The most mysterious problem

I have a Aspire 3003 WLMI.It's 3 years old today.Yesterday,I started having a problem.I found the solution but thought it could help other to know.A little bit less than a year ago,I bought an outside battery(the original battery wasn't great to start with)so I use it all the time along with the original battery.Yesterday,I boot up my laptop.I first have to type a password(it's the Acer password protect thing)so,did so...no problem.Then,I have to provide the password for Windows XP Professional.I type the first letter...nothing happened.Couldn't type anything.I also always use a USb mouse with may laptop.The mouse would move the cursor but the laptop's touch pad wouldn't.Did try everything...nothing was working so I went for the foolproof "ALT","CTRL","DEL"...Then,when for the even more foolproof...press the on/off switch and wait until it dies...nothing did happen.Had no other option than to remove the battery.Firt did remove the outside battery...nothing happened.Then,removed the original battery,it died.Put the batteries back in and restart the process...all the same...did try to type Windows XP password..the first letter did post and then,nothing.Did try the "ALT","CTRL","DEL"...nothing would work just the same for pressing the on/off switch and holding it down.So...I decided thisi time to remove the original battery first and just for fun,to try to type something...the thing was working like a charm.Did push the original battery back in...everything was still fine.Did shut off the whole thing and started all over again...same problem.If my dead original battery is in the laptop,even though my outside battery is powering the laptop,I can't type anything...go figure???

 

Got a very similar problem with Acer Aspire 5002 WLMi
which happens to also be 3 years old
The batteries are not supposed to last more than 3 years.
So how did you get an outside battery?
I think I am going to try to buy a replacement battery from battdepot.ca
What are you planning to do?

 

Well...the situation stayed the same all day yesterday.What was happening,the original battery wouldn't take a charge anymore.When I would disconnect the outside battery,I would get the message "critical low battery" for the original battery but when the charger was put on,the battery indicator will turn yellow(indicating a charge)but will turn green(full charge) after just a few seconds so the battery wouldn't accept a charge...until this morning.Now,everything is back to normal.The battery is taking a charge and I can type without having to unplug the original battery first.I don't know if it will last?I was to get rid of the original battery but discovered that when it's not there,the laptop don't sit level.Also.with the outside battery alone,I have no useful indication when it will be totally empty so if it dies then you loose all your work.There's an indicator on the battery itself but it's not very precise and you have to press a button to see the battery condition.The laptop itself is getting kind of slow so will replace it soon.With deals at around $350. for laptop on Black Friday would be tempted to switch.
P.S. I bought an outside battery(almost a year ago)from APC at Circuit City.It was a little bit cheaper(they were in special)than the equivalent replacement battery lowest price you could get for a new one on eBay.Also,if you buy a replacement,it will only fit your model.With an outside one,you can use it with whatever laptop you will buy in the future.

 

I ordered a new battery and it solved the problem. It looks like the WLMi has this behaviour when the battery is not supplying sufficient electricity. I don't know if it is voltage or watts that is the problem, but a 3 year old battery is the common factor and replacing it solves the problem.

This was also the advice of Acer itself, to replace the battery.