My Powerbook 5300cs won't boot.

The Power Supply has been a little screwy for some years now. The power cord into the computer has to be in just the right position or else no AC power gets to the machine. I always watch the battery icon to make sure it's charging when it is on, to make sure that the battery is charged so it will boot next time.

I hardly use the Powerbook anymore... Now when I try to boot it, I get nothing. I fiddle with the cord but nothing. When the battery has died before, I can fiddle with the cord and hear the very faint high pitched whine that means the computer is getting AC power to the battery. Not now.

One person suggested that I press the reset button on the back, but despite my fiddling, no progress.

I took the battery to a "Batteries Plus" store where they re-conditioned it and re-charged it. They said the battery was in good condition, fully charged and would hold a charge. When I brought it home... nothing. The thing won't boot. No indication that it is getting any power whatsoever.

Any suggestions?

I really want to get all my genealogy info off of the hard drive (and Christmas Card list) and then I probably wouldn't mind investing in a newer Mac that will run my genealogy software.

I was happy (?) to her that I am not the only one with this power problem, which started soon after it was bought in the mid 90's. Apple never had an answer for it. One day I couldn't get it started, no matter what. It sat in a cupboard for a couple of years and then started up again.
I pull the laptop out now only on special occaisions. I have found that it starts only when the battery is out.....and it then shuts down when it feels like it. The green power light on the top right hand corner of the screen stays on, even with the power cord out and no battery, and finally turns on again only after numerous hits of the reset button.
When the computer is on , it works perfectly.
Has anyone had similar problems which they have had resolved?