Laptop turns off when placed down with little force?

[Robert Broome]

I have an Acer Travelmate, and starting from today, whenever I chuck in into my case and put in my locker or bag (this is my school laptop), I open it up to discover that it is off (or sometime hibernated, if the laptop got that far before turning off), I have set it sleep, and then hibernate after an hour or so, but just then I put it down on my table and it turns off. I should also mention that it doesn't turn back on without putting the battery back in and out a couple of times. Connections between the laptop and battery look fine. Wierd?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Try cleaning the battery contacts with a dry cotton-bud, and same with the contacts in the battery bay.