BleepingComputer.com: Computer will NOT turn on! Please HELP!

Ok, this problem was created by me messing with something I shouldn't have been so none the less "lesson learned", anyway this is how this debacle got started:

I use my computer in my car alot for work, GPS, paperwork that kind of thing so instead of tying up my power outlet with my computer I thought I would install a permanent power supply (Genius). Lucky me there was already a power cord in my car from a previous computer but the connector tip was not compatible with my computer, so I applied logic, right? The obvious thing to do would be to get a cord that would fit my computer replace the cord in the vehicle with it and WHALA!! Right? WRONG! The resulting damage was this:

- With the power cord plugged in the battery would hold charge but would NOT charge, nor did the battery icon indicate that the power cord was plugged in. With the power cord unplugged the battery ran off what remaining battery power it had until it went dead, and now.....nothing.......nodda........zilch! What have I done? Is my $1200.00 computer fried? (by the way....the waranty.....expired.....LAST MONTH!!!) Have I really F'd up this time? I guess the obvious thing do to do would be to find away to charge my battery and just use the A/C plug all the time but I would rather fix the problem if possible and put this embarrasing incident behind me! Any help you guys can provide would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Thanks!!!

The system is a Dell XPS Laptop model M1330 runing Windows Vista Home

will it boot up off of AC power? if so you may have just fried the battery and purchasing a new battery may solve your diliemma. If it wont boot off AC power it may have done a lot more then that.

Unfortunately no, right now I can't turn the computer on at all. The battery is dead and while before the battery went dead having the AC power plugged in kept the battery from draining (ran for several days like this) the battery would not charge, and once the battery went dead the AC cord alone would not turn the computer on.

The first step would be to see if the cord that you put in your car is getting any voltage through it. A cheap multimeter from someplace like Home Depot can tell you that. If it's not getting voltage, then that's most likely why your battery is dead.

If it is getting voltage, how much voltage is it? It may be too much for the system, and you may have fried it.

If you have the original power cord, try plugging that into the wall and checking to see if that works (it'll take a few seconds for enough charge to build up, so wait at least 30 seconds before trying to turn it on). If you don't have a cord, visit a store that stocks Dell's and try one of their cords if they'll let you.

Then try all of the above again, but remove the battery before trying it.

Wiggle the place where the cord plugs into the system. Does it feel loose? If so, the connection between the socket and the motherboard could be broken.

Yes the cord in the car was getting power, it has a 2 amp fuse in it. I have plugged the system back into the wall with the power cord that I know works and nothing.

This is what I know:

- I know the computer itself isn't fried because it worked fro several days after my attempt to run the system off the car, with the AC cord plugged in.

-With the AC plugged in to the wall, power was getting to the battery and was maintaining the batteries charge but not charging the battery, no icon to indicate that the AC cord was plugged in just the battery icon, but no power is getting from the cord to the computer which leads me to believe that the battery is fine but something has been fried between the power cord and where the computer receives power from the AC cord.

So I guess this is where I have to take it somewhere to have someone open it up and look at it, right? Any suggestions?

Yep, I'd suspect that it's most likely a problem with the jack in the computer. A 2 amp fuse should have protected it from overpowering.