This weekend I have had to buy my third laptop power cable in a couple of years (for the same laptop). It's the wire near the input end that always breaks. Admittedly I always use it on my lap (funnily enough) on the sofa and the lead may get moved around or bent a lot but still is this normal?
Common problem .. the cores of the cable get brittle with being constantly moved around.
Solution, get a stick-on clip (like for tywraps) and attach cable to this .. that will stop moving around and breaking the strands.
Alternatively, some cables are more rubbery .. and flexible. Look for one of those.
Thanks Albags. They are not actually easy to find. The last one before this I actually ordered the official one online from HP but I was desperate this time and got a universal one from a local computer shop (after a fruitless 20 mins in Currys with a nice but dim lad). It doesn't look like it will last long and they're not cheap either.