Power Cord attachment problems

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.