Dell XPS 15 plugged in but won't charge

huja · 20-03-2025, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by shri:

Did you fix the charging issue? Curious if you did and what the fix was.

Thanks for checking in, @shri. I ordered a new power adapter last night. Hope to have it in two days. Per your research it's either an easy fix with a new adapter or the it's a motherboard problem - which means it's time to scrap the laptop. Will update status.

huja · 20-03-2025, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by shafiq:

Power management ICs near charging port may be bad or burnt.

Which as I understand is soldered to the motherboard.

huja · 20-03-2025, 10:07 PM

Another annoyance . . . while looking for a possible replacement laptop, I found out Dell discontinued the XPS 15. It's either the 14 or the 16. At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, the 15" is just right.

Windmill65 · 20-03-2025, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by huja:

Another annoyance . . . while looking for a possible replacement laptop, I found out Dell discontinued the XPS 15. It's either the 14 or the 16. At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, the 15" is just right.

In that case it would be the perfect solution for you if there was a repair shop available that could replace the broken component on the motherboard.

huja · 20-03-2025, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Windmill65:

In that case it would be the perfect solution for you if there was a repair shop available that could replace the broken component on the motherboard.

The laptop was purchased in 2016 and doesn't have the specs to upgrade to Windows 11. As much as I love obsolete technology (which seems to be a GXP trait), I know it's time to move on.

shri · 21-03-2025, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by huja:

The laptop was purchased in 2016 and doesn't have the specs to upgrade to Windows 11. As much as I love obsolete technology (which seems to be a GXP trait), I know it's time to move on.

Time for a MacBook .. the new 15 air is speced to perfection.. also a gxp trait - suggest something that no one asked for.

huja · 21-03-2025, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by shri:

Time for a MacBook .. the new 15 air is speced to perfection.. also a gxp trait - suggest something that no one asked for.

I recognize that the MacBook is excellent hardware with a user-focused OS, but I do not worship at the Church of Steve Jobs.

huja · 30-03-2025, 01:35 AM

The stupid and ridiculously long saga of my computer seems to have come to an end. After changing out the charging port and battery (both of which I had spares on hand for some reason) the laptop still wouldn't charge. I ordered a replacement power brick. I ordered an OEM with the EXACT same part number. It arrived w/the wrong barrel size (7.4mm) I communicated with the seller and was told he'd send the proper power brick. It arrived and was the WRONG barrel size again! So I ordered from another vendor and confirmed it was the proper barrel size (4.5mm) and it arrived today. After an hour charging, the laptop is back in action. Thanks to everyone for their help troubleshooting - even @shri for dare suggesting I switch to Apple.