Dell Inspiron Plugged in, Not Charging

[WWGD]

Hi All,
My Dell Inspiron with Win 8.1 is plugged in but it is not charging.
Please see screenshotsof power settings
1)
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/2149932)
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/214994

There was a post on this , but it did not answer the question. I am trying to exhaust software approaches before considering hardware ones.

Thanks.
EDIT: Sorry for not including something clearly relevant issues
1)The battery has charged at times.
2) There is power coming in through the outlet, and the power level has remained constant at 7%. If the
level were significantly higher, say at least 30%, I would consider restarting. According to system info (Control Panel) , battery is working fine.

EDIT2:
3)As in post #5, there is a bizarre issue: When I power on the machine (Win 8.1, Dell Inspiron; using connector to wall outlet) , OS does not boot. Still, if I unplug and replug , system boots up . Any shamans out there willing to help me with this Voodoo?

 

[rootone]

The power management settings don't have any option which effectively renders the machine incapable of charging.
I'd say in order of liklihood it's one of three hardware related problems.

1. Battery is dead.
2. The charging unit is dead (could be just a blown fuse).
3. The power lead., or input plug, or socket is damaged.

 

[fresh_42]

4. Contacts.

 

[WWGD]

4. Contacts.

Do you mean the power connectors?

 

[WWGD]

The power management settings don't have any option which effectively renders the machine incapable of charging.
I'd say in order of liklihood it's one of three hardware related problems.

1. Battery is dead.
2. The charging unit is dead (could be just a blown fuse).
3. The power lead., or input plug, or socket is damaged.

Sorry, Rootone , I added some things , please see edit.

 

[rootone]

Sure, contacts were partly what I mean by power plug and socket, but there others.
Contacts on the actual battery can get 'dry' - just removing the battery then putting it back fixes that one.

 

[WWGD]

Sure, contacts were partly what I mean by power plug and socket, but there others.
Contacts on the actual battery can get 'dry' - just removing the battery then putting it back fixes that one.

Thanks again. There is also a " Voodoo" issue : Windows (8.1) does not initially boot at all, I just get the DELL seal . But when I unplug and replug, OS does boot up. I can't make sense of this.

 

[fresh_42]

Do you mean the power connectors?

Yes, and at all its levels: wall, line, Dell, and then inside. I know it's unlikely, but not impossible. Just got a new phone because I could have sworn the battery of the old had finally been gone. Too bad, the new one didn't function either. In the end I've found a loosely plug somewhere on the line between the many stations between the wall and the phone: wall - router - splitter - phone. I haven't touched that damn thing for years, so why the ... wasn't it properly plugged in anymore.

 

[WWGD]

Sorry to have bothered you all with this; like I had said : " Voodoo in, Voodoo out" : I unplugged and replugged and now PC is charging; at 19% level, where it was at 7% before.

 

[russ_watters]

Sorry to have bothered you all with this; like I had said : " Voodoo in, Voodoo out" : I unplugged and replugged and now PC is charging; at 19% level, where it was at 7% before.

I've had this issue, with my previous Dell PC. I think it is either related to the aging of the battery, overheating or something else that causes the PC to stop charging or get confused about the charging level. Rebooting usually fixes it.

 

[rootone]

Turn everything off, take battery out, clean contacts if possible, put battery back.
It's worth trying.