Overheating batteries a danger to HP users

HP LAPTOP and workstation owners take note. The company announced a worldwide recall and replacement programme for certain notebooks and mobile workstations due to overheating batteries.

The batteries could potentially pose a fire and burn hazard to the users.

This affects laptops and workstations shipped between December 2015 to 2017, namely HP Probook 64x (G2 and G3), HP ProBook 65x (G2 and G3), HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, HP Pavilion x360 and HP 11 notebooks, as well as HP ZBook (17 G3, 17 G4, and Studio G3) mobile workstations.

The batteries were also sold as accessories or provided as replacements through HP or authorised HP service providers, so users who had recently changed the battery could be affected as well.

As many of the batteries are internal to the system, users are advised not to replace the battery themselves.

HP says it is providing replacements batteries for affected machines for free.

Users can go to bit.ly/2AwQBXa to find out if their battery is affected.

If yes, HP will contact the customer via phone within three business days, and schedule a time to replace the battery.

Customers can also choose to get their battery replaced at qualified HP service centres.

There is a BIOS update that installs the Battery Safety Mode, allowing customers to safely use the notebook and workstation by connecting to a power adaptor and bypassing the battery.

The Battery Safety Mode discharges the battery and stops the battery from charging until the mode is disabled.

HP advises users to enable the Battery Safety Mode until the battery is replaced.

For more information, go to bit.ly/2lVC2He.