Laptop Battery & Power Issues - Need advice.

[Delsana]

A while ago I'd have just bought a new laptop like that, but unfortunately the economy isn't as forgiving as it used to be and so I have to be a bit more careful with my money, and so if anyone could offer some advice it'd be appreciated.

So here's the situation.

Gateway NX860XL - 1 year 7 months old.

Problems -

The battery will not charge.
A new battery that has a full charge will not power the laptop, and the laptop doesn't even access it aside from stating that it is confirmed to be plugged in and be charged.
This new battery will not charge either.
The laptop will run on an ac-adapter but that's not why I got the laptop.
Removing the ac adapter at any time turns off the laptop instantly.
I am using an Ultimate copy of Windows Vista 64 BIT, Service Pack 2.
This is a gateway computer and it hasn't been supported for a while, but I've managed to keep it well ahead of the game.

Possibilities:

The adapter is somehow powering the computer but is not accessing the battery to charge it and thus they will not charge and or work.
- However if this was the case the full battery would be accessed and the power used, regardless if it could charge it or not.
(This leads me to believe its an inner hardware fault which Best Buy would take possibly around 500+ to fix, and I don't know any local or nearby computer technicians or stores that are smaller, and that I trust that would be cheaper or much more economical)

This battery to is faulty.
- This seems unlikely.

... I can find no other solutions or possibilities and so it may be that this laptop will forever be unable to be "portable".


Any help would greatly be appreciated.

[Tarks]

Most batteries are crap. My lappy is only two years old and the battery is done. I talked to the techs at Best Buy and they told me they only last a few years.

[lwleaver]

It sounds like you have a motherboard issue. If you are savvy with these things you can probably pick up a new mobo from ebay for a lot less than having someone from a retail store fix it. If you are really savvy and have a great touch with a soldering iron you can check the connections between the mobo and the battery leads. it sounds like something came loose.

[Delsana]

I can built a computer, I've never touched the insides of a laptop, and I've never mechanically fixed anything before either, so I'm not sure I could... ehh...