Hello jross11:
Welcome to HP's forum. First of all it takes alot to fry out a power pac adapter. They do not usually burn out. Battery will die out well before a power pac will. Your battery has a dead cell in it that is why it isn't taken a charge. The only time you ever need to replace the power pac when the light around the adapter doesn't work or if you damaged the adapter or cut the wires. If you open HP Support Assistant in maintenance section you can perform a battery test. Yes your computer needs a battery dead or alive installed to make the eclectic connection . Your computer will not work if the battery is out of the computer because there is no longer a connection between the power supply and motherboard . Just replace your battery . You might be able to return your power pac or keep it and use it as spare. frrw