When you get your refurbished laptop it is very possible the battery does not work. It could be that it is just old and worn out or it is possible that the charging system on the AC adapter is not charging the battery. If you go to control panel and bring up power options you can see if the battery is being charged. You can also see if the battery light is on or turns green after it has been plugged in overnight.

To get the most out of your battery you need to know the type of battery and proper charging and storage procedures. If you buy a new battery they typically only a one year warranty and the battery can only be recharged 400 or 500 times. You can expect that it will last only two to three years. Prices for new batteries range from $50 to $125 or more. You can find good deals for used ones that will hold a charge for an hour or more on www.ebay.com for $25 to $50+.