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July 4th, 2023 06:00
x17 R1, doesn't acknowledge charger at all
As above, I had it plugged in but it wasn't charging at all or even showing that the charger was connected on screen. The battery has been poor for a while now, not holding charge well. I tried another charger (lower wattage, but still works in a pinch) but it didn't work either. I tried holding the power button for thirteen seconds but that didn't work either. It ran out of battery and won't boot when connected to the charger.
I eventually gave up and manually opened it up to check the battery, found a small discolored spot maybe 1cm radius. I figured it could be corrosion so I removed the battery just in case. I tried booting it while plugged in without the battery but no luck there either. The battery isn't available on the store, and I'm a bit skeptical about third party batteries. My warranty has expired and I'm in Japan, so customer services would be hard to use with my broken Japanese. Does anyone have any ideas?
I have ordered a battery online, since it's likely cheaper in the long run, but I'm not sure if it will fix the issue or not. I'm also not sure if the BIOS will accept an alternative. Funnily enough, I'm typing this on my old dell laptop, which also has a broken charging port (charges 1/10 times if lucky) and battery that needs replacing. Why is it always the battery or charger.
filbert
6 Operator
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1.8K Posts
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July 4th, 2023 06:00
There is likely a fault with at least one of three items:
It's a process of elimination to figure out where the problem lies, or at least where it doesn't lie. For example, if your AC adapter is recognized and works on another Dell laptop, then the problem is likely your charging jack or charging circuit.
Check if the light is lit at the plug end of the AC adapter or on the adapter block. And see if that light remains lit when you plug it into the laptop's jack. If the AC adapter's light goes dark when you plug it into the laptop, then the fault is likely with the jack or the circuit.
Hold F2 while booting, to enter BIOS. See if the AC adapter is recognized.
Try another genuine Dell AC adapter of at least the same wattage/amperage. If that second Dell AC adapter works, then the fault is likely with your AC adapter. If it doesn't work, then the fault is likely with the jack or the circuit. The jack is a relatively inexpensive item that is not difficult to replace for someone experienced in working on laptops.
If a good AC adapter and a new jack won't work, then the fault is likely with the charging circuit on the motherboard, which would normally require replacement of the motherboard.
Also, it's worth trying a reset:
There is a centre pin in the adapter's plug (the end that connects to your laptop's jack/port). If that centre pin is broken or bent, then that is the cause. If it's bent, you could try gently to straighten it. If it's not bent, clean out the connector with Q-tip and 99% alcohol, and do the same to the jack.
Try slightly moving/jiggling the plug in the jack: if the light goes out or charging stops, then the problem is the charging jack or the pin in the plug.
Run Dell Diagnostics:
Press and hold F12 while booting to enter the One Time Boot Menu, select Diagnostics and press Enter. The Dell Diagnostics will test major hardware components. Choose to run extended tests.
crimsom
9 Technologist
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6.1K Posts
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July 4th, 2023 12:00
Hi @SuneJvR welcome to this free user-to-user Alienware laptop discussion forum.
The Alienware x17 R1 has a protection circuit that prevents damage by the ac adapter (charger) and/or the battery. It seems that the battery's on-board processor has failed to authenticate with the laptop and charging is thereby prevented. Hopefully the new replacement OEM battery will be accepted by the laptop protection circuit and charging reinstated.
Solved: x17 R1, battery failure and replacement - Dell Community