# Dell laptop AC adapter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488 "2005-04-08T22:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488/1 "2005-04-08T22:31:37Z")
Apparently, my not-quite-year-old Dell Latitude D600 has decided it no longer wants to “determine” the AC adapter. Whenever I boot, I get this: > [@](#): > > The AC Power Adapter type cannot be determined. This will prevent optimal system performance. > > Strike the F3 key (before the F1 or F2 key) if you do not want to see warning messages again. > > Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility. It’s never happened before. Consulting Dell’s tech support page tells me to check the pins where the plug connects to the actual adapter and make sure they’re OK. They look fine to me. I’m still getting AC power, seemingly just fine. I also really don’t want to spend my weekend on the phone with tech support and/or customer service trying to get them to send me a new adapter (I’m still under warrenty). Anyone got any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488/2 "2005-04-08T22:59:30Z")
Is it one of these? [http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05004.html](http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05004.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488/3 "2005-04-09T16:10:26Z")
It may not be the adapter. It may be something on the motherboard. Definitely call Dell if it’s under warranty. A couple hours on the phone should be worth it for a free repair. I don’t know much about Dell anymore, do they have online support you could use? (other than what you’ve already mentioned, I mean some sort of chat - might be less painful than listening to them on the phone.) ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488/4 "2005-04-09T16:41:52Z")
> [@Jake4](#): > > I don’t know much about Dell anymore, do they have online support you could use? (other than what you’ve already mentioned, I mean some sort of chat - might be less painful than listening to them on the phone.) I . . . I cannot even imagine the horror of being a Dell chat-support person. Ye gods, it’s hard enough talking to idiots on the phone, but having to try to decipher whatever idiocy they manage to vomit onto the keyboard . . . _shudder_ Those poor people . . . ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-laptop-ac-adapter/298488/5 "2005-04-09T16:57:23Z")
> [@Jake4](#): > > It may not be the adapter. It may be something on the motherboard. Definitely call Dell if it’s under warranty. A couple hours on the phone should be worth it for a free repair. > > I don’t know much about Dell anymore, do they have online support you could use? (other than what you’ve already mentioned, I mean some sort of chat - might be less painful than listening to them on the phone.) I know for a fact that they don’t have chat support for business tech support (They literally only did it once. I’m sure it didn’t last 20 minutes, and it was definitely not in 1960.) I’m pretty sure they don’t have it for consumers either.