This computer is kind of old, and i expected it to have problems. but one of the problems is that the jack where i put in the plug for the charger is pushed in too far so i cant charge the laptop. im sure i can fix it, but i cant get insinde the laptop. i took out all the screws but it still wont open.

The DC jack in the laptop is a common source of trouble, from no power to intermittent operation. The computer will need to be dismantled down to the motherboard level to access the part.

Hi,
I had same problem with my Sattelite L300. Motherboard has a defect in one Proadlizer film capacitor exactly on the back of CPU, the original ref. is nec-tokin 0E907 (900uF/2.5V) or similar code. I've replaced it by 4 tantalum capacitores of 470uF/2.5V each and 2 capacitores of 220uF/2.5V, all in paralell mode in same old place of nec-tokin component.
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It sounds as though your DC Jack (where the charger plugs in) has broken off of the motherboard. I would suggest sending it to a computer repair shop for a proper diagnosis as a DC Jack can be very expensive to fix.
The jack is general soldered directly to the motherboard (see picture). As such the repair can put the entire computer at risk if done incorrectly.

Hi,

Have you tried removing your battery for a minute then plug it in again?
Check also your charger if it has a voltage output using your multi-meter. the expected voltage you will read is indicated on your chargers name tag in DC volts (observe polarity).

When you press the power button does anything happens to your laptop or nothing happens at all even indicator lights?

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Thanks..

regards,
John

It sounds like the adaptor has failed and needs to be replaced. However on some models you can get the same thing if the power jack it plug into on the laptop is loose. If you put the plug into the jack and then gently move it it side to side (very gently we don;t want to make a new problem) it should not move to the sides and should be fairly snug. If you do this with the adaptor plugged in if the jack is loose you may find just the spot where it works again and may see the lights blink on. If thats happens the jack needs to be replaced.

You really need to check the adaptor before getting a new one. For this you need to use a voltmeter. The meter will show or should show a number higher than what the rating is on the label. Thats normal. If it doesn't then replace it.

Finally some models will not run with a bad battery. They may run without it but not with a bad one.If it does anything at all with the battery then it should be good but needing a charge. If its over say 1.5 to 2 years old and you either use it a lot on the battery or not at all (always on the charger) then it may need replacing.

You just need to rule out what the cause it. Start with the plug, then the adaptor. The battery is the culprit when everything else works.

A problem is just like a mountain. You don't jump over the mountain, you climb it in steps, one step at a time.

1.How old is the battery? 1 to 2 years old, you can expect it to be at the end of it's Life Cycle. Batteries are rated in so many hours of usage.
Best bet is to let the battery charge 24 hours, then try it.

Would be nice if you someone else that has an Inspiron 1525, and they would try to charge your battery. If it doesn't charge up, you would know it's the battery. If it does charge up you can move on down the charging system, to try to find the problem.

2.AC adapter, (Charger) If you have a multimeter, set it to the 50 volt DC scale.
Laptop and desktop computers use DC current. (Direct Current) Your house, for example, uses AC current, (Alternating Current)
AC is converted to DC by the AC adapter, (Charger)

An example of DC current are flashlight batteries, and your laptop battery.
DC current has a Positive pole, and a Negative pole.
The center pin of the plug of your AC adapter is the Positive pole. Any of the four outside pins on the plug, are Negative.
The Red, (Positive), probe of the multimeter goes to the center pin. The Black, (Negative), probe goes to any of the outside four pins on that plug.
Example of a DC Power Jack, for the Dell Inspiron 1500 Series of laptops, 1525 and 1526, (This is the jack inside your laptop, where you plug the AC adapter into),
http://www.megaemarket.com/dc-power-jack-for-dell-inspiron-150150015011505.html

3.It may be that DC Power Jack itself is bad, or one of the solder connections is cracked. It's hard to see it clearly on the link I provided, (So I Right-clicked on it, Save Image As, and put it right in my My Pictures folder. Then I magnified it), but in the photo you will see some metal pins sticking out of the rectangular body.

The metal pins are sticking up. In reality those pins go down, when the jack is mounted on the motherboard. They go through the motherboard, via holes, and are soldered on the other side.
It is these solder joints that may crack, is what I'm referring to.

Solution to 1?
Obviously buy a new battery.

Solution to 2?
If your multimeter findings show lower voltage than needed, it's time to buy a new AC adapter. They have generic ones that can be used on a variety of laptops. The voltage will be stated on the top of the AC adapter.
Example: 19.2V-1.0A
That's 19.2 Volts at 1 AMP.

It may just be the plug end on the AC adapter itself. The plug end that goes into the DC Power Jack, on your Inspiron laptop.

Solution to 3?
Unless you are a skilled Electronics Technician, and have Excellent de-soldering/soldering skills, I advise taking it to a computer repair shop. It may not just be cracked solder joints. The DC Power Jack may need to be replaced. Maybe the motherboard is one of a bad design, and where the DC Power Jack attaches to it, has cracked.

sounds like the power jack at back of computer has gone bad, check voltage of battery and see if it has good power if not then it is dead and not getting charged through port the jack at rear generally requires MB replacement and is very expensive and cheaper to get new laptop, u can remove HD from old lap top and copy data over. another choice is to get stand alone charger for laptop battery and use battery mode,

if battery tested good them there is slight chance power switch is bad

If the battery is removed, it should still start up with the charger connected. A lot of laptops develope problems with the jack where the power supply plugs in, from constantly plugging & unplugging the charger. The jack in the back of the computer is probably bad.

Sounds Like From Your Description That You Need Your DC Jack Repaired/Replaced..

THe DC Jack Is the Port where Your AC Adapter Plug Plugs into on the laptop.... THis can be proprietary or non proprietary.... But Either way, the Old Faulty Jack Needs To Be Desoldered and Removed, THe Board Cleaned and a New DC Jack Soldered On.. You Will Then Be able To Power On Laptop With AC Charger and Will again Be Able To CHarge The Battery..

I'm not asking if the computer will charge, I'm asking if when you have it plugged in does the computer operate normally. You should be able to take the battery out of a laptop and plug in the computer in and the computer should still operate.