REMINDER: REPLACE YOUR SONY BATTERY PACK TODAY.

Introduction

On September 28, 2006 Sony Corporation announced a global replacement program for certain battery packs that are used in portable computers. After the announcement by Sony Corporation, Toshiba began participation in Sony’s global battery pack replacement program and is offering Toshiba customers free replacement of certain battery packs identified by Sony.

Recently, certain instances occurred where Sony battery packs installed in Toshiba portable computers caught fire. Based on our investigation with Sony, we concluded that the situation was caused by the Sony Battery Pack. The original Sony Battery Pack had not been replaced as recommended by Sony and Toshiba. We put importance on the fact that the incidents that occurred involved unreplaced Sony Battery Packs, despite of our ongoing replacement program. We will continue to make every effort to accelerate the replacement of the subject Sony Battery Packs in our computers.

We strongly recommend that customers participate in the Sony Battery Pack replacement program as soon as possible.

The subject Sony Battery Packs will be replaced free of charge. This offer extends only to replacement of the subject Sony Battery Packs, and does not include replacement of any Toshiba computer.

Safety tips for the customers whose battery packs are identified as the subject Sony battery packs:
Consult the “Instruction Manual for Safety and Comfort” and comply with its instructions.

Until the battery pack is replaced, continue to use your Toshiba portable computer with the original AC adapter power cord supplied with your computer. Removal of the battery pack until the replacement arrives is advised. Before removing the battery pack, disconnect the power source for your Toshiba portable computer and remove the AC adaptor power cord.

However, if you do use the battery pack before it is replaced:

• Avoid using the subject Sony Battery Pack with AC adaptor power cord.
• Use your Toshiba portable computer within the recommended temperature range.
• Do not use your Toshiba portable computer on any surface or thing that obstructs ventilation of the computer, i.e. sofa, carpet, bed, or near anything that produces heat.
• When recharging your Toshiba portable computer, do not leave the computer unattended.

Subject Sony Battery Packs in Toshiba Portable Computers

The subject battery packs identified by Sony were included in certain of the following Toshiba portable computer models. Only some - not all - of the battery packs used in these models are subject to Sony’s global battery pack replacement program:

• PA3356U-2BAS
• PA3356U-3BAS
• PA3356U-2BRS
• PA3356U-3BRS
• PA3191U-4BAS
• PA3191U-5BAS
• PA3191U-4BRS
• PA3191U-5BRS
• PA3509U-1BAM
• PA3476U-1BAS
• PA3476U-1BRS
• PA3475U-1BAS
• PA3475U-1BRS

Stop Here if You Do Not Have a Matching Computer

If your computer is not among the models listed above, then please ignore the remainder of this document and any other material regarding this Sony Battery Pack Voluntary Replacement Program.

If you have a matching computer, the remainder of this document will explain how to positively determine whether you actually have the subject battery pack which is eligible for free replacement.

Battery Pack identification

If you own one or more of the Toshiba computer models above, then please determine whether the subject battery packs are actually installed in your computer. By far the easiest and most accurate way to make this determination is with Toshiba's BatteryCheck utility software. The BatteryCheck utility software will identify whether the subject battery pack is installed in a Toshiba portable computer. If it finds an affected battery pack, it will display the notebook and battery pack identification information. It will also launch your web browser and open the Toshiba Authorized Service Provider Locator page. Please go to the nearest Authorized Service Provider to have your battery pack replaced.

The BatteryCheck utility software is very small, so it may be downloaded quickly. Click the following link to download the BatteryCheck utility software, then run it and follow the simple on-screen instructions.

If you do not want to download and use the BatteryCheck utility software, you may wish to choose to follow the instructions in the Manual Battery Pack Identification document to visually determine whether you have a subject battery pack, and to then obtain the Battery Pack Model Name and Battery Pack Serial Number. This manual method requires that you remove the battery pack from the computer, and then visually match identification numbers on the battery pack's identification label with those listed in the Manual Battery Pack Identification document. Note that this visual identification may produce an inaccurate result. It is possible that visual identification may indicate that the battery pack should be replaced, but the BatteryCheck utility software indicates that the battery pack does not need to be replaced. If the results of these two identification methods do not match, the utility software result (not the visual result) is accurate. Use of the utility software is the preferred and recommended method to perform battery pack identification.

For more information about the Sony Battery Pack Replacement Program, please read our Frequently Asked Questions document

If you need help with the identification process you may call the Toshiba Global Support Center, at 1 800-663-0378.

(Last Updated: June 19, 2007)