noticeable bulge under touchpad HP Envy x360

[ashake66]

My HP Envy x360 has a noticeable bulge under the touchpad and the laptop doesn't stay on for more than 2 minutes before it shuts down. I tried to  use advanced options to run startup repair but it said "Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC". The bulge seems to have increased slightly since my multiple start ups since I noticed the bulge. So, I'm afraid to even turn the laptop on now. My big issue now is that it's out of warranty and has a lot of important data that I don't have backs up to (physical or online). What options do I have to recover the data and can  the laptop be saved? Budget friendly options would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Dragon-Fur]

@ashake66 

Welcome to the HP User Community.

This condition is likely the result of a bloated battery.

A bloated / swollen battery must be replaced.

There is no other solution.

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"Fat" Battery / Bloated Battery / Swollen Battery – Sealed / Internal Battery

• Swollen battery might be hiding OR there might be evidence that the battery has inflated.  For example, notebook case warps or won’t close, touch-pad stops working, “odd” bulging near the keyboard.

• If the battery is in a swollen or bloated condition, the battery must be removed from the computer and replaced.  There are no other remedies, tests, or useful options.

From HP

>>> HP Support > Battery Swelling / Swollen – Start Here

Out of Warranty?

For any reason...

HP won't replace for you?

Continue...

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A replacement battery can be purchased and the battery can be replaced.

If, after reading the information, you do not feel like you can do this yourself,

Ask a friend to help or take the computer to a local repair shop.

Open

Maintenance and Service Guide

Category                            Description
Product Name HP ENVY x360 15 Convertible PC (model number 15-cp0000)

Part number and Replacement procedure on Page 26

Description                                                                                       Spare part number
3-cell, 52-WHr, 4.55-AHr, Li-ion battery (includes cable)       L09281-855

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HP Collection of “how-to” videos – Battery

Internal Batteries…

HP Support Channel - Collection of “how-to” videos

HP Video Gallery - YouTube

• Use Categories to narrow the results. 
• Select your Video

Example – Category 

HP PC Service Videos | Remove and Replace Parts

Cntrl-F   Search the page for Replace the Battery or Battery

Find a similar model type to your system > Select and watch your Video

No Video for your exact system?

YouTube has many, many videos - expand your search beyond the HP gallery offerings...

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Find / Check for parts at PartSurfer / HP Parts Store

Reference:  HP Notebook PCs - Ordering HP Certified Replacement Parts

PartSurfer might be able to tell you exactly which parts came with your device.

Open PartSurfer

• Select your Country
• Enter the device Product Number , Serial Number, or Part Number in the Quick Search box
• HINT: To see a system-specific list, replace the Product Number with your device Serial Number
• Items accompanied by a tiny box in the Add-to-Cart column are available for purchase

Parts marked as "n/a" (or are missing from the list) are not available from HP.

Parts marked as available for purchase might be available > CHECK:  HP Parts Store

OR

When HP does not provide the part for retail purchase,

Use your search engine to find a compatible part number replacement at your favorite online store.

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HP Device Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Device - Solve Problems

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software and BIOS, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guide, Service and Maintenance Guide (Replacement Parts and Procedures), Product Information (Specifications), more

HP ENVY x360 - 15-cp0053cl 

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[ashake66]

Thank you Dragon-Fur for all the helpful information. I have a couple more questions regarding my situation, it would be very helpful if those could also be answered. 

1. Can the data be recovered without fixing the battery? It's an internal battery and I'm 100% sure that I can't fix it by myself and I'm afraid how much service centers will charge for the fix and also how long that might take.

2. Does it matter which service center I take it to get it fixed?

3. Also, is it worth it to buy some sort care package from HP to get this fixed?

4. Is this issue 100% fixable?

5. What could've caused this battery bulge? I want avoid making similar avoidable mistakes in the future. For my case, I'm wondering if it's because I left it in a cool place (basement) for 2 weeks and it snowed for a couple of days (although other devices in similar situation didn't display the same symptoms). Or, is it because, it's the first time that I haven't used the system for weeks on stretch?

Thanks.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@ashake66 

You are welcome

Comments / Details

The data is likely OK and will continue to be OK as long as the condition of the battery does not deteriorate to the point where the disk is damaged. 

If you do make backups of the data, it will likely have backed up all but perhaps the most recent data when you stopped using the device.

If you do not typically make backups of your critical data, this is a good time to reconsider leaving your data to "chance".

You might be able to boot the system if you remove the battery - laptops can generally run without the battery.  It is true that without that extra power source you are dependent on the AC power.  If, for example, the power goes out, the computer will shutdown / crash immediately.

If you remove the battery, connect the system to an appropriate AC power source, and the system boots as expected,

(then)

You can copy / back up the data to a "not on the computer" location.

Remember that your Cloud data is usually "not (just) on the computer" and is generally safe from what happens on the computer.  Read about your Cloud Storage at the provider's website for the service.    For example - OneDrive from Microsoft

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Repairs of this type are less expensive than many other repairs.  Batteries typically cost between $40 and $90 USD.  Unless there is damage to other components, the repair can be done by a qualified technician (or anyone handy with a screw driver) in less than an hour.

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Service Centers are not all equal, of course.  That said, most local service centers you find in your neighborhood depend on the good graces of the local community - good service is a must to stay in business.  It also depends on whether you have a choice - a large city generally includes more options than a small town where you might have one tech in one office servicing the computers and devices for everyone in the area.

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It is too late to buy insurance.  The battery is already damaged / failing / failed.  

Would it have mattered?  Only if the contract covered the failed battery.

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Yes, assuming even a modicum of reasonable response - that is, you move on this sooner rather than later - the issue is fixable.  Bloated batteries are not generally a death sentence to an otherwise healthy computer.  If the battery were to remain inside the computer and other components are damaged, (then) you could lose the data and the hardware might eventually not be worth fixing.

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Bloated batteries are a result of the technology - it's not perfect.  HP and other companies all use the same battery manufacturers to source products for their own brand.  I don't keep track of the percentage of batteries that end up "bloated" - the issue is common enough, I think.  The solution is better battery technology.  Sure, you can blame the company - people do this everyday.

In most cases, HP does not sell replacement batteries.   We (those of us who have devices that use batteries of this type) purchase a compatible battery.

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Many times, there is no "fault" involved. 

The hardware is built to specifications for both "operating" (using the device) and "non-operating" (not using the device).

Specifications include any permanent part of the computer, including a permanent battery installed in the interior of the case.

It is true that there are certain areas in our country - and situations - that exceed even the non-operating temperature ranges.

 Maintenance and Service Guide

Page 58

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"