i have a suspicion that the internal battery on my dell latitude XPi p90d has died. i will describe why i think this:

1) i used to turn it on and it would issue the warning "battery is critically low," but otherwise function normally. this was until just recently. the battery (the large one, not the "internal" one) did not hold a charge, so maybe the internal battery got worn out.

2) i tried to turn it on today and it won't even power up, it just sits there with the screen on, but it's blank. then, upon successive pluggings in, the screen now only blips on for a moment then dies.

what gives? any suggestions are welcome.

thx for reading,
y-p

Hi,

I'd try and narrow it down if I were you.

1. Power on the notebook with battery only (no AC power).

2. Power on notebook with battery and AC power plugged in.

3. Take out the battery and power on the notebook (AC plugged in).

If number 2 and 3 work, it would most likely be a battery prob.

If only number 3 works. It is going to either the battery or the DC charger board which is either a module or on the new notebooks, built into the mainboard.

Good luck.

>Craig : )

real, it's already pretty narrowed down, as i can't perform any of the suggested tests. this thing won't even power on for a second. when i say the screen blips on for a second, i mean just completely blank (i haven't even hit the power switch) and backlit.

none of the lights that display power/battery are on either. i think i'm gonna take it apart again and try reconnecting the internal battery (this looks like a string of those hearing aid batteries, the small disk shaped ones).

were my computer capable of powering on, i think your suggestions would be fine.

thx,
y-p