Just got a Compaq R3000 laptop off ebay, year old been running fine. Ran it from 80% battery level first down to 40%, then plugged AC power in. After 5 minutes it dropped out saying running on battery, despite AC power still plugged in. Taking the AC power out of the back of the laptop and putting it in again, recognises it, shows AC power and battery charging again. This now happens every 10 secs - 5 minutes.

No errors show in the device manager, no updates drivers found. I've tried letting the battery go down to 2% then turning it off, turning it on again to kind of reset the battery and charge it, but the same, the AC power keeps dropping out. A HP software update wizard ran but noting unusual or to do with the battery. I've ran windows update installed everything there is.

I've ran http://instantsupport.hp.com/euserv/...www.msn.co.uk/ online that say theres no critical errors, but a serial device has a problem. Again, cant find any new drivers or anything, not sure how serious this is, what it is or whether its connected. Other than that it shows some bios update, and other driver and software updates, but I cant see whether I need them or not, particularly the bios one.

The DAL hardware scan shows nothing really. Its getting un-bearable. Urgent help needed, thanks.

it may be the battery

Perhaps but why would this stop the laptop recieving AC power? Even if there is a problem with the battery, what do you mean most likely hardware or software wise?

What I find strange is that the guy who I bought this off I really dont think would have experienced these problems for a year, so why is it happening now? Because I ran it on battery for an hour and he never did, perhaps. But the unit un-recognises AC power quite regularly. Really need help with this.

Still happening, can I please get some help with this, thankyou.