Can laptop computers be recharged externally?

If the mains input socket of a laptop computer is damaged then it will probably cost more than the machine is worth to repair. Yet it should still be serviceable otherwise. My ADVENT laptop battery has 6 connectors, surely at least two of these must be available to recharge it. Does anyone know which terminals are for charging, and what DC voltage it requires? Has anyone designed or made a suitable dock to do this simple task externally?