Windows 7 won't recognize my AC adapter for my laptop.

Minto · 03 Oct 2009

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I'm pretty sure this is where it fits best.

So not to terribly long ago I installed the Windows 7 RC on my laptop, and installed the driver, but since then it hasn't been recognizing my charger it says I have the wrong kind. It says I need a 65w adapter, but I've checked and that's what I have. In fact when I had Vista it worked just fine.
Could it be that I just managed to install the wrong drivers...?
Any help would be great.

By the way I have a Dell Inspiron 1545.

Thanks

Lunarpancake · 04 Oct 2009

not that this comment helps at all but :

I've never heard of an OS actually determining that the power adapter is the correct one or not. In my experience (im a network administrator and long time pc tech) the adapter either works or does not work and the only way you can tell is if the machine starts to charge or not. Or that little battery icon in the taskbar has the ac plug overtop.

Minto · 04 Oct 2009

Hmm, I donno, it's not totally unheard of for me, I did scan over some other topics and there was something, somewhat similar, maybe I'll try dual booting vista and see if that helps I suppose..

logicearth · 04 Oct 2009

Driver issue, Windows only knows what the driver is telling it. The driver is saying the AC adapter is wrong, but why is it saying it is wrong...I do not know.

theog · 04 Oct 2009

Hi Minto

The new Dell chargers are chiped.

Therefore on start-up Bios will check charger, if you are using a non-dell or old dell you will have this message.

Minto · 04 Oct 2009

theog said:

Hi Minto

The new Dell chargers are chiped.

Therefore on start-up Bios will check charger, if you are using a non-dell or old dell you will have this message.

Huh... odd.
I'm using the same exact charger... maybe they have the bios on the site so I can reinstall it or something.

EDIT: Just tried updating the bios, and it didn't work.

thefabe · 04 Oct 2009

I think maybe a bios update is a possible fix.

Minto · 04 Oct 2009

logicearth said:

Driver issue, Windows only knows what the driver is telling it. The driver is saying the AC adapter is wrong, but why is it saying it is wrong...I do not know.

So, here's a question-
I'm pretty sure I didn't, but I may have installed the wrong drivers or something, so could I just go into the dell drivers folder and delete them all?
Or would I have to go into device manager and pin-point all the drivers I would want to uninstall? If so, would I just uninstall the "Microsoft AC Adapter" under the batteries section?

Edit- I'd cross out the last part but I don't see an option to.
I found out that you can in fact delete the folder but that doesn't uninstall the drivers so would I just go into device manager and uninstall the microsoft AC adapter?

theog · 05 Oct 2009

Hi Minto

Have a look at Dell Win7 support:

Dell - Windows 7 Center

Lunarpancake · 07 Oct 2009

curious....someone said bios checks the charger on boot. Have you tried unplugging the laptop during boot then after its booted connect it? Does it charge fine now?