Dell Latitude D600 Power Problems

[countymounty]

I am working on a Dell Latitude D600 Laptop that was brought to with, according to the customer, a bad hard drive. Well with taking the customers word for it I ordered a new hard drive, installed it and loaded Windows XP onto it. Everything went well and I was able to load the network driver and complete the first round of windows updates. That is when the power problems started after the windows updates the reboot would not finish, the computer would not boot into safe mode or last good windows configuration. So I left the project and got busy with other things and when I went back a few days later the computer booted up just fine I was able to do a few more windows updates and then boot up problems again. That is when I began doing some other troubleshooting and research on the net and I found that I either have a bad battery, a bad AC Adapter or a bad Motherboard. I have tried to take the battery out while being plugged in, I have tried to power up without the battery and just the AC Adapter and still either locks up and the BIOS screen or doesn't power on at all. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced similar problems and or has suggestions for resolving my problems.

Thanks So Much!!

 

[G0AOZ]

Can you check if the CPU is overheating? If the laptop has been used in a dusty environment, it's possible the heatsink/fan assembly is partially blocked or completely clogged up.

Maybe the heatsink/fan assembly is not tightly fitted against the CPU. Remove, clean mating surfaces, apply thin coat of new heatsink compound, bolt securely back together.

Is the PSU getting hotter than normal? Can you measure the output voltage under load? Maybe there's a drop in voltage just prior to the machine locking up...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[bummper]

Go for the bad battery. I just had this issue recently on the same model. For some reason, they don't run without a good battery installed. Replaced the battery and all was well.
Was the battery indicator LED blinking red?

 

[countymounty]

I think the problem maybe either the connector for the AC adapter as the light for that blinks on occasion. Could it possibly be a heat/fan problem? When does the fan come on in those units? The fan never does come on and I was wondering if the unit is getting too hot, but don't they shut off when the get too hot?

Thanks for you imput!

 

[bummper]

Could be all that you have cited. But I would consider the problem in this order:

1)The battery, based on my similar (almost identical) experience.

2) A failng hard drive that quits after getting worked and warm

3) The AC adapter

4) The adapter jack on the laptop

5) An internal problem, perhaps a failing voltage regulator? (But then it probably wouldn't boot either.)

6) An overheat problem (I'm doubtful here).

Did you blow out the fan?

Beg, borrow (but do not steal, looking at your handle <g>) a compatible good battery from somewhere and see.

A blinking AC light might mean an overtaxed adapter due to a bad battery trying to recharge. My subject D600 absolutely would not get past the BIOS without a good battery pack in place. Can you check the battery status on the bottom test button? get any consecutive green lights?

I keep going in this direction since you said it would function for a short period after setting idle for a long period. (Meaning the battery had time to marginally recover.) OR, maybe you have a failing hard drive that is beginning to act up when put to work and it gets warm?

 

[countymounty]

The battery has 3 consecutive green lights. I put a new hard drive into it and was able to install windows on it but nothing after that. I can not get past BIOS either and will not go into set up.

Thanks Again

 

[bummper]

OK, then all I can think of at the moment is a dead or dying CMOS battery on the mobo. Now we're "fishing" for answers. Can you disassemble it? Check the heat sink, the fan, the internal battery?

Will the battery pack charge to 5 lights (90 + %) if left plugged in?

Do you have a multi meter to see of the AC adapter is putting out the full voltage?

Man, I'd sure like to help ya on this, but now I'm speculating...

If I think of anything else, I'll advise.