Sorry, thought I had images on the first post, images here:

Good thing you noticed this as it is very dangerous.

apsese
Good thing you noticed this as it is very dangerous.

I was RDP'd into the SC17 for a month and noticed it started to act wacky, like Windows Explorer not showing files and not showing any network PC's, etc...so I opened it up and noticed that. As that happened with my Dell Venue's too when the battery bulged...but worse with the Dell Venues, it not only damaged the NIC card, but it also bulged against the IPS display pushing it out damaging the screen. Also, to an old Ipad, took pics of that too of the damage.
 
This isn't planned obsolescence, it's planned destruction. State AG's need to get involved, this isn't like the battery is dead so you can't just use it portable anymore because no one makes that battery, it actually damages your property. All my previous Dell's and HP's and Compaq's (16 years old) still have a battery in them because the casing prevented that, there's no reason these batteries need to be constructed this way the way they are now other than the obvious, damage your machine in a year or so, so you're forced to buy a new one.

I also have this issue with my SC17 but I dont have the tool required to open up my laptop to find out if it is the battery (ordered and will know by Thursday). I also have the added bonus of my laptop dying today so maybe it is related.
 
 

Thanks for sharing the step to disassemble
 
Obviously if your under warranty .. I would just send it in ... backup your data first
 
so are replacement batteries available for purchase ?
 
Is the charger overcharging ... if laptop is left plugged in all the time ?
 
 

The problem I have is it wont get past the boot screen to backup or access my data my data, I can get into the bios just fine though. It will get to the EVGA logo splash screen with the loading circle thing and just restart; it will do that until I manually shut it down to stop it. I tried loading up a linux distro thinking it was a windows loading error and it also just shuts down once it starts to load. Since I use the computer for work I cant just send it in for repair with all my work data on the hard drives without first backing it up and putting a fresh copy of windows on it.
 
 

Sent a ticket in to EVGA and they told me there is nothing they can do about the battery since it is no longer under warranty. I just feel as this goes beyond a warranty issue and this level of problem presents a reason to recall the laptops for all their customers.
 
*edit* my battery also was bulging, more on the left half than the right. I ended up removing it which fixed the tract-pad issue, but computer still wont boot. Figure I basically stuck with a lemon now so Ill just scavenge what I can from it. Anyways lesson learned, never going to buy another gaming laptop again since once something goes wrong there is no easy part fix.

I pulled out my SC 17.  It has been sitting in its box for over a year.  No obvious signs of damage.  But I don't dare plug it in.  These laptops are notorious for draining their batteries, and I am sure that the battery is drained dangerously low.  As soon as I plug it in, it could start a dangerous chemical reaction.
 
What good is a laptop if the battery can no longer be trusted?

Had to remove my battery today.
 
Beware, if it's been a while like that, the metal chassis of the laptop case is actually keeping the battery cells somewhat compressed.  When you finally do open it, the cells will likely expand a bit further.  There were indentation marks from where it was pressing on other things, looked like a potential puncturing risk as well.  Overall, it was about 3x as thick as it should be.  Had this been a plastic chassis or where the screw threads were, they would have ripped/stripped themselves long ago.
 
I've never let the battery discharge for long periods of time (it's probably only been fully out of power and shut itself down about 5 times in total, and each time recharged again shortly after).
 
Just something about the power draw / thermal design of these laptops I think.  Sometimes under load the battery would get super hot, and even the charger would also get super hot (too hot to hold without burning) and even also shutdown itself.  I have a few chargers, all official, and there's nothing notably wrong or defective about any of them.
 
Now I'm just tethered to a power cord :(
 
 

xvga1

ty_ger07
I pulled out my SC 17.  It has been sitting in its box for over a year.  No obvious signs of damage.  But I don't dare plug it in.  These laptops are notorious for draining their batteries, and I am sure that the battery is drained dangerously low.  As soon as I plug it in, it could start a dangerous chemical reaction.
 
What good is a laptop if the battery can no longer be trusted?

 
I have only pulled it out recently to properly use it. I have been charging it every 02 weeks or so, to avoid damaging battery because of low charge. Please do that if you care about battery. I think once per week should be better since I started noticing my battery charges only to 95% despite doing what I did. 

Fully charging a lithium battery is nearly as bad for the battery as allowing it to drain until the voltage cut-off point.  No thanks.
In either fully charged or fully discharged state, it is less chemically stable.
I ended up charging mine up to about 70%, and then removed the battery.
With the battery removed, it should not discharge significantly for a year or more. If it still does discharge rather rapidly while being removed, there is something wrong with the battery or the battery's built-in battery management circuitry.
 
And, once per week you are charging it?  Since it discharges in about a week (this is well documented), if you charge it once per week, you are essentially cycling it from completely full to completely empty, once per week.  Those cycles alone will kill it; might be worse for the battery than just leaving the battery discharged (hard to be sure).
 

topdog__evga
I've never let the battery discharge for long periods of time (it's probably only been fully out of power and shut itself down about 5 times in total, and each time recharged again shortly after).

 
All you need to do is leave the laptop anywhere unplugged from the AC adapter for a week, and it will be dead.  The laptop has some sort of design defect which drains the battery.  The always-on USB power might be a source of the battery drain, but there is probably also something else.  It's not because of sleep or hibernation or rapid start or any Windows doodads; even with those disabled, after turning the laptop fully off, the laptop drains the battery within a week.
 
That is why I have now partially charged the battery and then removed it.

Well...Now I know why my trackpad is popping up. There goes the "portability" of my laptop. Nothing EVGA can do atm. Warranty ended a year ago. I won't bother buying a new battery then. Thanks for the info everyeone!

Sad to hear.  Like you, my battery seems shot too.
 
My situation is different.  I have so many "toys" that I have barely used this laptop.  Bought it Dec 2015, maybe used it a few days that month, put it in a box, used it once a year or two later, put it back in box, then went to use it this past Fri (10/23) and the battery is not recognized and not charging.
 
I have experienced swelling though, with other devices.  My Motorola Razrr (not the flip), my ipod touch, and a Samsung galaxy tablet.  Leaving them on a charger without using them for weeks, months, years will cause the battery to swell and eventually start popping things like the screen or other parts... and the dangerous part is that the battery could BURST, causing damage and/or fire!!!  So now, I do not keep devices on charge or in 'docking stations' anymore.  I turned the power strip off for all of my portables, like my 3DS, PSP, PSP go, PS VITA, etc...  
 
One thing that I am going to try (with my laptop battery) is to 'jump charge it'.  I am going to try to check the voltage to see if I get a reading (I realize I won't get a reading if it has a solid state switch though) and if I get something< I will try to 'charge' it until I get it to the proper voltage, then see if the laptop will recognize it.   

I first learned about that stuff a few years back when I went to use power tools that have sat in their boxes for a year or so and then the batteries weren't charging (brand new out of the box).  Seems if they fall below a certain voltage you can 'hot wire them' to another power source (best to use equal type) to bring them up to a recognizable voltage and then the charger will usually 'authenticate' them and start charging them.  Had that happen with some Milwaukee M18 Fuel batteries, a Dewalt 20V battery, and an Echo 48V battery... none would charge (brand new out of box) but after jumpering the right pins to soft charge them and bring them up from a super low (or non existent) voltage to around the proper voltage, 18, 20, etc.. then the charger took over.

**NOTE** that is dangerous and can cause the batteries to explode!  I would recommend anyone trying that to A) use eye protection and B) do it outside .   Good luck!