Regarding the swollen battery, if it's a Lithium battery it sounds like it may be close to failing. If I were you I would stop using that laptop right away. I

Regarding the swollen battery, if it's a Lithium battery it sounds like it may be close to failing. If I were you I would stop using that laptop right away. I learned during my time at an RC airplane co. that lithium batteries can be very dangerous: they will actually explode in some cases. Anyway, a stranger's $0.02. Good luck!