I have been having a problem with my Inspiron 1000 and keeping it on electrical power instead of battery.  Used to be I could barely wiggle or move the plug in on the back of the laptop and it would revert back.  As time went on, it got worse.  I called Dell and she told me to look at the pin on the back and see if it moved any when touched.  I told her it did a little.  She informed me that I would need a new motherboard, and that would cost me around $300!  Not  to mention I haven't paid the laptop off yet....  In the meantime, I could put a flat toothpick inside before inserting the power plug and it would tighten it up so that it would work.  (I even went so far as to tape it in place so it wouldn't move!)  This morning it wouldn't come on at all.  I inserted another toothpick and the top right green light of the four across the top of the keyboard came on, but nothing else.  What does that light mean anyway?  I've called the computer stores around here and they said they could solder the pin back in place but no one but Dell can put the case back together, something about a certain kind of machine they have so that no one else can fix things inside.  I am a contract worker from home and all of my programs and files are on this laptop!!!!  Anyone have any other ideas?  Thanks!