The AC Power Adapter Type Cannot Be Determined. This will prevent optimal system performance.

FunK A DunK · 05-19-2008, 05:09 PM

I started a thread a few days back, but couldn't properly edit the title to address the issue at hand now.

I have an E1505 and I remember getting this message a while back. Even though I no longer receive it, my laptop runs at a snail's pace when plugged into the AC adapter. My reason for starting this thread is because my problems are unlike the typical symptoms that users are experiencing who receive this message(battery not charging). My battery charges just fine, and in fact, the only time my E1505 runs optimally is when unplugged (it's unplugged at this moment).

I was just wondering if anyone who has seen this warning has experienced my particular problem, and not the one experienced my post. When I was plugged earlier, my CPU was running at 100% and it took me 15 minutes to take a screenshot, open up Photoshop, and save a picture of that happening - something that usually takes a mere one and a half to two minutes.

If anyone can help, it'd be great. I'm trying to save for a desktop right now so that my laptop will only be used for notes in school, but dang, this is just really, really inconvenient. It seems like it's only getting worse, too. Not to mention the fact that I work online, and this issue is causing me tons of havoc.

RAMBO29 · 05-19-2008, 05:12 PM

This is the first time I see this message.It would have made sense if it said processor instead of the power adapter.

wywern209 · 05-19-2008, 05:17 PM

just call dell and order a new AC adapter. the pins on it probably bent or your AC is malfunctioning.

micloi · 05-19-2008, 05:18 PM

Try booting with the AC adapter plugged in BUT the battery removed.

This happens (sometimes) when a little pin that identifies the AC adapter as an original DELL part breaks.
The txt below was taken from the DELL forum:

"I've been using my power adapter very carefully for a year and a half. I've always wrapped the cord back around the converter like it came packaged. Little did I know that I was repeatedly bending back and forth a small wire that identifies the power supply as authentic Dell. Presumably I have now broken this wire.

If I was given the ability to manually identify the AC power adapter I would be perfectly happy. The AC adapter works perfectly fine, keeps the laptop powered up and on while its plugged in, but the system is crippled because it doesn't think I'm running a Dell approved adapter."

nizzy1115 · 05-19-2008, 06:26 PM

Just unplug it and plug it back in.

Commander Wolf · 05-19-2008, 06:44 PM

Do you know if you have the 65W or 90W adapter? The symptoms are the same as plugging in an underpowered adapter, but the error message doesn't seem to reflect that.

nizzy1115 · 05-19-2008, 07:13 PM

@ Funk a Dunk I see your signature says you are selling a quick snap lid for your laptop. You put it for sale 08-28-2006...quite along time ago! Are you still trying to sell it? Or did you just forget about it?

boscocosta · 05-19-2008, 07:39 PM

funny you ask this as i've been seeing this on my laptop off and on for a past couple weeks - i have an older inspiron 6000 running Vista ultimate so i wonder if it wasn't some update possible screwing things up? i've found if i shut down completely and unplug and replug the adapter in the error goes away...weird but bothersome. Then again i'm waiting on the new line of 17" inspirons due out next month so hopefully old faithful hangs on until then !!

nizzy1115 · 05-19-2008, 08:17 PM

Are you running the newest bios? There should be an update that fixes this problem too (at least says it does).

FunK A DunK · 05-20-2008, 04:18 AM

Hey, thanks for all of the replies. I read all of your responses earlier (very quick, I might add), but didn't have enough time to respond. Here is what I've done since my original post.

-I can confirm that I do have the correct 90W AC adapter. It worked fine up until about a month ago.
-Unplugging and plugging back in doesn't work. However, I noticed that when my AC adapter is plugged in and there is battery to charge, when my computer isn't slown down to a snail's pace, the battery charging light stays on constantly. When my computer is at its slowest, it flickers sporadically.
-micloi's post intrigued me the most because I, too, frequently wrap of the wires of the AC adapter and the person he quoted has a problem more identical to mine, not the rest of the public. If you're reading this, micloi, I'd like to see the post you took that from. A google search of a part of that passage only leads back to this post.
-I fixed my signature, and I really don't know if I'm running the new BIOS. How would I know and how do I install it?

Before I go out to buy a new adapter, I'm posting on MySpace in hopes of finding a friend who has the same laptop as me.

Thus far, that's all.