[Virtualacorn-list] Laptop battery

[Chris Newman]

Hi folks,
I'm posting this on the Archive-on-Line & Virtual Acorn lists to trawl as
wide a body of expertise as possible. Apologies if you get this twice.

I bought a new battery for my laptop. Unfortunately, it would not start up my
machine. The machine closes down again about 2 or 3 seconds into the start-up
procedure. However, if I start the machine on the mains, the battery will
keep it going for a couple of hours.
The new battery is a compatible LI-ion Voltage 14.8 V, capacity 4800 mAh.
The battery is giving 14.8 volts but my small meter only goes up to 100 mA so
I did not try testing anything else. I think my old battery may be giving 4.9
or 5 V which is above the 14.8 volt spec
I charged the new battery for 12+ hours before using it as per the dealers
recommendation.
The Power meter on the laptop reports that the new battery is being charged
to 100% 
The firm very quickly sent a replacement battery but the result is the same.
My old battery will correctly start the laptop although now it only keeps it
going for a few minutes.
My laptop is a Clevo Model D27ES, supplied by Microdigital in 2003 with
Virtual Acorn.
I am presuming the computer takes more power to start up (spinning up the
hard disc etc.) than it does to keep running, hence the phenomenon I am
getting.
Has anyone experienced this before? Apart from sending the batteries back &
trying another firm, is there anything I could explore to improve the
situation? 

Regards,

-- 
Chris Newman