IBook suddenly won't work on battery

My iBook has suddenly stopped working on its battery.
Whilst switched off, the battery catch opened and the battery slipped out. I put it back and tightened the catch. From that point on, the computer has refused to start up unless the power adaptor is plugged in.
The battery indicator bar on the Desktop constantly displays the word "Calculating", but never comes up with a charge time. The battery itself is fully charged, as all the LEDs are lighting up when the battery charge button in depressed. If I take the power lead out when the computer is up and running, the computer shuts down instantly.
I have tried resetting the Power Management Unit, but it has made no difference.
Any help would be much appreciated to fix what has been up until now a flawless computer....
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 512 MB RAM (factory fitted)/Battery replaced under iBook battery replacement scheme

Hi, Dean. Welcome to Apple Discussions.
I've been visiting Apple Discussions for over three years now, and every update brings a few people here to say, "The update hosed my battery." It's nearly always just a coincidence. The battery was probably ready to go.
According to the Washington Post, the typical lifespan of a lithium-ion battery is two to three years (whether it is used or not). Apple warranties the battery for one year.
The following comes from an old Apple Knowledge Base article regarding an X through the battery icon in PowerBooks. I've adapted it a bit to try it on an iBook. It probably won't help, but it shouldn't hurt to try:
In some cases, the battery has gone into a deep discharge state. This situation may arise if the battery has been left in the computer for an extended period of time without AC power. The battery can discharge to a point where it is no longer recognized by the PowerBook as evidenced by the red X through the battery icon in the menu bar.
To help prevent this situation, try these suggestions:
Recharge the battery when only one of the four green LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) on the battery is on, or shows one green LED blinking.
If the PowerBook is not going to be used for an extended period of time, fully charge the battery and then remove it from the PowerBook for storage.
If you have a battery that is not recognized in the menu bar while inserted, the following steps provide sufficient charge to the battery to restore normal operation.
1. Insert the battery and leave it there for approximately 30 seconds.
2. After 30 seconds, remove the battery.
3. Leave the battery out for several seconds then reinsert it for another 30 second interval.
Depending on the charge level of the battery, you may need to reinsert the battery 10 to 12 times. If this corrects the problem so that the X no longer appears in the menu bar with the battery inserted, allow the battery to fully charge.
Good luck.

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IBook suddenly won't work on battery

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