Keith, I think I’ve got the same problem with my Dell laptop that you had. The ac plug inside the laptop is all wiggly. I used to be able to press it into contact and it would connect. No longer. I’ve been told this is a known quirk of Dell laptops.

So I’m wondering if your happy experience occurred while your laptop was under warrantly? I can’t imagine a new motherboard under any other circumstances.

Virginia

Virginia-

Yes my laptop is under warranty as I just purchased it Dec. 07. The problem is a defective ac adapter port, as it does not hold the adapter as it should. It’s a well known problem as I came to find out. The adapter port being integrated, there is no other solution than to replace the motherboard, and while it’s under warranty, the warranty does state they will fix or replace if something is wrong with the workmanship. So, there ya go. Now the only step is this: Call Dell, or go to Dell’s chat support, which is an awesome feature anyway. Either way, the only step is to contact Tech support, tell them you have the same issue everyone else has with the Inspiron 1501 and you can use my story as an example to them and ask for the same service: new ac adapter (which doesn’t fix the problem, but they have a process to follow) and also a box for your laptop so when the adapter doesn’t fix the issue, you can send your laptop in and it will return in about a week, as tech support told me. As I stated in my first post, I was going to leave it alone because everything else was fine with the laptop. But when I found out that every other Inspiron 1501 owner out there had the same issue, I dealt with it, as should everyone else. If enough people report the problem, it becomes a recall (if i’m right), then warranty or not you’ll get the same fix. Anywho, I hope this helps everyone. Any questions, I’ll check back daily at least and reply as I can.

I wanted to add one more thing that may be beneficial, may not. The tech support representative that I worked with to fix my issue, his name is Nitin. I doubt if everyone will be able to deal with him directly, as the issue sometimes arises that one tech does one thing and another does another thing, and since I can’t possibly repeat my own problem and work with someone totally new, I can’t tell you that it was definitely protocol or not, but if the person you get doesn’t seem very helpful, Nitin did his job with me, surely he’ll do the same with you

I purchased an Inspiron 1501 laptop in November 2007. The battery, charger and hard drive have been replaced once, while under warranty. Laptop again went dead. Had to buy another battery and charger for $364.40, and now after paying Dell for tech support, they are telling me that it’s the mother board. For a low $300 I can get it fixed. I’ll have more money in repairs then I originally paid for it. This laptop has been very disappointing, it’s not that old, and I have used it very little. I have a friend with the same laptop and she had to replace the motherboard also. Wonder if others with this model are having problems. I certainly will not purchase a Dell laptop again.