Fujitsu Requests Laptop Owners to Apply "Battery Charging Control Update Tool"
Fujitsu will be distributing an update to its "Battery Charging Control Update Tool" for Fujitsu-made laptops via Microsoft’s Windows Update service.
The "Battery Charging Control Update Tool" has been available through Fujitsu's website for the company's laptop PCs launched between 2010 and 2016. The tool enabled owners of Fujitsu laptops to more safely use their devices. This new update regulates charging voltage according to the deterioration of the battery to prevent any battery ignition incidents. The new update will be distributed to all relevant laptop PCs via Microsoft’s Windows Update service.
Fujitsu said that in three occasions, the company asked its customers to exchange and return the battery packs of their laptops. These returns and exchanges were due to the possibility that foreign matter had contaminated the interior of the battery during the battery pack manufacturing process. This could cause a short when coupled with increased internal pressure as the battery deteriorated, leading to ignition.
Fujitsu also said that in rare cases, there have been cases of ignition occurring in battery packs outside those covered by the returns and exchanges. The company's investigations to date have shown that "limiting phenomena" that increase the internal pressure of batteries is an effective measure in preventing these types of ignition incidents.
As a result, in order to ensure that all Fujitsu's customers using the affected laptop PCs apply the update, the Battery Charging Control Update Tool will be distributed to the laptop PCs of all those affected via Microsoft’s Windows Update service.
Fujitsu asks all users to access Windows Update, and if they see a notification regarding an Battery Charging Control Update Tool, to follow the directions on the screen to apply the update.
This update applies to all laptop PCs first sold between 2010 and 2016. Fujitsu laptop models launched in 2017 and beyond already include the updated version of the Battery Charging Control function, and do not need to be updated.
This reduces battery backup by 15%. This is FUJITSU's claim, not mine.
it's unclear if this update will allow new batteries to fully recharge. It is clear it won't allow older batteries to fully recharge. Thus we're trading a very rare potential safety condition, due to potential contamination during the manufacturing process, for what appears to be guaranteed reduced charge time. Exactly how Fujitsu determines how much to reduce your battery recharge, is not explained. ***Worse, once installed this update CAN NOT be removed *** (my Fujitsu is an AH500. It's a tank! My previous XP Fujitsu, 2010, still works! These are incredible laptops!!!)