Area-51m R1, shuts off when I connect power adapter

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If it was serviced 3 years ago in 2020, how can it be new?

Sorry, reading again my first post I saw the misstake. I can't edit the previous message or at least I don't see where I could edit that. It was not in 2020, it was last july, 2022.

Hi @HumaDracobane welcome to this free user-to-user Alienware laptop discussion forum. 

There are dual dc-in power-adapter ports at the rear. The reason for two power supplies is due to government compliance regulation. Manufacturers cannot make a power supply adaptor that is rated higher than 330W. (But search did find Single 780W AC Adapter; 110V-250V; for Alienware Area 51m/51m R2;GET MORE POWER! (pccharger.com)) Since the draw of the Alienware Area-51m laptop is higher than that, there must be two Power Supplies to work within the legal requirements. The Alienware Area-51m Service Manual includes the dual left power-adapter port and the single right power-adapter port.  

The internal power protection system prevents the ac adapter (charger) or main battery from damaging the laptop. Seemingly this Alienware Area-51m power protection system is being activated when the ac adapter is being used. 

When ac adapter (charger) is plugged into mains supply, does the dc power cord's diagnostic LED work? When dc power cord plugged into LH and/or RH laptop dc-in power-adapter port, does the diagnostic LED remain on? 

Using a bright light, visually examine both dc-in power-adapter ports to see if the electrical contacts are damaged. 

It seems that laptop's dc-in power-adapter ports will require replacement. Watch Alienware Area-51m Teardown: Inside The Belly Of The BEAST! - YouTube to see the difficulty level to determine if this is within your capability. $100 Dell Laptop Repair | Dell Repair | Laptop Repair | Notebook Service Center (parts-people.com) 

Hi @DELL-Chris M please have a look within the internal Dell parts catalogue and share the Dell part numbers for the the dual left power-adapter port and the single right power-adapter port cables. Is this one or two DP/N 0DF23M or is there a different DP/N for the dual dc-in power-adapter port? 

Hi!

In july 2022 the computer was send to Germany, to Dell's Laboratory, for a problem that I had. The result was the battery having a leak and the battery fluid damaging almost every internal component of the laptop but the screen and an SSD so almost everything was replaced [I have the bills, e.mails, etc if needed]. Being out of the waranty I paid for that rebuild but the new components are now covered by the waranty (Both the technician who spoke to me said that I had 1 year of waranty on those components since they're new). The computer was rebuilded through August and delivered to me un September.

Hello, Crimsom

Thanks for the help. The light on both adapters doesn't change at all. If the problem is the ports are the problem I guess is on Dell. during August 2022 the computer was rebuilded in Germany by Dell, they sended me the computer with a damaged Mother board and a technician had to come to my house with a new motherboard and installed it so every new component, including the motherboard, now is covered by the waranty.

Again, thanks for the help!!

In your picture that is two, one on top of other.

The parts page only list one DC in part, DF23M.

Hi @HumaDracobane thank you for sharing update. 

Postulate that dual dc-in power-adapter ports at the rear were not replaced and might have been contaminated by the burst swollen battery. 

Please visit your online Dell account to see what Dell warranty (if any) has been applied to the replacement parts. Visit Alienware Area-51m webpage and click on Sign In, in top RH corner. 

Thanks again for the help, @crimsom . I guess monday I'll talk eith the tech support to know if the ACPort was replaced, and then covered by the waranty, or not but I think it was replaced with the motherboard 

Also, if this helps with figuring if that is the problem, when the laptop is shut down the battery is recharged by plugging in the cables.

Thanks again!

Hi @HumaDracobane thank you for sharing that battery can be charged when the Alienware Area-51m laptop has not been powered-on.

Please run windows Reliability Monitor and wait for event timeline to load. Look for event that coincides with date/time that laptop shuts off when ac adapter (charger) connected. Open this event to see and share root cause and Microsoft error code. How to use Windows Reliability Monitor to identify software issues | Dell US.  How do I identify the root cause of unexpected reboots? - Super User.  

In the opening post, it says "tries to restart just to be restarted again before seeing the Alienware message." Please share photograph of Alienware message. 

The Dell warranty of replacement parts will be different because Dell Support in Germany has to be compliant with European Union laws. It will be interesting to share what Dell Support in Germany offers their customers. Dell Tech support experience : Alienware (reddit.com).  

Hi again, @crimsom 

I think I've managed to go through the process.

This is the list of events in the windows log. Usin the filter settings ( Queller User 32 and the 1074) nothing popped on the list, 0 events. On the non filtered list this appeared. I forced by plugging the cables one event at 22.47:

And this two pics are the information about the event with the warning symbol:

In the Reliability Monitor nothing happened by the time of the event, 22.47 but at 11.37 I tried to power up the laptop with the cables connected and this two events happened by that time:

 With this two technical views:

 For the warranty part, I'm form Spain and all the EU had the same laws about waranty. Any repair or replacement must be covered by a warranty that changes depending on the subject and on top of that the Dell Technician that followed the process in July-August-Sep told me that the replacements had 1 year of warranty.

Thank your again for your help!

Hi @HumaDracobane thank you for sharing update and screenshots. 

The windows Reliability Monitor did not record events of the unexpected reboots. Seemingly the operating system files or the system image may have been corrupted. 

The usual fix is to create restore point, then run System File Checker (SFC) which is designed to automatically find and fix any corrupted system files, if necessary run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) which is designed to repair corrupt windows System image. Remember to Restart (not Shut Down) to save changes when working through this incremental diagnostic process. 

Hi again,@crimsom 

I've ran the SFC command and apparently some files were corrupted and restored and then I've ran the DISM and apparently also passed the test.

I have now this logs with the reliability manager:

 The details of the last two, which was also an unexpected reboot because I felt brave to pluggin the cables again, are this:

Thank you again for the help.

It looks like the problem fixed itself...

I've just let the battery dry until the sistem was shutted off automatically, I've connected the cables to let the battery charge and tried it in a "why not?" moment... and apparently is fixed. The battery is charging, the laptop is not shutting down in a loop and I've tried removing and plugging again the cables and apparently work.

I'll let the battery get a full charge and try tomorrow to see if some problem pops up.

You're a legend, @crimsom ! Is there any way to invite you to a coffe or something like that?

Nah, this morning the problem is happening again.

I'll wait to see what Dell's technician tells me tomorrow.

Thanks for the help!

Hi @HumaDracobane thank you for sharing update. 

Please run System File Checker (SFC) and Restart (not Shut Down) to save changes. It seemed to work yesterday, perhaps it will work again and become a permanent fix?