Laptop Battery Problem
Yup I also know those symptoms well. It's a dead battery. Basically it won't charge so the motherboard can't detect it even being there and thinks its not connected to a battery and thus windows will show you the no battery icon despite the charging light on the machine flashing.
It's cured with a brand new battery. I'd try ebay as the last time I bought a new battery (in a rush before travelling abroad) I ended up paying my local laptop specialist over £70! (You reckon they saw me coming when I said I needed it urgently before travelling?)
Anyway.. when I got back I ended up on ebay looking for them where I found I could of got one for less than £25
It's cured with a brand new battery. I'd try ebay as the last time I bought a new battery (in a rush before travelling abroad) I ended up paying my local laptop specialist over £70! (You reckon they saw me coming when I said I needed it urgently before travelling?)
Anyway.. when I got back I ended up on ebay looking for them where I found I could of got one for less than £25
Hi, I would think it is very safe to assume that it is the battery. It may be an idea to replace it for confirmation unless you don't need to, a leptop can run fine connected to the psu if it isn't going to be used in major long bursts and I wouldn't recommend watching films connected to AC power either 
For a battery to last that many years you must have looked after it really well, i'm lucky if i get 2 years out of mine 
Let us know how you get on 
For a battery to last that many years you must have looked after it really well, i'm lucky if i get 2 years out of mine Let us know how you get on
Thanks for the replies, guys!. I suppose the time I have had it, it is pretty certain to be finitio !... yes I have seen them on Ebay from hong kong, at about £25, also some other suppliers at about £45 and a genuine Dell one is getting near to £75...
As the laptop is only used by my missus to get a few emails , do a bit of surfing for information, and mainly for facebook, (playing scrabble on line) there is no real problem using it on the mains.....
@ Kazbah........Why not use the mains for watching films on line then? can`t see any reason.... if the films and associated software/PSU requirements are heavy, then I would have expected that using the mains would have been an advantage....
"must have looked after the battery"..... well, can`t think of doing anything special, most of the time it has been connected and charging (fully charged) with the occasional run down to warning message, and then next day back on the mains again...
I reckon she will just have to use it on the mains, ( I may buy her a new battery on ebay for a christmas prezzie ! ! )
As the laptop is only used by my missus to get a few emails , do a bit of surfing for information, and mainly for facebook, (playing scrabble on line) there is no real problem using it on the mains.....
@ Kazbah........Why not use the mains for watching films on line then? can`t see any reason.... if the films and associated software/PSU requirements are heavy, then I would have expected that using the mains would have been an advantage....
"must have looked after the battery"..... well, can`t think of doing anything special, most of the time it has been connected and charging (fully charged) with the occasional run down to warning message, and then next day back on the mains again...
I reckon she will just have to use it on the mains, ( I may buy her a new battery on ebay for a christmas prezzie ! ! )
I am a Yorkshireman, despite residing south of watford. ! 
eh up lad, it's called 'canny'. 
thanks Santiago. not in a rush, so will do. much appreciated for advice !
Quote from: shutter I am a Yorkshireman, despite residing south of watford. !
We are like Scotsmen, with all the generosity squeezed out!
Did you sort the issue? Or would the answer spoil the Xmas surprise?
No. I haven`t done much about it, except keep an eagle eye on it !... (sorry wrong thread ) (hmm must go to chit chat sometime with that one )
Actually, she seems quite happy with using it just on the mains, so until she squawks loudly, it will remain ""status quo"".... (sorry for cross posting in this answer ) ! ! !
Actually, she seems quite happy with using it just on the mains, so until she squawks loudly, it will remain ""status quo"".... (sorry for cross posting in this answer ) ! ! !