A/C Adapter will not power Dell Inspiron, but charged battery will.

I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 with Windows XP Pro, Intel Pentium 4.

When I plug in the A/C adapter, the battery will not charge and the computer will not boot if the battery is dead. If I charge the battery in another laptop and then put it in this one it will boot up, but only on battery power and until the power goes out on the battery. I have replaced the A/C adapter twice to double check the adapter being bad/good and have had same results with all of them. I have also bought a new battery as well with the same results.

Is there an alternative to replacing the motherboard? Is there somehow I can charge the batteries without having to put them into another computer?

 

Did you test the adapter ? Is there a light on it ?
try wiggling the adapter where it goes into the computer. and watch for a light on the front of the laptop, if it comes on then you'll need to replace the power jack.

Other then that I don't think there is an external battery charger you can purchase.

 

I have had both AC adapters tested and both are getting power to the end of the cord, and yes the light even comes on.
I have tried 'wiggling' the cord, but no luck there either.

Thanks!

 

I think you would have to pull the system apart and check it for voltage on the motherboard where the jack comes through. if you have power there then its time to change the mobo.
I'm not familure with that model perhaps it has a seperate charging board.