in the power settings, I can see the battery and it says it is charging, but it remains at 0%. If I double click on the battery, it shows me the battery info. When I run the battery diagnostics from HP, it runs through a series of tests, including an initial charge test that should take 6 hours. I started it, and it is supposed to show the charge as it goes, but it stays at 0.0%. My question is, does it sound like a dead battery or is the charging part of the computer messed up? I have always had it plugged in, so I'm not sure if the battery somehow died, and lost it charge. It would make sense if it was at 100%, but it says 0.0%. I'd go buy a new battery in a second, if I knew that would fix the problem. They're expensive! Thanks in advance

I think that it's a dead battery.

rechargeable batteries have a lifetime...eventually they won't be able to hold charge. I think if you have the battery in while the notebook is plugged in, the computer draws power from the battery, and charges the battery from the power line. I usually remove the battery from my notebooks while they're plugged in.

Laptop Batteries Guide

from experience: if you've left it on a low charge for a few months the battery is dead. if you've just hit the problem it may need a new motherboard.

Definitely sounds like a dead battery. What model HP laptop do you have? (HP Pavilion ___?) I experienced similar problems with my old HP Pavilion laptop battery. It was definitely a dead battery. The Lithium-Ion battery used in laptops only have a certain number of charges in them (typically, around 1000) and if you keep it plugged in as much as you say you do, you've probably exceeded the charge limit. I also tried to run HP's Battery Diagnostic utility, which did absolutely nothing. If your HP laptop is still covered under the manufacturer's 1-year warranty, you can request a new battery. Or if it is covered by any retailer's extended warranty they also will cover and replace the battery. Otherwise, you'll just have to purchase a new one (Yeah, I know they're expensive.) Another consideration (though not very likely.) Remove the battery unit from the bottom of your computer and, using cutips swabbed in alcohol, clean off the metal battery connectors on both the battery unit and the laptop. Charging issues occasionally are caused by dirty connections that prevent proper transfer of energy, although from what you've described it sounds more like a dead battery. Sorry.