Compaq batteries could still blow up your notebook

Reg suffers acid flashback

By Kieren McCarthy, 28th February 2001

Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner

Updated Compaq has admitted it has had very few responses to its recall of dodgy notebook batteries.

Compaq was forced to recall 54,075 batteries for its Armada E500 and V500 notebooks back in October because it found they could short-circuit, overheat and burn out your notebook.

The company's (unnamed) battery manufacturer said it had found a flaw in its manufacturing process, affecting all batteries made between June 2 and July 10 last year. One battery was then tested, which overheated and started smoking, damaging the notebook.

Compaq was informed about the problem in September, and knocked out a press release on it [see update below].

Needless to say, if you own one of these batteries (TCGK 00001- 10500, 20001- 21800, 40001- 83100, TCHK 40001- 44700), take it out your notebook now and send it to Compaq. Then you'll get two back - it'll take three to five days if you live outside the US. If you haven't got a spare battery and you need to use your notebook during that week, you'll have to use your noddle or go back to good old fashioned paper and pen.

Any more questions? (Like where to send it, who can you call to rant at), look at this Q&A on Compaq's site. ®

Update

Okay, hands-up time. This is an old story. In fact, we wrote about it back in October. Fortunately, Compaq, three readers and Linda (who's just got back from new York) have pointed out this fact. Compaq is a little confused why this has resurfaced, as are we. So this story should have been headlined: "Why the Reg doesn't learn history and so is destined to repeat it" or "Why CRN is four months behind the news".

Think of this as an update then. Has the recall been successful? "I haven't heard of any issues," Steve Torbe, Compaq marketing manager told us. But then "the numbers that have come back are very small".

So our new headline must be: "50,000 Compaq notebooks still at risk of meltdown".

[Editor's Note: For this appalling error, Kieren will be placed in the stocks this Saturday in Maddox St from 12pm to 2pm. Feel free to come along with rotten fruit and have a pop]