My laptop's battery light is indicating that the battery is very low. I took it out yesterday and then put it back in and it showed it was then charging. However, today it is again indicating low charge in battery.

Am I going to need to replace the battery?

Chances are yes,mine went, got one of e-bay brand spanking new,
cost about £15 if not mistaken about 12 months ago.

Searched the internet for a new battery - none to be found. Have e-mailed the manufacturer. The laptop/notebook is only four years old.

Apparently there are no batteries in the EU for my laptop. Both battery and laptop manufacturers are trying to flog me a battery that they say is a replacement but it doesn't have the same exact shape as the current one, so I cannot see how it will fit! I have sent them photographs of the current battery but no reply as yet.

Is the life of a laptop only expected to be four years or less? I am peeved.

Forgive me if I am stating the obvious - have you done a search on Ebay using the make and model of your laptop?
If that brings back no result then they maybe right?
If it bring back a result then buy it!!!
Win win result

Much time has been spent searching the internet. Did you know there was a company in the US that replaces the li-ion inside these batteries. Not only that, the variations of type, size, power and shape of laptop batteries is hugely vast - which leads me to suspect I wont be the only one with a four year old laptop and no new battery available. Doesn't say much for hardware designers really. (Same goes for printer ink cartridges.)

If no suitable battery is available then this machine is no longer a laptop. There was no warning that batteries would be unavailable after +/- four years.

I will press on.

Its pretty much the circle of life for a laptop to end up being constantly plugged in.

You will get the best out of any battery for about 1 year then its down hill all the way.

I'm on a 8hr Battery Net Book when New 2yrs ago.
Now i can do about 1hr 1/2

Its just how it works out.

I suspect unless you find a Banded laptop Battery your going to be throwing good money away, as UnBranded once can loose that MAX LIFE pretty quick with in months.

Normally a Branded Battery from the Manufacture would set you back the best part of £70.

One Solution ?
Invest in a Nice Extension Cable to Reach Across the Living Room to your Favorite Chair. Probably cost you about £6

Its just the Circle of Life i'm afraid.

Not good enough though is it.

We used to have our tellies for years on end and even bought second-hand ones which lasted at least another five years. The washing machines used to last 10-15 years being used every day.

Now electricals seem to have a pathetic life length at ridiculous prices. I protest (even if nobody is listening!).

whats the make and model number?

Medion Akoya MD96480

Battery Part No: 441814600019

Just to update. Email received from Medion - cannot help. Email received from ipc-computer.eu

'we are so sorry, but your old battery is a model from mitac 8050 - this battery is end of life / end of service. We can´t offer this no more.

Sorry for the circumsances.


Mit freundlichen Grüßen / best regards'


The lesson I have learned is to purchase the cheapest notebook/laptop or at time of purchase get spare batteries!

just take the battery out and keep it plugged in, that's what i do with my laptop, saves weight and also it's pointless having the battery in if its just going to give you warning messages

I took the battery out and it is on the mains - that flashing red light was like a red rag to a bull.

Further research regarding the Mitac seems to be throwing up batteries which appear to be identical but measurements of exterior have so far differed. Still plodding.

-Hope you dont mind if I tag onto your thread Moonstar -but it seems an appropriate place. Would I be right in thinking that it preserves the battery best if you only use your laptop on the battery if you really need to , and stay on mains when you dont? And once youve started using it for a session on battery, is it better to continue using it till its nearly run out before charging it again?

I am sure you are right Venice.

I have tried China - but no joy. So this laptop is now immobile.

If useing your laptop on power (mains) take the battery out for it will drain it and will not last long,found out the hard way,only put it in to charge it if you are useing it outside.

Laptop batteries tend to last about 3 years before they give up the ghost. L-ion batts last about 1000 recharge cycles (1000 days?). That is not a deep recharge cycle either, just a normal plug your laptop in scenario. If you want your battery to last longer, take it out of the laptop when you are on AC mains. Remember, with your laptop on AC, the battery will last approx 1000 days.

P.S Don't buy any Medion Lidl/Aldi computers. They are not very well supported.

Update: I discovered from Medion that the laptop is in fact a Mitac 8050. Searched for battery and found one that appeared to match physically and to power spec. Took a chance and ordered it.

YIPPEEEEEEEE - it's a match. Now charging happily.

The proof will be in the battery life after 6months.
Hope you have touched lucky

Me too!

hi, my advice is - forget emailing the manufacturer, your contract is with the retailer. you are covered by the sales of goods act for a period of 6 years (dont let the common myth of manufacturers one year warranty confuse you, and dont fall for the big con where the retailer tries to sell you breakdown insurance) - you are covered up to 6 years legally.

your laptop battery doesnt work and you can not get a replacement. the retailer may argue that you can not expect a battery to last more than 4 years - fair wear and tear, so, you could argue back that they failed in the sales of goods act as they supplied goods not of merchantable quality or fit for their purpose and the reason is that the interchangeable parts of the laptop are no longer stocked anywhere.

hope that makes sense!