A problem with my laptop.

I have a dell laptop running on Windows 2000 that I got for free from one of my Dad's friends. A couple weeks ago Dad was using the internet on it and for got to plug it back in and left it on all night. The battery died, but when I did plug it back in, it wouldn't charge or turn on. Andi tells me I should buy a new one. Is my battery really dead forever, and should I buy a new one? Thanks for your help.

I would plug it in and leave it pluged in for about 24 hours. Then I would probably hit the back of the laptop, yep I suck with computers. If that doesn't work then call up someone who is very good with computers and ask them.

take the battery and clean the contacts with bakeingsoda and water. For the labtop blow into the battery slot to clean the contacts in there. Then Put it back in and use a voltage tester set at 120Volts AC current and see if you are getting power in from the charger and electrical outlet. If you are plug in in and leave it chargeing for 6 hours and try it. It is probably something with the charger because if you plug it in, it should still turn on with charger power if the battery is dead. Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Comrade

Then I would probably hit the back of the laptop, yep I suck with computers.

Yes. That's the perfect way to go: hit the back of the laptop, break it, and buy a new one. Problem solved.

No, really. That's the worst suggestion ever given. Laptop is a very sensitive tool. Never hit it, shake it, or use it brutally. My friend broke her laptop after several months of using it because she was shaking it a few times, hard.

Ok, well, I bought a brand spanking new battery for the laptop....it fits and all, but the dumb thing still doesn't work! It doesn't boot up, does not apparently charge, notta. The light on the laptop comes on for about 5 seconds but then it just shuts off. Maybe I didn't put the new battery in right and I it's too big and it's jammed in there. I can't get the battery out even though I could get the other one out. I think it's jammed. Can you help me?

That is really strange.

Go to Radio Shack, or something. You should probably get proffesional help. And it's quite strange, I must admit. Try prying out the new battery, if you haven't yet. And not with your fingers, with like... a screw driver or something.

Thats all I can say. ><

Sounds more like something's fried inside the machine rather than a problem with the battery (which I obviously should have told you before you bought a new one, but I wasn't around, unfortunately), because most laptops don't go via the battery for the power supplying part (they still charge the battery, obviously). Just try to start up a (working) laptop without the battery, and it should work fine as long as you've got the power supply jacked in.

You probably need to send it to someone who knows stuff about computers and hardware.