Hi,

I looked up in the other topics but couldn't find a similar problem that matched my problems, maybe I didn't fill in the correct keywords. Link to the correct topic if you find the solution.

My system:
Dell Inspiron 9400
Windows XP
Bios version A08
Battery: 53Watt/hour 6 cell

What I noticed
A couple of weeks ago I was working without the ac-adapter plugged-in (the laptop was powered by the battery) and then suddenly the laptop turned off. I didn't see any warning of low battery and the windows shut-down (or sleep mode) process did not show up. No "saving your setting"... "Preparing sleep mode", ... It was late at night and I tought I had missed the warnings. I closed the lid of my laptop, and plugged the ac-adapter to it, to recharge the battery. Then I went to sleep.
A few days later I saw that the battery led was flickering green once every 7 seconds. I looked it up and found out it means its in "Battery in Trickle Charge Mode". I thought it was normal and it was automatically set in that "trickle charge mode" every now and then but I never mentioned it.
Now, it had been a while but I plugged the ac-adapter out of my laptop to work on battery power again. The battery led turned orange (constant light, "Battery Below Low Battery 2 Threshold" ) But everything worked fine and I could work for more than 10-20 minutes. I didn't try longer when I saw the battery led and out of fear to mess it up even more. So I plugged the ac-adapter back in.

I looked up in the Dell support site and found more information but still can't figure out what the problem is. Here is what I found:

Clicking once the battery check button (on the battery) gives five leds:
81% - 100% charge capacity remaining

Pushing the button for 3 seconds: no leds:
100% – 80% charge performance is remaining

In Bios:
No battery installed or found

When Battery is out, only ac-adapter:
Battery led stays off.

Damage?
Can't see any damage, I didn't drop or shook the laptop.

Tried to update bios:
not possible because it asks to plug-in ac-adapter AND battery. (but he doesn't find any battery so...)

Windows Power Options (in control panel), tab "Power Meter":
Power source is always: "AC-adapter" (even when ac-adapter is plugged out)
Total battery power remaining: unknown
Grey battery icon, with text "not present" underneath it.


Now I'm out of ideas and still can't figure out what is causing this problem.
Any ideas or solutions???
oh btw, the problem is actually that i don't know the status of my battery and I can't see what the remaining battery time is. And it all just doesn't seem right.

Thanks in advance
Bye
Thomas.