Power button doesn't always work immediately

Hello! Sorry if this has been asked before (it almost certainly has) but I've been scouring the internet for the answer over the last few days and no one seems to have the same problem as me. It's stressing me out a bit as I really need my laptop right now as I'm applying for jobs.

So, anyway:

I've got an Acer Travelmate 4001LCI. My battery appears to be coming to the end of its life. I didn't think that would be a problem as I can always just plug the laptop into the mains. Recently, however, the laptop doesn't always turn on when I press the power button. It's plugged in and the power LED on the front of the laptop is on but nothing happens. Sometimes I wait for maybe 15 minutes and then press the button and it turns on. It seems random.

Yesterday, I waited for ages and it wasn't turning on. In desperation, I took the battery out and put it back in but nothing happened. I then unscrewed the panels on the back that give you access to the hard drive, RAM and fans etc (i.e. I took off parts of the cover, not the whole base) and then cleaned it a bit. It wasn't that dusty really.

So I put everything back together (and was left with an extra screw which came from I don't know where!) and pressed the power button and.......it worked! I thought I had solved the problem but alas the problem has recurred: the laptop doesn't always turn on when I press the power button.

I thought maybe the battery is part of the power circuit and the laptop only turns on when it's built up sufficient charge, even if it's plugged into the mains. But really I don't know.

Someone please help. This problem is just adding stress to my life.

 

i just sent my acer in again for the 3rd time to depot repair for the same problem except my acer travelmate 2420 wont even turn on!!when i talked to tech support they told me to take out the battery and unplug the charger from it and to hold the power button for 30 seconds then to put the battery and plug the charger back in and hold the button again for about 4 seconds this is suppose to make it work again.Unfortunatly this didnt help me and mines on its way to depot repair.I hope it works for you tho.Good luck with your acer

 

whats the power pin on the unit looking like, is it slightly loose and does gently wiggling the adaptor do anything.