can i use laptop (safely) with battery taken out?

[clifftopdweller]

hi,

i'm been delaying opening up my laptop to change my CMOS battery (and check main battery connection, and see if can fix touchpad).... but i have my CMOS battery to install now, so i'm ready to go.

but i've noticed over past week/s that my touchpad is expanding up, more and usual! and i'm now thinking the reason my battery isn't working is because it's just dead! and it's now expanding so much, it's pushing up my touchpad (stopping that from working)...

i didn't expect this, as battery is only 1 year old or so... but it is plugged into power nearly all the time (which may be overheating the laptop), and i'm in southern europe, sometimes the laptop does get hotter than ideal.
so, i'm thinking the battery may well be dead (and ready to explode it seems!)... which is likely making touchpad not work..

so, query is,

1. i expect i should get the battery out of the laptop ASAP?

2. if i take out the battery tomorrow morning, but have no replacement battery yet, can i still use my laptop? or does this damage other areas of the laptop, if use it plugged, without the battery?

... if it likely the battery that is dead and need to replace. im happy to order a new one ASAP (same as i got before i suspect), and wait til that arrives until i take laptop apart... unless it's a real danger it may explode, or damage the laptop?

thanks so much. apologies if bit dramatic... just dawned on me today, when i noticed the screen wasn't closing fully, showing a large gap (which isn't just from the 'dodgy' touchpad i thought was effecting it).

cliff

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, Cliff:

Yes, you can run the notebook without the battery installed and yes, you should remove it as soon as possible to prevent further stressing of the notebook parts.

It is not recommended to leave the notebook plugged in 24/7/365 because that leaves the battery in a constant 100% charge state which may lead to battery swelling as you discovered.

See this link for how to get the most life out of your notebook's battery after you replace it.

HP Notebook PCs and Chromebooks - Improving battery performance | HP® Support

Below is the link to the service manual where you can find the battery and RTC (CMOS) battery removal and replacement procedures:

HP 14s Laptop PC Maintenance and Service GuideIMPORTANT! This document is intended for HP authorized...

[clifftopdweller]

thank you paul.
i appreciate the clarity around this.
i will open up the laptop today. nice to read that there is no danger of the battery exploding or something.. but for sure, don't want to damage my touchpad anymore.

i will continue getting clear on how best to use my new battery, as it's still not 100%... i do and have been leaving it plugged (even overnight, when it's switched off).. i sense i could unplug it when i sleep at least, for 8 hour or so, and then plug again when i use my laptop. 
still not sure of the 80% charge notion, with lithium ion batteries, afaik, they work differently to old batteries... and if they are plugged into the mains power, no power runs through them.. and to me, that would mean they don't 'wear out', or get used up... but my battery has only lasted 21 months or so since i got it, so im obviously doing something wrong! could be the heat too.. as well as constant plugging it in.

thanks for links.
ill order a battery today i expect.
regards
cliff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Cliff.

Cheers,

Paul