My laptop caught fire. What can i do?

Stronger

Hello all.

Today, my laptop caught fire.

I was lucky in that I normally turn it on and leave it start up whilst i go make a coffee or something. Today I sat with it and noticed a burning smell and saw a glow and then flames appearing from behind the Power switch.

Thankfully I was able to put the fire out quickly and no further damage or harm was done.

I bought the laptop from a large nationwide retailer just over a year ago.

The laptop is now unusable and has all my family photographs on it.

Who do I approach regarding the fire? Surely these items are not meant to burst into flames after just over twelve months? Retailer or Manufacturer?

Secondly, how do I recover all of my data from it?

The small fire was just by the power switch, to look at the laptop, you wouldnt know there was a fault. I am guessing that the internals are all ok, just unable to power it up safely.

Any help guys? Please!

BillScarab

You can remove the hard drive, stick it in an external caddy and then plug that into another computer to get the data off it. That assumes the hard drive is unaffected fo course.

You can buy caddies for a £3-4.

You'll need top find out if your disk is SATA or IDE but I would imagine it is SATA if it is only a year old.

Personally I'd recover the photos and any other personal data then take it back to the shop you bought it from and demand it be repaired or replaced under the Sale of Goods Act.

gordikin

Where was the laptop situated when it caught fire? You'll have 'backed up' your data of course?

Stronger

Many thanks BillScarab

Donnie

You haven't supplied the details of the machine nor the retailer.

So what 'help' are you expecting?

Don't remove anything until you have spoken to the retailer or manufacturer. I can imagine that they would try to blame you.

Stronger

gordikin wrote: »

Where was the laptop situated when it caught fire? You'll have 'backed up' your data of course?

I had it stood up against the bedside table over night. Picked it up, placed it on the bed and pressed the power switch. Smoke and flames in an instant.

Most data is backed up, but have not had chance to do it for a while sadly.

Stronger

Donnie wrote: »

You haven't supplied the details of the machine nor the retailer.

So what 'help' are you expecting?

I'm sorry for this.

Didn't know if it were the done thing etc. Don't want to be seen as being libelouse or whatever.

Simply wanting some info as to where to start, where to turn.

If it is all ok to mention names?, then of course I shall...

spadoosh

Donnie wrote: »

You haven't supplied the details of the machine nor the retailer.

So what 'help' are you expecting?

Don't remove anything until you have spoken to the retailer or manufacturer. I can imagine that they would try to blame you.

none from you!

Donnie

spadoosh wrote: »

none from you!

I wasn't aware that you were the OP. From the looks of it, just another useless TROLL.

Maybe I should take a look through your posts to see quite how helpful you have been to others in the past.

That was amusing...

Seems you were vilifying the 'uneducated', though it appears that you haven't mastered basic spelling.

Diving back in for more amusement.

Donnie

Stronger wrote: »

I'm sorry for this.

Didn't know if it were the done thing etc. Don't want to be seen as being libelouse or whatever.

Simply wanting some info as to where to start, where to turn.

If it is all ok to mention names?, then of course I shall...

It's ok to mention both the retailer and make and model of machine.

Stronger

Donnie wrote: »

It's ok to mention both the retailer and make and model of machine.

It is an Acer laptop and was bought from Comet 15 months ago.

Are Comet likely to help seeing as it was bought over a year ago? Same for Acer if the retailer is not likely to help?

Seems after reading a few online accounts of experiences of returning 'faulty' goods, that its more hassle than its worth.....