Dell Lap Top Batteries..

[C.Ann]

I have a Dell lap top - Inspiron E1505.. It's a little over 3 years old.. I very, very rarely use the lap top via battery - probably have only done it 3 or 4 times for less than an hour..

Anyhow - when I turn on my lap top now I get a message that says something along the lines of: "Your battery is still capable of charging, but it is nearing the end of it's useful life. Please click here for information on purchasing a new battery." (That's not exactly word for word - just the general gist..)

So - have any of you had to purchase a new battery for your lap top? Is this common - even though I don't use the battery function?

 

[monarchsfan16]

When you say you don't use the battery, do you mean the battery isn't inserted, or it's inserted, but you have the laptop plugged into the wall, so you're running on outlet power?

It's not at all uncommon for batteries to lose life. My laptop's 4 1/2 years old. The battery was replaced about a year and a half ago. The current battery is now starting to show its age. It does not hold a charge as long as it did when we got it. If you're using your laptop plugged in all the time, my understanding is that this runs the battery down faster. If the battery isn't inserted, then I'm not sure what could have caused that problem. Perhaps it's the adaptor?

 

[C.Ann]

When you say you don't use the battery, do you mean the battery isn't inserted, or it's inserted, but you have the laptop plugged into the wall, so you're running on outlet power?

It's not at all uncommon for batteries to lose life. My laptop's 4 1/2 years old. The battery was replaced about a year and a half ago. The current battery is now starting to show its age. It does not hold a charge as long as it did when we got it. If you're using your laptop plugged in all the time, my understanding is that this runs the battery down faster. If the battery isn't inserted, then I'm not sure what could have caused that problem. Perhaps it's the adaptor?

Inserted, but running off a power outlet..

Are the batteries expensive? I haven't bothered to click on the info part yet..

You may have a point about it running down faster because I "don't" use it - now that I think about it.. DD has a Dell too - purchased a year or two before mine.. She uses it on battery very, very often - for long periods of time - and has yet to have to replace it.. Who would have thought?

 

[jenrose66]

I have the same computer and the same problem as you. I usually keep computer plugged in but now need a battery. I haven't purchased one because it's not high on my to do list with all the other expenses, but I am curious as to the cost of a battery too...it seems like I'd like to be away from an outlet lately and can't because battery only lasts about 30 min...

 

[monarchsfan16]

I don't know what Dell batteries cost. The Dell website is a good place to start, to at least identify (and get a price point) the battery you need. There may also be other places you can get them (specialty battery websites). A few were recommended to me at the time by a friend who's a computer geek, in an effort to save me some money, but in the end I ordered straight from HP (Dad paid and he told me to order from there), and I no longer remember what he recommended. Perhaps others may have ideas. My laptop's an HP, and requires a HUGE battery. Couldn't help but notice it was one of the most expensive they sold. How convenient I think mine was $120 or $150. I believe, though, that most others were well under $100. A lot of laptops will have different options for batteries too. Since it sounds like you don't use your battery for long periods of time, you could easily get away with the smaller battery IF there's one suitable for your computer. Smaller batteries are cheaper.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I have a one year old Dell laptop and I've never thought about this! I only use mine plugged into the wall too (very rarely do I not). Do they make something to just plug straight from the computer into the outlet??

 

[Swimnoid]

Same computer here and I have had to replace the battery twice. They are made to last about a year and a half now. With my first two Dell laptops I never had a problem for the life of the computer. Luckily this one is a work computer so they pay for it. I got each battery from a different online company who specializes in computer batteries. They cost between $105-150. Sometimes they have them on special. The one I have now is a duracell.

 

[C.Ann]

Same computer here and I have had to replace the battery twice. They are made to last about a year and a half now. With my first two Dell laptops I never had a problem for the life of the computer. Luckily this one is a work computer so they pay for it. I got each battery from a different online company who specializes in computer batteries. They cost between $105-150. Sometimes they have them on special. The one I have now is a duracell.

Oh - so I don't necessarily have to buy from Dell? That's good to know.. Thanks!

 

[Swimnoid]

Oh - so I don't necessarily have to buy from Dell? That's good to know.. Thanks!

Right, Dell charges quite a bit more. The battery websites help you figure out which one you need and you can check the number from the battery you have. I'll look to see if I can find the last site I used and let you know.

 

[mackeysmom]

I had a similar message a while ago, but the problem wound up being a faulty adaptor - once I replaced that, I was fine.