Removed post here and created new topic instead.

ive had the exact same problem and im getting rlly annoyed now -.- i bought this laptop off E-bay about 2yrs ago. ive only found one way of getting around this problem and its buying a new motherboard -.- which is going to cost around £125.00 which isnt over priced but i wuld prefer to spend less xD either way ive tried everything to get the thing working ive opened up the laptop and took a look at the mother board and everything (making sure not to damage anything) ive bought a new AC adapter still no luck so i guess ill have to get a new mother board and id advice this to any1 else who has tried everything >.< shame rlly... i wount b buying from Dell again thats 4 sure -.-

Hi Joe:

I was wondering if you could be more specifc as to where the inverter is. I took apart the LCD and don't see anything like the pictures I have seen of an inverter!

Thanks,

Bob

I'm having the same problem as some other users. My Dell 5150 doesn't respond to the power adapter. Its plugged in, but it is running on battery power. Sometimes it will charge when it is off. If i wiggle the adapter a little, sometimes (like, one time out of a hundred times) it will start charging.

Here's the catch: 1. I don't know anything about computer hardware 2. I'm living in rural india for 5 months (I'm a us citizen). And if my computer dies out here, I am going to be SOL.

Would buying a new adapter help fix this problem at all? Or is my motherboard doomed?

-gina

Hey Regina,

I'm also having that problem, but i'm pretty sure that its just the motherboard of the laptop starting to get a bit flimsy after years of plugging and unplugging, or exerting stress on the power jack.

What i have just done however, was order a replacement DC Power Jack from an online store and in the event that my laptop no longer charges, i'll desolder off the old power jack and solder on the new one. I've stopped warranty service for this laptop a long time ago so this is my option for the moment as i've got nothing to lose.

However, if you are still under dell's warranty, i suggest you send it over to them to have it fixed. Seeing as you have probably no experience taking apart your own computer as well, i highly recommend that. If you're unable to, then its best to do the same as me, except that you find a computer and laptop repair store that is capable of doing so.

I hope that helps.

Regina Pestak said:

Regina,
It sounds as if the connector on the motherboard is loosing contact with the motherboard. Being where you are makes it very hard to see any good things happening as far as getting any extended work from the laptop. If you continue using on just the battery, it will fail. If the connector isn't repaired, an you continue to "wiggle" the connector to get it to charge, The motherboard will be burned beyond repair from the arcing from the adapter to the motherboard. Then you will have no choice but to replace the motherboard at greater cost than in the connector just needing re-soldering. I fear that a new adapter will do no good at this point.
Good luck and God Bless,

Willie-

Thanks for the advice. I've found a guy here with a soldering iron (I mean, it IS india...there are people here who know a thing or two about computers ) and he's going to give the AC pin a go. Not like I have anything to lose at this point. Thanks for the advice!!!

-gina

gina,
Please let us know how thing go with this project

found your site while trying to find a solution to problem with 5150 not coming on after being dropped to the floor... seems like lots of "over heating problems". Your replys are great and surely solve lots of problems. I am not a tech, nor do I propose to know lots about laptops, however , in talking with several people about shutdown problems, many of them are not aware that laptops are not designed to be used on your lap , or any other soft surface, as the fans or air intakes are located on the bottom, plus the more breathing room the laptop has, the better it performs, and may even last a little longer. I run cooling pads on all my laptops. hope its helping..

John,
One other thing that will help the over heating is cleaning the CPU heat exchanger and installing my home made CPU filter. I cut a coffee filter to cover the air intake. and tape it in place to reduce the exchanger clogging. Last a long time, you can see when it needs changing and it isn't costly.

I have a Dell Inspiron 5160 and was using it the other day and it just shut down. Now I have no power at all. I can't get it to turn on or show that power is being received at all. It's as if it is DEAD!! The power cord works in a different computer and the light on the power cord is on, but I can't get any signs of life in the laptop itself. Our battery was already to the point of not holding a charge and we were having to run the laptop on the power cord all the time. The power cord is loose, so sometimes it would go from battery to power cord to battery. Has anyone else had this problem??? Any ideas how to fix it??? I opened it up and blew everything clean, and still no response. Someone help me.

Sherri Ziemer said:
In this thread, there are many examples of what happens when the adapter connector on the motherboard comes loose. This is another. There are also examples of what is to be done. It would seem at this point the connector replacement is the only option.

Hi, I just want to know if there is available help for us 5150 owners who are outside the US which is not covered by the Lundell Settlement?

Hi

No, there's no Lundell Settlement outside US. No help for that. You're on your own. 5150 was a fantastic (fast) laptop, apparently, in theory. But, you can't use it at it fast level or it shots down, and then it is at your risks to burn everything in. I still use it, but at his lowest level (1.6 ghz). Each time I change to fast (3.2 ghz), it shots down, too hot.

I still wonder how at Dell's they made this laptop. How I'd had like have met the engineer or the engineers who planified the 5150, the fan, etc in order that they explained to me, how they made that, and how they didn't do enough tests before sending that everywhere in the world. By the times I bought this laptop it was the most expensive, and supposed to be the must. I only had problems with. I bough it in Chile, and of course you're not covered by USA laws which is in fact injustified, since everywhere in the world we are consumers and Dell is everywhere.

They could had helped, at least those participating to this forum. But nothing. Only within the US Dell's consumers are treated properly. Outside US no way, we are just foreign consumers. No respect.

However guiven my very poor Dell's experience, several times when it had happened at my university or other universities, that we have to choose between several choices for renewing or computer parks, clusters, grid, etc, I have given my advice on dell's computers, and choose another firm. They do not only loose one costumer, hundred... And I will continue to do so.

I purchased a Inspiron 5160 when it first came out and honestly I still love it. The problem I think is this from what i've read on some of these threads. Several months ago I thought the ac adapter was shot so I tossed it and looked for a replacement at several computer shows. I recently ordered a new one for a whole lot less than dell's $99.99 one and it works just fine. The problem is the adapter will not stay in the slot in order to charge. If it's just a matter of securing that PIN (don't know the proper name) then I know what to ask for so geek squad or who ever don't try to rip me off. Second problem is what was then a fast loading system is now trudging along. and I need to upgrade the RAM. My question is am I restricted to just (2) 1 GB memory cards or can i go higher without killing the system?