[MelodyL]

Hi. I have a Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop. Works fine.

Two questions.

1. There is a MediaDirect button right next to the words INSPIRON E1705. What I gather is supposed to happen is when I press the MediaDirect button, the software is supposed to come up on the screen. Nothing comes up. I tried to do a search on the hard drive but didn't find anything. So where is my MediaDirect (whatever that is?).

2. The AC Adaptor is hot when I'm running the laptop (watching videos) while it's plugged in. I usually keep it plugged in during the day, The other day I plugged this adaptor into a heavy duty extention cord so I could put the laptop where I wanted to put the laptop.

Then I finished watching the video, I went to tough the square adaptor thing (which says "REPLACEMENT AC ADAPTER PA-10 FAMILY Model No. PA-1900-02D (MADE IN CHINA).

The adaptor was hot. I never noticed anything about adaptors before because there has been no need for me to handle an adaptor. I said to myself "jeez, this thing gets HOT". I then went on google and I'm not the only one who has asked this question. The answer is always the same "The adapter gets hot",. Then they start talking about getting another adaptor and it all goes over my head,.

Oh, on the adaptor is says: Input 100-240V~2.5A 50/60 Hz
Output - 19 5V(some kind of symbol) 4.62A N1650

Don't know what any of this means. But maybe I should not have plugged into into an extension cord??

Thanks to anyone who can answer my questions.

Melody

[mrsD]

I found this answer on the net:

Look on the bottom of your laptop for something like 19.5V 3.62A
make sure it is the same rating as your adapter, if it isn't you're using the wrong one.

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

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

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

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

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

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

[Jomar]

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.

[rmschaver]

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.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by rmschaver

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