All batteries will drain a small amount, even if they are not being used. However, a substantial battery drain would be due to a problem with the battery or laptop.
Make sure that the laptop is indeed off, though. With Vista, clicking the power button in the start menu will not shut down the laptop, but will instead put it into sleep mode. This continues to drain the battery. Some of the lights on the computer will still be lit when the laptop is in sleep mode, while no lights will be on if the laptop is turned off.
This should not damage the laptop at all, they are designed to be turned on at any time. (Unless of course the battery is dead.)
pluged into my laptop where else would it be?
I would use my laptop to check emails and such, and the battery, and well, nothing really I wouldn't USE my battery for anything except running my laptop which it already does on its own...
Yes, if the relay was stuck it would drain the battery.
A laptop battery can be charged while using it, but it would not be likely to become overcharged when the laptop is in use, unless the laptop goes into a sleep or dormant state.
Because if you reversed the polarity at the battery it would blow the fuse through which current flows to the drain.
That is a comparison question. There are some really good deals on laptop batteries on eBay, and there are also really good prices on laptops almost everywhere you look. I would say in compare them, and depending on the age of your laptop if there is a $100-$200 difference in price between a battery and a new laptop, and you can afford it, a new laptop would make economic sense. I would also look and see if I purchased another battery at the time of the new laptop purchase,,if they would give you a deal on a extra battery also!
Its not charging.
Laptop batteries have a life expectancy of approximately 400-500 recharges, depending on the battery. To conserve battery power, simply decrease screen brightness and unplug the charger when the laptop is fully charged.
A car battery in any car would drain due to a short in the electrical system.
Perfectly fine i would recommend it.
A raidator in need of a flush will not cause a battery drain.