HP recalls 54,000 more laptop batteries

One year after issuing a recall of tens of thousands of computer batteries, Hewlett Packard has expanded the recall to include another 54,000 batteries used in Compaq and HP notebooks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The lithium-ion batteries can overheat -- creating the risk of burns or fire, the CPSC said. HP expanded the recall after receiving 38 more reports of incidents involving the batteries, including 11 injuries.

This recall involves many different models of notebooks sold under the following brands: HP, HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Compaq. Several other HP battery recalls preceded this one, dating to 2005. You can find out if you have a battery from this recall or from one the older recalls on HP's recall site, which also has details about how to get your free replacement battery if you have one of the recalled units. HP also has an FAQ regarding all the battery recalls.

In addition to coming with new notebooks, the Chinese-made batteries also were sold separately between August 2007 and July 2008 for $100 to $160 each.

If you have one of the recalled batteries, you are urged to remove it from your notebook and use your AC adapter.