Remote-control problems can usually be fixed easily. A couch potato without a remote control is like a king or queen without a scepter, but what do you do if the scepter is broken? Don’t let your favorite spud lie helplessly on the sofa.
While you're checking the battery installation, make sure that the contacts for the batteries aren't corroded or bent. You can clean them with a pencil eraser followed by a nail file. If necessary, gently bend them back to their correct position.
If your remote is a universal model that can be programmed to control multiple devices, consult the manual (or look on the maker's Web site) to find out how to reinitialize it. Maybe it has forgotten its codes.