Laptop battery/ac adaptor issues

mts

OK, apparently my wifes laptop has been acting funny the last couple of days.

the laptop monitor has occaisionally been cycling between the brightness level for on AC and the dimmer on battery level (with associated on battery icon in system tray) despite it being plugged in.

any clue as to what it might be? i think its happening in other places besides our house, and my laptop doesn't do it at home.

Tzen

My laptop AC adapter has a short in the cord somewhere (frayed wires or something, I guess. I dunno if that's technically a "short"). Sometimes when it's plugged in, it's not actually providing power. If her AC adapter has a little green light on it to show whether or not it's working, just have her look at it the next time it switches to the battery brightness level or whatever.