Old laptop battery @ 0% - Can it be fixed?

[dougal]

The laptop is a very old Compaq Armada 7400 from around 1999/2000.

The battery is found in Windows but remains at 0% and if I unplug the charger the computer switches off.

I've heard of the freezer fix but didnt try it yet.

Is there any way to revive it, even just a little so that at least it gets past 0% ?

 

[roy_bates]

you could try to replace the cells inside the battery case.

dont bother with the freezer thing,it a load of crap..
the battery is dead as a dodo,simple as that.

 

[Mr B]

Batteries are a bit finicky. While you might be able to "zap" some life in to them by briefly exposing them to over voltage, you still need to take the pack apart and rebuild it for a reasonable success rate, and at that rate... Just get new cells and put in there.

Sad part... New cell's might cost more then the laptop is actually worth...
B!

 

[SaviorX]

you can still buy new (3rd party/chinese) batteries...

for instance:

http://www.itsbattery.com/Compaq-laptop-battery/Compaq-Armada-7400-battery.htm

 

[austinsom]

Had a similar experience with an old 12volt drill pack. Zapped it with over voltage several times which revived it for perhaps two charges.

So I broke it open and replaced all the cells with new (old ones were spot welded together with tabs). By the time I had done that, and tested it was obvious the new cells were not as high quality as the old ones, as despite being rated the same the current was lower. I used higher quality (more expensive, branded) units in another pack and that was fine.

So I guess what I'm trying to say it, by the time you have messed around trying to source some decent cells, opened the pack, messed around stripping the old batteries out, getting the new ones to fit, and the trying to seal the pack back up, it might work out cheaper to buy one. Sadly that is the throw-away society we live in now :roll: