Compaq Computer Corporation announced a worldwide voluntary recall and replacement programme for about 1.4 million AC adapters used with certain commercial notebook computer products, says a press release. These AC adapters can overheat, posing a potential fire hazard.

While there have been only five failures reported out of the 1.4 million AC adapters affected by this recall, Compaq considers this defect a potential risk and is taking a proactive measure to ensure the safety of its customers. None of these reported instances involved personal injury or property damage.

Compaq has initiated an exchange programme through which affected Compaq customers will receive a new replacement AC adapter for each recalled AC adapter. There will be no charge to Compaq customers who participate in the exchange program.

The AC adapter consists of a small rectangular black AC adapter box that has a permanently attached cord on one end to connect to the computer and a detachable cord on the other end to plug into an AC outlet. This recall and replacement programme affects only AC adapters with the below listed Model Series Number, not the notebook computers themselves.

The affected AC adapters were sold as separate options, as replacement parts, and with certain of the following notebook computers:

Armada M300; Armada M700; Armada E500; Armada 110; Armada E500s; Prosignia 170; Armada V300; Armada 100s; Armada 3500; Prosignia 190 and Notebook 100.

This recall and replacement programme involves AC adapters made by only one of the multiple manufacturers used by Compaq, thus not every notebook computer listed above will be affected by the recall.

The affected AC adapters can be identified by the adapter mode series number located directly under the Compaq Computer Corporation (CCC) name on the AC adapter label: PPP003SD; PPP003 and PP2012 (Armada 3500 only).

This recall and replacement programme affects only AC adapters with the above listed model series number, not the notebook computers themselves.

Founded in 1982, CCC is leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries.