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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/technology/orl-dell1506a...technology-headlines
Dell to recall 4 million batteries
The fear of laptop fires fuels the largest electronics-related recall, an agency says.
David Koenig
the Associated Press

August 15, 2006

DALLAS -- Dell Inc. said Monday that it will recall 4.1 million notebook-computer batteries because they can overheat and catch fire.

Dell negotiated conditions of the recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which called it the largest electronics-related recall conducted by the agency.

A Dell spokesman said the batteries were made by Sony Corp. and placed in notebooks shipped from April 1, 2004, to July 18 of this year.

"In rare cases, a short-circuit could cause the battery to overheat, causing a risk of smoke and/or fire," the spokesman, Ira Williams, said. "It happens in rare cases, but we opted to take this broad action immediately."

The battery packs were included in some models of Dell's Latitude, Inspiron, XTS and precision mobile workstation notebooks.

Dell planned to launch a Web site that described the affected models. Williams said the Web site would explain how consumers can get replacement batteries.

There have been numerous recent news reports about Dell laptops bursting into flames.

Dell confirmed that two weeks ago one of its laptops caught fire in Illinois, and the owner dunked it in water to douse the flames.

Other recent reports have surfaced from as far away as Japan and Singapore.

Dell had another, much smaller battery recall in December after symptoms that were similar to those that prompted the recall Monday, Williams said.

Dude your getting a BOMB! .. I knew about this for the past 3 weeks! I have to check over 700 dayum batteries!