I have been using this laptop without the battery installed (power cable only). I was able to get through a fresh install of Windows XP Professional without any issues. Windows has been activated as well via the official registration process (calling in). You will need to install missing drivers if you plan to use WinXP. The laptop can also handle Windows Vista (or other OS's such as a Linux distro).

The left mouse button key does not work. I can push it but it will not do anything. All the other buttons I have used, including the mouse track, appear to be functioning. The hinges are very solid considering the age of the laptop. The screen is solid. I do not see any major issues while I had it on. The DVD/CD drive works (as I installed WinXP from CD). The ethernet port seems to work as the lights came on when I plugged a cable in but I am missing drivers for the NIC. The laptop also has 3 USB ports. I did not test them. There is a slight hum when it is on. Possibly the HDD spinning if I were to guess.

When I first plugged in this laptop and turned it on it would not do anything. I let it set for an hour to charge and I still could not get anything. Once I remove the battery and plugged it directly into the charging cable I was able to boot it up. Not sure if the battery being old has anything to do with lack of sufficient power and will not guarantee it loads as I do recommend it to be refurbished; but for these reasons this is why I am selling it As-Is as I stated above.