Hi stuart2000,

Please check the status (running on battery) mentioned below.

No light Indication (Off): This indicates that the battery is adequately charged.

Flashing Orange: Indicates that the battery is low

Battery status (running on AC power)

Solid White/Amber: Indicates that the battery is charging.

Flashing White/Amber: Indicates that the battery is almost fully charged.

In addition run the Dell PC diagnostics on battery using the link below.

http://dell.to/We70YO

In this link click on hardware >select battery and click on run diagnostics.

Let us know about the progress.

Hello

The laptop has been plugged into AC power for almost 24 hours and the battery power indicator light has been flashing the entire time.  As earlier stated, the Dell power meter battery condition indicator on the Windows taskbar says the battery has 100% charge and is operating normally.  In all of the years that we have used this laptop, the battery power indicator light has never flashed white, it goes from steady white to off when the battery is charged.

I tried the link included above (I'm not sure why a re-direct was listed and not the direct link to the Dell diagnostics webpage).  The diagnostics would not run.  The popup window said I did not have some Dell program installed.  Against my better judgement I told it to download the program.  When I tried to install the program I got an error saying I didn't have something else installed which looked like .net framework 4; however, I do have .net 4 installed and it is up to date, so now in addition to the annoying battery light blinking I'm concerned that I just downloaded some malware.

Bump

Hi stuart2000,

Thank you for the update; I am working with the internal team regarding this issue. Once I get an update from them I will keep you posted.

.net frameworks may be corrupted due to that the system would have prompted to install it. Dell diagnostics tool will run few temporary files to run the test, this site is well secured and there are no chances for the malware attack.

Please use the link below to install the .net frameworks

http://dell.to/19vl8oU

Please let me know if this helps.

Hello

I ran the Dell diagnostic for the battery and it says there are no problems with the battery.  The connector on the existing power adapter is undamaged.  I am trying to locate another adapter to test with the laptop; I will post the results when I find one.

Stuart

I located another reliable power adapter, and the behavior of the battery power indicator light is exactly the same, blinking white when the battery is fully charged.

Hi stuart2000,

Thanks for the update, please update BIOS and chipset and check if the battery status light is blinking. Use the link below to download the BIOS and chipset.

http://dell.to/159SPYW

Please connect the Ac Adapter while updating the BIOS and do not use the system until it restarts after the update.

http://dell.to/1atNuPZ

Let us know about the progress.

Hello

I updated the laptop bios.  The chipset update you linked was already installed.  The battery power indicator light still blinks.

I watched the Dell power meter display for  a couple of minutes.  The indicator shows 99% battery charge, and the state alternates between "charging" and "idle" every five seconds or so.  This is after the laptop has been plugged into the adapter for a long time (overnight or continuously).  Hovering the cursor over the battery indicator on the taskbar yields a pop-up saying the battery is 100% charged.

Hi stuart2000,

Thanks for the update, please uninstall the Dell quickset application from programs and features, follow the steps below.

Start > in search type in programs and features > select Dell quickset application > right click on it > click on uninstall, restart the computer and reinstall the Dell quickset using the link below.

http://dell.to/18zKf96

In quickset application, check if the battery health is good or degraded?

Let us know about the progress.

Hello

The quickset isn't telling me anything about the battery's health, it only says "99% available (plugged in, not charging) - with the word not blinking.  This is with the battery charged and the battery power indicator light blinking, just like before.  The Dell battery meter, the icon on the taskbar, says the battery is performing normally when I look at the battery health tab

Hi stuart2000,

I am sorry for the delayed response,please connect only the battery and check if the battery status light is blinking? In case the issue persist check with known good battery.

let me also know the status when the system is running only on the ac adapter

Hello

When running on battery alone, without the ac adapter connected, the battery status light is not lit and does not blink.  With the battery removed and powered by only the ac adapter, same thing -- the battery status light is not lit and does not blink.

I do not have another battery available to do the other test you called for.  The battery I have is 8 months old, and has good run time, so I would rather not buy another battery just to do the test.

stuart2000

Hi stuart2000,

I am sorry for the delayed response, please discharge the battery completely till zero and then release static power. Follow the steps below.

Shut down the system; remove the battery, ac adapter and the power cable. Press and hold down the power button for thirty seconds to drain any excess static power and then charge the battery completely and let us know about the progress.

Hello

I did as instructed, no difference.  The battery power indicator light still blinks when the battery is presumably full after being plugged into the AC adapter for an extended period of time.

stuart2000