acer laptop doesnt start anymore

[shashgo]

I was working on my acer laptop (acer aspire 3000) yesterday, everything was fine. Today when I tried to get on, it wouldnt start. All that happens when I turn it on with only the battery is I get 8 amber flashes on the light in front which has a battery symbol next to it. So Im guessing the battery is low. And when I take out the battery and use just the power cord, there are no lights when I press the laptop power switch. So does that mean that the power cord is no good and has never been charging the battery, explaining why the battery is dead? Or could it be something else?

[Computer_Commando]

Almost all laptops will work with no main battery installed.  If it doesn't work with only the AC adapter, something else is wrong.  When the laptop is off, the main battery installed, & the AC adapter plugged in, it should indicate if the battery is being charged.