also another very large problem driving my business elsewhere.
FWIW
Rollie_R
2 Intern
•
2.2K Posts
0
May 28th, 2004 18:00
All,
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
While a notebook computer is plugged in, it is not really a mobile computer. Moving the system while plugged into AC power, or with other cables plugged in can damage the ports. Even shifting the system on a table should be done carefully to avoid damage. Cables should unplugged before picking the system up off the table to move it.
If the port is damaged then the motherboard will have to be replaced. If you have another system available, you may want to trade AC adapters to test if the problem is with the port on the system, or the plug on the AC adapter. In either case, you will need to contact Technical Support to have service arranged.
sharonkay
2 Posts
0
May 28th, 2004 22:00
Thank you for the input. However, the power cord attachment problem occurs while the computer is being used at a desk. the computer is not being moved around.
To complicate the matter now, the computer will not even turn on. I have made 3 calls to the service desk. I was promised that a pre-addressed box from Airborne would arrive yesterday. It did not. I called again today as the box did not arrive today either. I called Airborne and they had no record that they were supposed to bring a box for me to return the computer. As a result I am sitting here Friday night with a computer I cannot even turn on, a conference in another country next week and I can't get any data out of this thing to present at the conference, and now am told it will not be fixed or returned for possibly 2 more weeks. More frustrating than I I need or desire from a company this large.
I have been a loyal Dell user, but the company has changed dramatically over the past, the customer service is horrendous and I won't be purchasing again. Neither will my company as I have previously purchased some $300,000 in the past few years.
manny206
1 Message
0
September 4th, 2004 02:00
All,
I have the same problem. In fact, it is the second time I have had this problem. Approximately four months ago, one month after my warranty ran out, my "brand new" second motherboard "failed to operate." Never again will I purchase a Dell. I have trouble relying on a "laptop" that I cannot operate on my laptop.
Craig Manemeit
QCoco
1 Message
0
September 4th, 2004 15:00
All,
I have an Inspirion 5100 with the same problem. This seems like a bad deisgn on Dell's part, I have three other non Dell laptops and have never had this kind of problem on any of them after years of service. This is the first Dell I have purchased and unless they agree to fix this free of charge and in an expedient manner it will be the last.
Dell, please address this.
pdltuc
2 Posts
0
September 10th, 2004 15:00
Incidentally, I find Dell forum comments such as "Even shifting the system on a table should be done carefully to avoid damage" to be infuriating. I realize there are people who do abuse their computers; however, I (and probably the vast majority of Dell owners) do not, if only because I paid nearly $2000 for the machine. Please do not blame a lousy AC port design on your customers.
ebragg
2 Posts
0
September 26th, 2004 20:00
My ac went out in the middle of a training class on Friday. Unfortunately, I could not use any other system because my server, which the class logged into, resides on my laptop. The battery drained so quickly (70% 2 1/2 hours remaining= 30 minutes) that I didn't have time to adjust and transfer everything over to a desktop.
I'm now stuck at a desk attached to a docking station. I thought my 8600 was heavy enough as is, just imagine what it will be like lugging around my docking station as well.
I guess mobile technology doesn't mean mobility.
TomServo0
4 Posts
0
October 4th, 2004 21:00
I have an Inspiron 2650 and this just happened to me, past the warranty of course. If anyone reads this in the future, you may be lucky enough that the connection can be soldered together, but chances are that you need a new motherboard. I have always been worried about that flimsy connection. The end of the AC adapter looked so thin and weak that I've had a cord wrapped around it just to add girth and prevent twisting. I'm disappointed that such an expensive appliance can be made useless by a minor bump or, as said above, shifting its position on a table. The Dell representative that replied makes it seem like we use our notebooks like stationary desktops; in that case they should be built as sturdy. Anyway, as I've been quoted a new motherboard would cost me $690 including some $260 just to send it to them. Bad, bad design flaw.
longmen
1 Message
0
October 7th, 2004 01:00
TomServo0
4 Posts
0
October 7th, 2004 01:00
JohnFroMass3800
4 Posts
0
November 7th, 2004 11:00
MarzGurl
5 Posts
0
January 29th, 2005 16:00
TomServo0
4 Posts
0
January 29th, 2005 17:00
As an update, I got everything fixed. But in the two weeks my computer was dead the battery died too, so that's another $100 down the drain.
ebragg
2 Posts
0
January 29th, 2005 19:00
An update on my situation:
I was fortunate enough to still have my 8600 under warranty. Dell sent a tech out to the city I was working in and replaced the motherboard. The tech displayed the problem on the old board, which was the result of the internal connection not securely mounted.
MarzGurl
5 Posts
0
January 29th, 2005 20:00