Clint Sharp writes:

Some of the Dell laptops can positively identify a genuine Dell PSU and
won't charge if it isn't genuine. Dell put a silicon serial number IC
inside the PSU which the laptop can read.

I thought Dell had stopped this BS [along with nonsense such as
non-standard desktop power supply pinout], but in any case it's a reason
to avoid Dell....


The cheap Targus unit that came with it will run the computer, but
won't charge the battery (one of the reasons I got it so cheap).
It's fairly simple to add the serial number if you can find a defunct
PSU (although a major reason for Dell adapters being faulty is that the
serial number chip dies!) but genuine AC adaptors are pretty cheap on
eBay.

How do you do this?

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433