Almost a year after the IT industry was rocked by a spate of laptop fires
caused by faulty
Sony batteries,
Toshiba
has today urged owners of its laptops equipped with the faulty components to
seek replacements.
A Toshiba portable computer with a Sony battery pack caught fire on 24 May
2007, and Toshiba said that it immediately asked Sony to investigate.
The investigation confirmed that the cause of the fire was the battery pack,
as in
other
incidents with laptops containing the faulty Sony batteries.
"Despite Toshiba's continued efforts to promote participation in the
replacement programme, and although Sony recommended replacement, the PC still
had the original battery pack," Toshiba stated.
"This incident followed another that occurred this April in Japan, also
involving an un-replaced battery pack.
"Toshiba recognises the importance of this situation and is determined to
make every effort to assure the safety and comfort of its customers.
"Accordingly, the company is now embarking on a new round of efforts to
encourage customers to check their PCs and to get the battery replaced if it is
on the list."
A Dell portable computer with a Sony battery pack
caught
fire at a conference in Japan in June 2006.
Sony announced a global replacement programme on 28 September 2006 for a
number of battery packs supplied to computer makers, including Toshiba.
Manufacturers have since been offering customers free replacements of the
battery packs identified as at risk by Sony.
Toshiba said that, while the primary cause of the fire in the 24 May incident
was not identified, damage resulting from a short circuit within the battery
pack confirmed that the problem originated in the battery pack.
Owners of Toshiba notebook PCs with any of the PC models on the list are "
urgently requested" to visit their local Toshiba website or contact a local
customer support centre and determine whether their PC has one of the subject
Sony battery packs.
The
Toshiba
support website provides a battery check utility and visual identification
manual.
Do you agree?
Have your say on this article