If it's a non-Dell adapter, return it and purchase a genuine adapter.  If it IS a Dell adapter and the LED is solid green before you plug in the notebook end, then there's a fault with the mainboard or power jack inside the system.

So the adapter will work - it's just not sensed properly?

  If that 's the case, the first repair is this part:

http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=5872

Any way to tell if the adapter is a fake?  It has Dell's name all over it :emotion-1:

Weird thing, the battery is pretty much drained, so the lappy won't power on......UNLESS the new adapter is plugged in.  Then you can turn it on...

I said it is probably the motherboard......everything in the computer is made in China by slave labor...How do you think Michael Dell is such a millionaire????   nothing is made in Austin anymore, Samsung has a plant there

Yes, my brother has a 1737 like mine and we both have battery problems...He bought the extended warranty at Staples and took back to them.....battery ok

bad motherboard......$300.    They fixed it free...    I bought non-Dell battery, that will not work...trying to return it....$65.....