I found this answer on the net:

You could also call Dell... that is what I'd do.
Also check the bottom of the laptop and make sure it is vented so air
can circulate under it. Videos eat alot of resources and would generate heat.

Media Direct Button:
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...&isLegacy=true

Hi. I have a good cooling fan. Laptop is not hot. I checked on the underneath. It says 19.5 4.62 (right underneath the 19.5).

Thanks much

Melody

And I have it plugged it right now. Been charging and now it's charged to 89% and I'm NOT using an extension cord and the adaptor is just warm (nothing like it was when I had it plugged into the extension cord which of course I'm never doing again. lol)

I'll check on the direct media thing. Thanks much Mrs. D. Hope all is well at your end,.

Melody

The box on my power cords for both my laptops get warm to the touch, fairly warm too. But not overly hot.
I often plug them into power bar extension cords, but not the reg light weight ext cords. I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

One is an older Gateway and one is a new Compaq.

Your hot adapter is due to a couple reasons. Videos can be very power intensive for a laptop. So the laptop is drawing more power than if you are doing email. This is especially true for laptops that do not have a separate graphics card. More importantly the extension cord will cause the voltage to drop some before reaching the power adapter. This will result in a higher current to the adapter and greater heat build up. I would guess that this is a replacement adapter and is of lower quality than a original replacement. I would avoid the extension cord or get an original replacement from Dell.

Hi. I watch videos all the time on this thing. It has never happened again due to the fact that I no longer use an extension cord. The thing actually says REPLACEMENT ADAPTOR. But so far so good.

And I thank you very much.

I do have some more questions.

1. I use a surge suppressor which I shut off at night. The only thing plugged into it is my cordless phone (and the laptop) when it's plugged in but I unplug this at night from the surge suppressor THEN I turn off the surge suppressor.

So here is what I need to know.

Can I leave the laptop plugged into the surge suppressor and THEN shut off the surge suppressor? Or should I continue doing what I'm doing and unplug the laptop plug from the surge suppressor and then shut the surge suppressor off. I don't know if shutting off the surge suppressor while the laptop is plugged in, well if it will cause any problem when I turn on the surge suppresor on the next morning. I don't know about these things.

I have read that one can really save on electricity bills if one shuts off all surge suppressors (except for refrigerators) when one retires for the night and then turn them on in the morning. The only one I've been doing this with is the one thats in my bedroom.

So if you can answer that one, I'd appreciate it.

And here's another question.

When I shut off my laptop for the night, do I then have to close the cover? I don't see why this would make any difference if I keep it open or not but I would just like to know if it makes any difference? Thanks much. Mel

You need not unplug it if you do not wish to. Just make sure to shut down first before powering down. The idea of shutting all electronics down by removing power from them is a relatively new one. It is based on the idea that new electronics are not truley powered downed until they are, one unplugged or a device like a surge protector is used to disconnect power from them. It is a valid idea for large electronics like a big screen tv, digital cable boxes and other electric devices that draw large amounts of power. For smaller electronics say phones, coffee makers and even DVD players do not draw enough power to even notice even over a significant period say about a year. Even with large electronics you will probably only notice a small difference in your electric bill. Personally the dollar or two I might save is not worth the twisting and bending I would have to do to accomplish this. Much less hurting my back even more than what it is. You need not close the display either. Just be careful with the hinges they are a known weak spot and if you break them it is an expensive repair.

Okay, let's see if I got this right? I can leave the cover open all the time? What if I want to use it for a half hour, not use it, then come back. Is there a power saver button for hibernating, or do I just close the cover, and then come back in one half hour, open the cover and it will come back on. I've done that.

I understand what you said about the power surge suppressor. At bedtime, I need to completely shut down the laptop, don't need to close cover, then, if I want to, I can turn off surge suppressor, right?

But I just need to know how to put it in hibernation mode without closing cover. I don't want to open and close this thing all day long.

So is there a way to use the laptop, keep cover open, and then press something which will put it in hibernation mode, and then when I come back, in one hour or so, then I press another button TO WAKE IT UP??

Or is this not done with laptops:?

Thanks much for all your help. Mel