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Request for Customers to Apply "Battery Charging Control Update Tool" to Fujitsu-made Laptop PCs (Updated November 13, 2018)

October 31, 2018

Thank you for your continued patronage of Fujitsu and its products.

Since February 9, 2017, Fujitsu has been offering a "Battery Charging Control Update Tool" through its website for its laptop PCs launched between 2010 and 2016, in order to enable customers to more safely use their laptop PCs. This update regulates charging voltage according to the deterioration of the battery to prevent any battery ignition incidents. Fujitsu would like to inform you that it will now be distributing this update to all relevant laptop PCs via Microsoft’s Windows Update service.

On three previous occasions, Fujitsu has asked customers to exchange and return battery packs. 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.

At the same time, however, although extremely rare, there have been cases of ignition occurring in battery packs outside those covered by the returns and exchanges. 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 all 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.

We apologize for the inconvenience, however, in order to ensure the physical safety of our customers and enable them to continue using their Fujitsu laptop PCs with peace of mind, Fujitsu would like to ask 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.

Further information and Web online update

Applicable Products

This update applies to all laptop PCs first sold between 2010 and 2016.

*Some models already include the updated version of the Battery Charging Control function.

*Models launched in 2017 and beyond already include the updated version of the Battery Charging Control function, and do not need to be updated.

Cautionary Notes

For models with updated with the "PMU firmware update tool" or "BIOS update tool," if using a battery that has become degraded, once the update has been applied, the Battery Charging Control function may display the charge status as 100%, when the actual battery operating time (charge volume) is about 85% of what it would have been before applying the update.

For models that have upgraded "Battery Charging Control Utility," if using a battery that has become degraded, once the update has been applied, the actual battery operating time (charge volume) will be about 65% of what it was before applying the update, due to the Battery Charging Control function.

Once the update has been applied, the battery cannot be returned to its previous state.

Because this update is distributed through Windows Update, if the computer is not connected to the internet, it will be necessary to use a different device connected to the internet to download a separate tool and apply the update software.

If using FUTRO series, thin clients will not receive the Battery Charging Control Update Tool automatically via Windows Update under the default settings. Please refer to this site for information on how to apply the tool.

If using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), the Battery Charging Control Update Tool will not be distributed automatically. This tool will be distributed as "Drivers," therefore, in WSUS "Classifications" you should select "Drivers," and then through "Windows Server Update Services" select the title refresh program that includes this tool*, and "Approved for Install."

*Distribution name is currently being discussed with Microsoft.

System administrator rights are required to apply the update.

Related Information

(A Follow-up Request) Please take this opportunity to check if the battery pack in your laptop PC qualifies for free replacement

Please check the website below to see if your device is subject to the recall and replacement, and follow the directions to apply. In order to continue safely using your laptop PC after replacing the battery pack, please also apply the Battery Charging Control function update.

For inquiries related to this issue, please contact the following customer support centers:

EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa)

US ( Announced August 2015 / Announced December 2017 )
Canada ( Announced August 2015 / Announced December 2017 )

APAC (Asia-Pacific)
http://www.fujitsu.com/hk/support/products/computing/pc/ap/announcements/battery-voluntary-recall.html
http://www.fujitsu.com/hk/support/products/computing/pc/ap/announcements/2015-battery-recall.html