FAO: Dell Laptop Owners

[Mark]

https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/

My batteries are all dated 2003, so I'm OK, but I know at least one Dell owner here who is likely to be affected. :(

[Burble]

I saw this earlier. After doing some checking we've got about 80 batteries that need to be replaced.

[Mark]

Yeah, I got this through work and they're going to have a lot of affected batteries. I was pretty much the first person to get a D-series laptop in our office (paid for myself), and several people saw it and ordered one through work. They're now pretty much standard issue for anyone who needs a laptop.

[Daz]

Got the email this morning. Unclear how many we have to replace, but we've got lots of D800/D810's knocking about :/

[Beansprout]

I haven't got a problematic Dell (my Dell's too old to know about working, let alone batteries :p), but dad's might be. Thanks for the heads up, and I know the latter part of my sentence makes zero gramatical sense and that I'm making spellibg errors :p :)

[Nismo]

We have a hell of a lot of Dell lappys here, got one at home too I will have to check, but touchwood (:embarassed:) we arent affected.

[Mark]

Any laptops bought since April 1, 2004 stand a good chance of being affected. :(

[Mondo]

awww, damn, mine isn't one of them, was hoping i get a new free battery :p

[Stan_Lite]

Just checked mine.

Thankfully, my battery isn't one of the affected ones.

Thanks for the PM Mark :)

Stan :)

[Flibster]

4.1 MILLION batteries are expected to be replaced! :shocked:

Got more than a few to do myself... :(

Simon/~Flibster

[Mondo]

Well, think of it this way, you'll get a new battery in return. I got mine just before April 2004 and it now last about 60% of it used to, so a new battery would do nicely.

[Mark]

I was thinking what an environmental mess this would be, but with that many hopefully some form of recycling would be possible.

[Mondo]

I was thinking what an environmental mess this would be, but with that many hopefully some form of recycling would be possible.

They should be able to recycle them, the chemicals in the battery would be the same, it's probably some other parts that needs replacing.

[Feek]

We've got loads of these at work, and guess who's copped the job of managing this? :(

[Nismo]

Home battery is not affected, however some (150+) of our older work lappys need theirs replacing :embarassed:

[Zirax]

phew my 9400 is ok, just gotta check my mums 9300 as thats in the timeframe as well

[Kell_ee001]

We sell several of the Inspiron's so we've had bother with this. Interestingly, they say it "could pose a risk of fire" which is strange considering they (apparently) only found out about the problem because a couple set on fire. :huh:

[Mark]

It was all started because one exploded (literally) at a conference in Japan. Originally that was thought to be isolated, but then people started sending in pictures of frazzled laptops. In every case I've seen the problem is directly above the battery compartment, so I guess that's a good clue.

Gives a whole new meaning to the 'frying eggs' jibe. ;D

[Zirax]

I remember seeing the exploding laptop vid, was it on el reg or /. ? At the time I thought that it wasn't good news for dells image.

[Mark]

It'll have been on both. I saw it on El Reg. Was on the BBC 6 O'clock news tonight as well.

[Stan_Lite]

It'll have been on both. I saw it on El Reg. Was on the BBC 6 O'clock news tonight as well.

Saw it on the news as well - scary.

Stan :)

[Mondo]

Apparently Sony makes the Battery but Dell is taking all the PR hit.

[Mark]

Yes. Makes me wonder about the Sony batteries I've got scattered around the place for various equipment.

[Mark]

For the benefit of those who've not seen the 'exploding Dell'...

http://www.ouroboros.me.uk/img/06/08/dell1.jpg

http://www.ouroboros.me.uk/img/06/08/dell2.jpg

:shocked: :eek:

[Kell_ee001]

Just wish that had happened to one of my customers ;D

[Burble]

Apparently the number of batteries we need to get replaced now stands at 153 and we've still got the offices in Italy to check.

[Muban]

We got the warning and were lumbered with notifying users (we have hundreds of D500/D505 etc). So I check my trusty D800 with my fancy extra long life battery..... replacement required :( boo hoo

My boss asked if I would like a fire proof suit, could I not leave the battery in as they wanted to see what would happen!! meanies :p ;)

[Mark]

Just point 'em at the above pictures. :)

[Mark]

Hope you're all done getting your Dell/Apple/Toshiba batteries sorted...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/2006/09/21/delllaptop_catchesfire_yahoo/

[Burble]

I think all of our Dell batteries have been replaced now.