I agree with everything you wrote in your article. I bought a Dell Inspiron 1525 before I went to university (in 2008). The model number is 1525-2552. It is consistently on 0% battery and the battery doesn’t charge whilst plugged in. It will shutdown spontaneously without any warning screen. I have not had a heavy workload this year, but am planning to use it much more in the coming year for my pathology finals. It is such a hassle working on this computer.

Jess x

I have two Dell Inspiron 1525 laptops and one Inspiron 1545 in the
shop for repair of the “not charging” battery problem.

Both have the requirement of Dell’s marked charger and battery.
The marked charger and battery requires both to be “Dell product” and
have been manufactured to be sensitive enough to know that the
charger or battery is after-market.

Substitution of the cheaper “after-market” chargers or batteries will
only allow them to say that the product must be a “Dell Brandname”
part to charge properly. This is similar to the use of unbranded cartridges in printers, autoparts, etc.

Good luck with this.

I repair various computers and have 3 identical Dell Inspiron 1525 notebooks in the shop at the same time. All have the “AC Adaptor type = Unknown device installed” within the bios. Of coures, all three have within the battery health bios title “This battery is operating normally.”

It does appear that some type of smart chip is monitoring the adaptor type, even though I’ve tried a dell power adapter as well. Many other companies have tried this same approach in marketing, trying to keep their consumables and keeping the Dell customers coming back to them rather than allowing them to go to other after-market suppliers. Printer companies with their inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges, etc. And, now
even the power supplies.

So, Dell has decided to make their Batteries and Power Supplies unique
and even attempt to keep that part of the business as well, making
the maintenance more expensive to the end user.

Dell 1525 laptop: 3 years old.
Have the same problem, “plugged in, not charging”
No warranty, helpless.
Going for external Charger.
Never buying Dell again.
FYI: Besides Alienware and XPS products, Dell has very restrictive policy for Customer Care. Alienware and XPS products have some sort of privilege tag on them.

I can’t work on my laptop without it being plugged to a powersource! really?!!! it doesn’t even make any sense! if Dell know that this is acommon problem send all users a solution such as a recall. They didn’t have a problem taking my money… year after year..

It’s as if they are forcing me to look at their competition for a better computer. As if I haven’t. Dell do right by me and all of your loyal customers and send us a replacement solution to this common problem. If/when this laptop finally crashes.. I am leaving Dell for good. I really don’t want to but your product and lack of interest speak loud and clear.