Beijing: Japan's Sony has launched a voluntary recall of 77,705 VAIO laptop computers in China, citing manufacturing defects that may cause the machine to overheat and injure the user, the country's consumer product quality watchdog said Thursday.

The recall relates to a problem with wiring near the computer's hinge, which may short-circuit and overheat in the power supply connector or the LCD area, causing transfiguration, the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said, quoting a report submitted by Sony (China).

The affected laptops are of the VAIO VGN-TZ series produced between July 2007 and July 2008.

Sony suggested the users to contact the company for free quality check and maintenance of their laptops if required.

Earlier this month, the company made a similar recall of of 438,000 VAIO portable computers, one of the biggest computer recalls since 2006 when Dell Inc recalled some 4.1 million notebook computer batteries for overheating problems.

According to the company, the flaw was detected in VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series.