Whats wrong with my R2?

Ok please excuse if this is a double post, I did search and found many OTHER battery issues.... But all different than my current issue.
About 2 weeks ago I noticed my power button change colors while using the laptop and saw it was running on battery power. The unit was plugged in and the outlet did have power (not a switched outlet). Then I shut down the unit and when it booted it gave me the "running on battery power message F1 or F2", needless to say I hit F1 and even though it gave me that message it showed the AC adapter in the windows taskbar. Battery charging / fully charged.
I thought it could be 1 of 4 things corrupted software, Charger, battery or motherboard.... Formatted system and did a complete fresh install including bios update, and I got the message again. Ordered a new charger which seemed to fix it for a week, now I am getting the massage again. What is wrong with my system? Battery or Motherboard? Any ideas would be appreciated...

 

senodil, you need to run a full battery discharge.

Unplug it, take out the battery, then hold the power button for 1 min

Hopefully that solves it for you

 

I believe that is the fix for the battery not charging issue.... Which is not my issue. I tried it anyway and still have the issue described initially.

 

what happens when you take out the battery and run the computer plugged in, are you able to use your computer? Will it start?

 

Ok, just pulled out the battery and started the computer. Same message " your system is running on battery power F1 or ". Does that mean its my battery or my motherboard? LOL

 

ok one more question, can you start the computer on battery? What is the percentage charge left on the battery?

 

Started computer on battery, booted up and using it to post... 100% remaining

 

hmmmm...it looks like everything is working, but you get that battery message

you're able to start computer with AC only
you're able to start computer with battery only
you're able to start computer with AC and battery

The battery is charging and working...plus it charges to 100%
You've reinstalled windows, you've replaced the charger

The only thing left is the mobo.

If could be the port on the mobo where you plug in the charger to the laptop on the back, or even the charging circuit. Its too hard to guess

I'd just keep an eye on it for now

 

HAve you updated to the latest A10 bios?

 

I have a hundred dollars that says it's your motherboard. Stealth Mode strikes again.

 

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. Latest bios, 07 is what the dell site is latest one. I thought mine was the R2 (2.0 quad core, dual nvidia 260's, 8gig ram), guess its the R1... It started acting funny yesterday ie- screen goes black and does not come back on. Guess I'm going to get a motherboard off eBay. Anyone care to share a link with the correct one please?

New Alienware Area-51 M17x-R1 Motherboard - REP-M17XMB | eBay

or

DELL ALIENWARE M17X LAPTOP OEM MOTHERBOARD F415N 0F415N CN-0F415N 40GAB3300-A900 | eBay

 

What CPU do you have? Is it a Core2Quad? Might be the Dell M17x R1

 

You have the M17x (first dell one), the M17x R2 never came with the 260Ms

Also the correct motherboard for your system is the one in your second link, the first one is for the m17x-R1.