Watch out now!

HP has recalled 135,000 batteries for its HP and Compaq notebooks. The batteries create a burn and fire hazard.

HEWLETT-PACKARD has recalled 135,000 battery packs for its laptop computers, citing a fire hazard.

HP said that an internal short in the HP and Compaq notebook lithium ion rechargeable battery packs can cause the battery cells to overheat and melt or char the plastic case, posing a burn and fire hazard.
HP so far has received 16 reports of batteries overheating, including four in the United States. Four cases of minor property damage but no injuries were reported.

The recalled battery packs have a bar code label starting with GC, IA, L0 or L1, the company said. They were sold between March 2004 and May 2005. They were also sold separately.

The battery packs were used to power Pavilion, HP Compaq, Presario and Evo notebooks and were made in China and Taiwan, HP said.

HP said it would replace the battery packs at no charge and customers could find details of the battery replacement program at www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement.

HP, based in Palo Alto, California, said that of the 135,000, about 85,000 were originally sold in the United States.