Sony expands recall of lithium-ion batteries for laptop computers.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)

A Sony recall of an additional 3.4 million laptop batteries brings the total number of the company's recalled laptop batteries to about 9.4 million. Previously, almost 6 million of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries had been recalled. They're used in laptops by Apple, Dell, Gateway, and other brands. In the latest recall, about 10 percent of the batteries, or 340,000, were used in laptops sold in the U.S.

Those batteries may overheat and catch fire because microscopic metal particles might have penetrated the battery cell during manufacturing. This happens rarely but when it does, an electrical short can occur. There have been 16 reports of batteries overheating, resulting in scorching and fires. Two minor burns have been reported.

Regardless of which laptop you own, here's how to prevent it from overheating:

* Avoid placing the laptop on a soft surface, such as a bed, which prevents air from circulating beneath it.

* If your battery is running low, recharge it fully using the AC adapter before powering up the computer.

* Don't leave your laptop in direct sunlight or in the car.

* Buy a battery that bears the name of a well-known manufacturer. You're much more likely to learn about a potential safety hazard or a recall and get satisfactory answers ...