OK, the latest here on this issue. In fact, I am typing on the suspect CBook right now. I ordered new batteries, and at first install, it did not work to solve the problem. But as I continued to play with the connector on the batteries, it relit and has been bulletproof for two years now. Thus, I saved the old batteries because it was clearly a connection problem, between battery and laptop, right at the connector. And in this C Book, if the battery can't be seen by the laptop then it won't work on external power either. The battery is mandatory to be in the loop in other words. My advice: keep playing with the connection! Disconnect and reconnect several times, to see if you can get it to boot.