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I've got a big problem. When I plug my laptop in the battery icon says "0% (plugged in, charging)". The problem is that it never changes from 0% and the split second I pull the plug the computer dies. I have checked every inch of the cord and plug and have found nothing amiss, but it can't be a plug problem since that's the only thing keeping the computer alive. I have of course searched the web but in most cases I found, the problem was that the icon said "plugged in, not charging" which isn't my issue. The only solution I found while searching the web was to buy a new battery and replace the old one which I'm hoping I won't have to do. Anyone have any ideas?

It should also be noted that the laptop had been shut down for 8 weeks straight and when I started it back up that's when the problem began.

I'm afraid to say, you need a new battery. the computer i'm writing this on right now has the exact same problem and when i asked for help they said i needed a new battery altogether. If it is a mac, like mine, there are several methods out there. is your computer a pc or mac?

Its a PC. An HP laptop. It's odd, the computers only half a year old and it doesn't seem normal that I already need a new battery. This probably has something to do with the fact that I didn't use it for 8 weeks. I guess you shouldn't let a computer sit for that long or things will go wrong with it.

Did you consistently charge it or kill the battery off before you charge (before this problem happened)
Because consistently charging a battery is actually very damaging to battery life, so remember,
"Kill it before you charge it"

I'm afraid I usually did leave the plug in the computer unless I moved the laptop around. One of the reasons I did this is because the screen darkens considerably when the computer is not plugged in.

If the computer wasn't "turned off" when you last touched it and left in sleep mode that still uses power and will totally drain the battery and when that happens it means buying a new battery. Unless you know someone who can shock it back to life, by that I mean put enough of a jolt into it so it starts charging. But really a new battery is the easier solution.

Well since it was 8 weeks ago I can't be sure that I shut it down, but I believe I remember hitting the shut down button. But that is a possibility as to why it's died. Could I maybe take my laptop to a repair shop and have them shock it or would I have to purchase some kind of tool to shock it myself? And would it be cheaper to purchase a tool or just buy a new battery?

DarthHamster wrote:Its a PC. An HP laptop. It's odd, the computers only half a year old and it doesn't seem normal that I already need a new battery. This probably has something to do with the fact that I didn't use it for 8 weeks. I guess you shouldn't let a computer sit for that long or things will go wrong with it.

Heh. Every single HP i've owned, the battery status goes "Critical-needs replacing" within 2 months at most. I'm pretty sure there have been a lot of people complaining 'bout this. HP batteries just suck.