My Dell laptop only charges when the plug in where the charger meets the computer is propped up or held up. I tried my new charger and have the same problem. Now, the icon says plugged in, but not charging. Is there a connection to my motherboard broken that I could get replaced?

test battery --test charger--and charger port repair or replace

The Laptop charger or the charging point itself is bad or damaged. You'll need to try different charger to take your laptop to any nearest computer repair shop to have charging point repaired or replaced.

del recognition circuit may have failed in charger , or could be fine central pin on charger plug or laptop plug has broken connection,it is used to tell laptop that this is genuine dell charger.If you remove battery will laptop work off charger.if does then definitely one of the three problem possible . for first only soln try another dell charger first,often has to be one to suit your model ,common dell problem ,if then work and charge battery ,you will need to replace charger as recognition circuit failed. If either of last 2 can repair but need to pull apart repair broken connection ,or open up laptop and check power connection and repair connection . If you remove battery will laptop work off charger.if does the definately one of the three problem possible . for first only soln try another dell charger first,often has to be one to suit your model ,common dell problem ,if then work and charge battery ,you will need to replace charger as recognition circuit failed.

Hi there,

I repair laptops professionally and work on many Dells. Here are the possibilities.

1. The plugin connection where the battery meets the charging contacts in its bay where it seats are malfucntioning and the software is reading it incorrectly. To see if this is so, push the small round black button on the battery next to the 5 little dots at one end. If none of those dots light up green, the battery has no charge and the connection I spoke of above is damaged or malfunctioning beyond where you can see. If all the dots light up green, the battery is likely fine but the laptop can;t connect to its charge at the plugin.

2. The basic software (BIOS) is reading the charger/adapter incorrectly and although saying it is charging or charged, the actual charger is ruined inside in the compartment for charging the battery. Dell chargers can actually be incapable of charging the battery but still run the computer on direct current while plugged in.

3. The battery is no longer able to be charged, but is giving a false reading.

4. The DC Power Jack (into which you plug the charger) is only partially damaged and while able to power the laptop directky, cannot charge the battery. (Check to see if it is loose and woobly when you plug in the charger.

The easiest and least expensive way to troubleshoot and fix this yourself is to start with the charger. They can be had on eBay for about $20. Keep in mind that if no green lights show up on the battery, it might be your first choice and it's about the same price.

I hope I've given you enough info the help you determine your true problem.

Regards,

The Selkie

There's no fuse problem with that computer, try this first, Plug in the charger to an outlet don't plug it in the laptop, if the light on the charger turns on, then the charger is working try to plug it on the computer if the light on the charger goes out there's a problem with your motherboard. Contact the tech support for that so you can get that part replaced.
To double check try to use a known good charger if it works then you'll need another charger if not, Then contact your tech support for your dell make sure you still have a warrant.

Hope this helps!

Folks.
The issue with most of the Dell charger issues rekated to a new charger not being able to charge the battery is the fact that Dell has a screwy proprietary circuit design in their laptops and chargers.
It seems that the Dell laptops are designed so
only Dell chargers will work. While other
brands of chargers will power the laptop when plugged in,
they will not charge the battery.
They do this so they have a monopoly on their chargers and thus can charge a frickin' fortune for their, Dell chargers.
Want them to change this? don't buy Dell products for a while. If enough people ban them, they would change this **** overnight!

Dell has cheap chargers, the wire snapped on the inside underneath the rubber. My ex boyfriends charger had the same thing happen. You need to buy a totally new charger .

If the charger is older and since you saw the light go on then off again, it could just be the charger wires. Assuming your charger has a black box attached to it, try pushing the cord in towards the black box (usually the end leading to your laptop) . If that doesn't work, wiggle the cord in that area. If this works, your problem is simply the wire is worn out. You can fix it by exposing the inside wire where the bad connection is, snip it, reconnect and cover with electrical tape. I just did this to my sister's last week.

may i know the older Dell laptop you have, & also the new Dell LAtitude laptop you have now.... charger must meet the exact wattage and amp of the laptop..

Had the same problem, My other Dell charger would work fine but the original one that came with this laptop would throw an error message that the Charger wasnt recognized. None of the suggestions on the forums worked.
I held the chord by the circular flex thing at the end, and pushed in the power pin with force into the laptop, held it for a few seconds and now it works fine. If you push the pin slow and gently into the laptop, it doesnt recognize the adapter. I think the problem is either with the power chord connections inside or with the adapter inside the laptop. Try it!