Dell uses an "intelligent" power adapter system.When you turn on the laptop the BIOS program on the mainboard tries to identify the charger via special control wire.If - for instance - the cable that connects to the power jack is damaged or the power jack itself is loose / broken the BIOS might not be able to recognize the power adapter and refuses to charge the battery.

To check if the power adapter is properly recognized press function-key "F2" at powerup.That takes you to the BIOS screen where you can find the information.

Hi

Remove the Adapter and battery from the computer. Re-seat the power cord bricks in the adapter and then connect only the adapter start the computer by tapping F2 and look for AC Adapter type: If it shows Unknown. Could be problem with adapter. 90% that will fix the problem by getting adapter replace. Even you can try with different adapter if you have one and do the same step. Suppose if the alternate adapter doesn't show any report like Unknown. Confirm its problem with Primary adapter.  If that shows the same message like Unknown then it would be a problem with the Motherboard adapter connector.

If everything is fine with Adapter. Now come to battery part. Connect the battery to the computer while the system runs and check for the battery error message. if it still persists. then go for BIOS update from the support.dell.com using the computer service tag.. make sure battery has charge like greater than 15%.. Also try check the battery with alternate adapter.

This would be the fix.

Regards

Carrie-Dell

Hi,

Welcome to dell community forum.

Kindly check with another wall outlet first .If that doesn’t work remove the battery from the computer and connect the adapter and check if the computer works and also try checking  the status of Adapter in bios by restarting the computer and tapping F2 on dell logo and check for the adapter type.. Another step would be trying with a known good adapter, if known good adapter works fine that means it should be an issue with the original adapter. If the computer works fine with known good  adapter connected the issue is not with the adapter might be an issues with the motherboard port where the adapter connects to.

Warranty status: http://dell.to/zEE2Cm

Let me know the system model as well and post back.

If you have active warranty, you can contact me directly by clicking on my user name, add me as your friend, and send me the system service tag, phone # with address.

Pamela:

I found the same thing out, however, this only works a few times, so currently I have to keep plugged in.  I haven't had the extra cash to invest in $150.00 for a new battery, hoping that this would resolve the problem.  I have only had my Inspirion for about a year and this has been happening for the past 6 months.  I was originally considering a MAC and probably should have gone with it. Extremely disappointed in Dell!!

Tried this, too. Worked 1 time and went back to not charging

I found a solution. I had the computer lead plugged into a rather thin extension lead. I simply unplugged it from that and plugged it straight into the wall. Problem fixed. I tried the uninstalling Windows 7 drivers but that did not work.

what if the the battery is already 0%?

cannot install BIOS at battery less than 10%

the "plugged in, not charging" problem is a prolonged issue and very frustrating.

> If your system has been working fine in the past then there is no need to update the BIOS

> press F2 at powerup and check the power adapter status in the BIOS : if the power adapter is not recognized

  watch the video I already included in my previous post

> additionally read this:

  en.community.dell.com/.../19369809.aspx

I found on another site that overheating can cause this problem, so in the time you take out the battery, wipe it off, and restart, it has cooled down.  That might be why.  My computer actually just had this problem and I quit the heavy program, my computer cooled down, and it started charging again.