Laptop battery won't hold charge.

[flobadob]

My brother has a Dell Inspiron laptop which is probably 4 or 5 years old. For a long time now the battery won't keep the laptop going for more than 10 or so minutes, even if the battery is 100% charged. Amessage does come up now and again saying that the battery is nearing the end of its servicable life or something to that effect.

Long story short it pretty much needs to be plugged in all the time to use it. Does it definitely need a new battery or is there anything that can be done to the current battrey to give it a new lease of life?

[Whickerman]

If it wasnn't charging the battery wouldn't work at all. The battery's dead, deceased, an ex-battery and needs replacing. You'll get them handily enough through Dell's site

[Whickerman]

you may get a cheaper version online btw

[AlBags]

New battery.

[flobadob]

Yeah it works no problem plugged in and it shows the charge going to 100%, it just doesn't last more than the ten mins. He's not too bothered as he mostly uses it in the house anyway. I was just wondering was there any alternatives to buying a new one.

[Whickerman]

they're not as cheap as you'd expect either
http://www1.euro.dell...&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

[ChuckFickens]

Basically, no there is no other option.

If you do decide to get another one shop about, dell direct will charge about twice the price you can get one elsewhere.

[AlBags]

Second-hand battery : )

[flobadob]

What the proverbial £113 for a battery. I got the wife a laptop for £350 and it's got 4 times more memory and a shiite load more stuff than the bro's. No freaking way.

[AlBags]

Try a few PC repair shops .. you might find a 2nd hand good one.

[ChuckFickens]

You've not said what dell it is, but typically about £50

http://www.laptopshop...cts-dell-inspiron.htm

[flobadob]

It's a 6400. Weird, in the link that whicker put it came out at £113 but in chucks it's £54. Unless the shipping is £60 then something is amiss.

[ChuckFickens]

It's the difference between a genuine Dell battery and a compatible battery, from a quick look round play.com are selling one for about £35 and high capacity ones are available for about £50

[flobadob]

That might interest him more. Thanks very much.