Inspiron 1501 - Battery error message on initial power up.

Bill B,

Thanks for the response.

The pin is straight & centered. The error message comes up when starting the machine using just the battery or connected to the adapter. Other than the error message, everything works as it should. The battery will charge using the AC adapter and also the car/plane adapter. Battery duration is 4 to 5 hours when I'm on battery only. This started after I had installed Windows updates recently. The computer would not shut down or reboot after a Windows update, so after 30 minutes or so the only way I could shut it down was to remove the battery from the unit. All the battery contact bars are straight.

It sounds like you have a possible bad battery; The pin in the adapter is for the system to reconize the adapter, it doesn't have much to do with this problem that your having; If your battery has a Battery Health Indicator on the battery (its a button with 5 LED's right next to it) Press that and see if it flashes in a 1-3-5 with the 1st, 3rd and 5th led flashing; if it does then the battery is dead and long gone; if it does not then call Dell TS and see if they can do anything for you

 

 

Thanks

Sincerely

Eric

The battery take a charge and seems to hold it. As I said earlier, the laptop will run 4-5 hours or more before it needs charging. Since all I get it the error message and nothing more, and everything works as it should, I'll just have to live with it.

So, I have a similar problem with my Inspiron E1505. Only, I get "Your AC Adapter cannot be recognised, please plug in a 65W adapter" message if I turn the computer on or if I plug the computer while running. The pin in the AC Adapter is fine, I've checked that already, and when I press the button on the battery to check on it, the 2nd - 5th lights light up. I've reseated the adapter multiple times like it suggests, reset everything, updated my BIOS, and tried different outlets.

 

The AC Adapter is actually powering the computer just fine, and just allows the bettery to remain idle at 74% so I could use the battery for about three hours before it died. 

 

Meanwhile, I'm a student, so I need to be able to take my computer places without worrying if I can find some place to plug the computer in so the battery doesn't die. I have no way of recharging it, and no spare battery, as they are incredibly expensive for a student to be able to purchase a second one. 

 

 

I can't help but think that it's my computer that has the error, but Dell TS is sending me a new adapter anyway, since I can't bring it back to the US right now. (Yay, warranty.)

 

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to see if it's an actual computer malfuntion? 

I have had a similar error and new ac adapters dont seem to work nor does flashing the bios.  I am thinking it might be a motherboard issue with my computer.  I need to try and get a new battery, you could try that perhaps.

I have been getting exactly the same error on my 1501 - just as warranty completed. I have learnt to live with it! Did you manage to get it sorted?