LG/Mobile phone question:Why is my phone not working? (More info in description).

Hello! I don’t use my phone a lot (okay, well, almost never). I use it when I am going to go to the city and/or on a trip and need to have contact in that way, rather than an everyday phone.

It’s a relatively new LG (about a year old) and it ran out of juice about three weeks ago. I never charged it back up because I lost the cord. I bought a new generic cord (for LGs) and when I plugged it in, the main light turns on, but it doesn’t say it is charging (can’t even remember if this phone does that.) So, I left it plugged in for hours and when I take the plug off, and try to turn it on, it won’t. Screen stays black. I tried plugging it in and turning it on that way, and nothing.

1. Do you think a generic power cord is the problem? (It seems to be working on turning on the main LG phone screen——though it does not allow me to get into the actual operating screen.)
2. Is the battery now defective? Will I need a new battery? (Perhaps non-usage affects the battery, too)?

Any information/ideas would be of great assistance…and I thank you in advance.

DR