The issue is primarily limited to some HP consumer laptops and desktops, Somsak wrote. One commercial desktop PC that HP markets to small business customers in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region is also affected.

HP has also cancelled an event scheduled in New York City on Feb. 15 where it was planning to provide briefings on future business laptops. The briefings have been postponed, Somsak said. The event was being held as Intel plans to launch new Sandy Bridge processors for business laptops later this month.

Dell has pulled sales of four PCs, including the XPS 8300 desktop, the Vostro 460 desktop, the Alienware M17x R3 gaming laptop and the Alienware Aurora R gaming desktop.

"We expect to have more information next week on when these products will become available again," said David Frink, a Dell spokesman, in an e-mail.