if my laptop won't switch on at all, does that mean it's properly dead?

[ShrinkingViolet]

I get the power light showing when it's plugged into the mains, but not when it's on battery. Is it likely to be the battery, or the laptop itself? The screen has been going weird for a few months, so I'm expecting that it's gone forever .

will it start when it's plugged in to the mains?

Charge the battery up and try again- if it still won't start then it's probably dead

doesn't start up at all. Do i have to brave somewhere like PC World to buy a new battery, or can I do something to make this one work [pathetic emoticon]

I wouldn't go to PCWorld personally. I'd try an independent computer place. If it isn't starting even though you've charged te battery it sounds as if the laptop itself is knackered but take it into a computer shop and they'll hae alook for you

it sounds like the battery or recharge circuit to me. if it is the screen you should hear the hard drive noises and fan, etc.
It's not an asus is it? I bought a crappy laptop from them, and the charger wasn't actually powerful enough for the computer, so the battery evenutally died on it. then the recharge circuit went.

Have you tried taking the battery out and starting with just the mains plugged in? That'll rule out a battery fault..

I had the same problem with my vaio. I cant remember the exact problem now but it was something to do with a fuse (or something like that) going that enabled the laptop to get a charge, either from battery or power lead.

It cost me £350 to get fixed, but as i got the laptop for free and it was (when it was bought) a top of the range laptop, i thought it was worth the spendage.

I agree about NOT taking it to PC World. Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole! They are rip off merchants. Go to an independent computer shop. Much cheaper!

I heart Geekboy - I took out the battery, plugged it in, once it had booted up, I put the battery back, and now it's happily charging.
Thanks