Wife's Laptop Won't Hold Its Charge.

[rebelboy]

The mains lead connects to the computer but it's not charging. Would a new lead rectify, or is the problem inside the computer?

Many thanks.

[decmangan]

Could be the adaptor itself or the battery. Usually the 'lead' is designed to split the load. Do you know anyone with a similar charger? If so swap it for a while and see what happens.

[jomifl]

Does the charging light come on when you connect it to the mains?

[jomifl]

decmangan, what do you mean by 'split the load'?

[paddywak]

Does the computer work OK when coupled to the mains?If so it's likely to be battery they do have a limited life.

[chrissa1]

This has happened to my laptop too. I just leave my lead plugged in all the time.

[hc4361]

All batteries have a life span, if the laptop works when plugged in then the lead is not the problem, it is the battery.
These are easily replaced.

[decmangan]

Some charger are designed to keep the laptop running, with a trickle charge diverted to the battery.

[mikey4444]

Its almost certainly a faulty battery. Laptop batteries can't be charged and discharged ad infinitum. New batteries are easily obtained from ebay, but do you really need one ? This is not as silly a question as it sounds. Most people I know leave the charging lead in all the time and use the laptop effectively as a portable desktop.

[rebelboy]

Many thanks for all your replies and suggestions. My wife thinks it's the lead itself as sometimes the battery is flat and she cannot use the laptop from the mains. A tweaking of the lead sometimes rectifies the problem for a day or so. She has never used it just from the battery option.