Compaq laptop on fire!!!

Hello,

This is my first post in this board.

I'd like to find people with a similar problem like mine...

I've got a Compaq Presario 900 laptop. Few days ago, after 5 years of use, it caught on fire. Some smoke appeared from the right piece that connects the laptop to its screen, then sparks, then fire. Luckily I was there and I was fast so nothing serious happened as I unplugged the laptop and removed the battery... that piece is burnt and I don't dare to plug the battery again...

I am complaining to HP/Compaq because a laptop should not "disintegrate" after 5 years of use. I understand that some pieces could break or malfunction and the warranty could be gone, but catching on fire... that's very serious...

Sadly, HP/Compaq seems to ignore me. They want me to pay for a repair that would cost more than a new laptop without assuming any kind of responsibility. Many people was in the building I was when this happened... it could have been a tragedy if I wasn't there at that moment.

Has anybody got any similar experience? Any advice about how to deal with this?

Thank you,

Regards,
Fran

 

I also have a Presario 900, and I consider myself lucky to say I do not share your experience.

I am confused by your description. So you say that the fire started at the right hinge of the computer? Or was it the battery?

Since this is a fairly old laptop, the battery doesn't really hold a charge anymore. Have you purchased any 3rd party batteries to replace the old one? In the past, 3rd party batteries have been linked to safety issues such as fire.

 

Well, maybe you should send it to them and let it light on fire for them.

 

Hrm... thats pretty crazy! Glad nothing else got damaged though.

I'm not sure what you would expect HP/Compaq to do. You're laptop has lasted a very long time and is very much out of warranty. I'd be happy if my laptops lasted me that long.
If it were new, or under warranty and they didn't want to help, that would be one thing.
Now, if a fire did get caused from that, then you would probably have a case against HP/Compaq.

However, you could write into the The Consumerist. Maybe make a blog about it, try to get some digs on it. Things tend to go better for people if it becomes a popular story on the net. Perhaps try to contact a local news group. And you could also contact the Better Business Bureau.

As I'm not a lawyer, I couldn't say if the laptop catching fire breaks any ... laws that you could sue over.

But with it being out of warranty... you're probably on your own.

 

Hello:

The fire has nothing to do with the battery imho. I never replaced the original battery... usually I work all the time plugged.

The fire started at the right hinge yes, and as I was fast it ended there. When the fire started, first I unplugged the cable but that was not enough, I could turn the laptop and remove the battery quickly. Then the fire stopped. It looks that there was some kind of electrical problem in the hinge that when I removed the battery it stopped... but, only imaging that I wasn't there... it's amazing how dangerous these things could be.

Regards,
Fran

 

Or you could grab some marshmellows, gramcrackers and chocolate

Smores in your living room!

 

Well, I wouldn't recommend posting your email address on a public forum. If anyone needs to email you, they could PM you for it.

And about your laptop, like it has been said, your laptop has had a good long life, but if you want to go after Compaq, you'll have to try and put some pressure on them publicity-wise, and/or fire hazard-wise, because otherwise they don't really have any responsibility.

 

File a BBB complaint. If it broke I would say suck it up its an old notebook. However lighting on fire is a different story...

 

Hi,

I have just received an email from HP saying that the problem should have been the electricity at my house... what a lame way of blaming others... sigh!

Thank you all for your advices!

Regards,
Fran

 

Could a capacitor have shorted out? Capacitor oil is flammable. (Just ask a friend of mine who got burned by an exploding motor run capacitor.)

 

Ah, along the lines of Stars comment... did you have it plugged into a surge protector?

 

That's not a problem in fact thats pretty awsome you shoul have video taped it and put it on YouTube.


sucks that your out a laptop though : (

 

Hello,

I have the laptop plugged to a 3 plug extensor (with ground) that was plugged into the wall. At that moment, I think, nothing else was plugged in there...

By the way, after I answered their last email, I've received a new email... this time they say that a many components in a laptop with 5 years could fail, they are sorry, and fire, though not normal, might happen... unbelievable...

Again I say that I understand a failure, but not a failure that ends into a fire.

Thank you,

Regards,
Fran

 

I'm just wondering if a surge protector is necessary for a laptop, when they can run on 220 as well as 110 and as far as I know anything in between. You don't need a converter in Europe or Brazil, just an adaptor. Would that make a difference? Would a house line spike higher than 220?

 

But what do you want HP/Compaq to do? Give you a new notebook? Repair it even though there are no more parts and you're out of warranty? They've apologized and I believe that's the only thing you'll be able to get out of them.

5 years is an awfully long time for technology. If anything, this should be a nice excuse for a new laptop. But if it bothers you that much, then avoid HP/Compaq for your next purchase.

 

Hi,

I'd like that they assume the responsibility that a product like a laptop should not cause any danger to people even when it is broken, as the CE regulatory (this product was bought in Europe and this happened in Europe) says so they should, at least, offer a free repair... so I can be as the previous day to this event.

I've been a Compaq user for many years... I had a Compaq 286 laptop!!! and a Compaq Presario 386. I loved the company. But they are not acting with responsibility in this case.

Regards,
Fran

 

Andecdots like this are why those 50 or so electrical safety logos on power bricks mean nothing to me.

 

I don't think there's much you can do without additional people reporting such issues with the brand. Electrical equipment typically fails in such a way that it only stops working, but freak accidents do occur on a very rare basis. If there is no proof that the design of the laptop contributed to the fire (you should take the thing apart and try finding where the fire started), there isn't really anything that anybody can do. At this point with the information you currently have brought to the table (i.e. the laptop was Compaq, and the fire started near a hinge), you have little to no leverage with HP.

 

Well, wasn't aware she was in europe

But yeah, if you get a strong enough surge... bad things can happen. Especially if you already have dirty power coming into the house. I know of some nasty things that have happened with surges.

I will never, ever run ANYTHING in my house without a surge protector.