HP is recalling 101,000 laptop batteries at risk of overheating. Customers with HP laptops are advised to check whether their computer is one of those affected, and if so, to stop using the battery with immediate effect. HP is offering a free replacement battery to everyone affected.

In 2016, HP recalled 41,000 batteries over safety concerns. That came after seven reports of HP laptops overheating, with the batteries to blame for the incidents. While that recall was successful, the company has now expanded the number of batteries being recalled.

It appears as though HP has expanded the recall after receiving just one additional report of an overheating battery. That report detailed a battery "overheating, melting and charring and causing about $1,000 in property damage".

Check Your Battery's Barcode

The new recall affects lithium-ion batteries in laptops produced by HP. These batteries were used in "HP, Compaq, HP ProBook, HP ENVY, Compaq Presario, and HP Pavilion notebook computers". The majority of the affected laptops were sold in the U.S., but some were also sold in Canada and Mexico.

All of the affected laptops were sold between March 2013 and October 2016, with prices ranging from $300 to $1,700. Retailers which sold the laptops include Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, and Sam’s Club. They were also sold online at both HP.com and other online retailers.

The specific batteries included in this recall can be identified by their barcodes. These can be found on the back of the batteries themselves. The barcodes affected in this expanded recall all start with 6BZLU, 6CGFK, 6CGFQ, 6CZMB, 6DEMA, 6DEMH, 6DGAL and 6EBVA.

Contact HP for a Free Replacement

If you own a laptop affected by this recall you're advised to "immediately stop using the recalled batteries, remove them from the notebook computers and contact HP for a free replacement battery. You can do this by calling HP toll-free at 888-202-4320 or by visiting this page on the HP website.

If you're wondering whether to bother even checking your laptop, just bear in mind that these batteries "can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards". That's according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Do you own an HP laptop that may be affected by this recall? Will you be heeding the advice from the CPSC? Or are you happy to take the risk? Given the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, why do you think so many batteries are overheating? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Wlodi via Flickr