How would they know????

Hi! I was just curious of something while I was planning to do any hardware changes to my laptop.

I'm trying to replace the HDD inside my laptop for an SSD. However doing that would void my warranty. If my laptop were to malfunction or break in anyway while or after the hardware change. Would the company, that provided my laptop, know if I did any hardware changes on my laptop? Even if I sent it back with the original HDD inside?

 

For MOST manufacturers, RAM and HDD are considered CRU (Customer Replaceable Units) means they are expected to be changed out and or upgraded. HOWEVER if you break something in the process of installing such CRU's, that obviously is not covered by warranty, as well as the part you changed out.

 

If you want to know how they will know I'll tell you very simply..
On each your hardware : ram, hdd, wi-fi, bluetooth etc. - you have unique serial number sticker it's just piece of paper stick on HDD or RAM with bar code even on CPUs sometimes

So if u send it back and u have replaced hardware the first what they check is these serial numbers if it is missing or they scan some different and they wont find it on their system u re dead

 

um, just keep the original hdd and put in back in before shipping it?

 

but you know i upgraded laptop and now i have sold and i am selling original stuff so RAMs gone HDDs gone CPU on sale .. what then?
You cannot re-stick labels cos it just wont match ..

 

Well my point is, if I sent my laptop back to get fixed with the origianl hardware how would they know if I dismanteled or made changes to my laptop before?

Lets say I wanted to change my motherboard on my laptop. however, during the procces of dismatling my laptop I accidently touched something (not break off or anything like that) on the motherboard that I shouldnt have which made my motherboard malfunction. If I were to send that back for repair, how would they know it was me who broke the laptop and not the laptop itself? Do companies have like hardcore inspections or technology geeky CSI people who can tell? Because people can getaway with it and keep using their warranty despite voiding their warranty.

 

I'm not a lawyer, but, in the US, the Moss Motors Act makes it illegal for them to void your warranty because you changed the hard drive... Unless of course the hard drive is the fail point or caused the failure. The reason this came about was because a car company voided an engine warranty because someone changed the suspension on their truck.

The whole point of those stickers is to make people think they have no recourse and won't bother. If it stops just a few people from trying to claim a warranty it was well worth the printing price.

Keep in mind they can still deny a claim, or say you caused it, in which cause you have to go to court, but there are tricks for that too.

 

Be careful on screws !!
They'll check if screws are scratched so they are black and if you unscrewing u scratching foil on screws and you can see silver-ich so shiny marks on them so be careful and + they are thread-locked
and if u done something to motherboard.. what actually u damaged ?

But it is worth to try
Put it back together with original items if you scratched screws use black marker (permanent) to cover scratches clean laptop and make up some story what happened ; say been palying using bla bla an it just switched down ..

 

Everybody we know that NOW laptop companies will do everything and find thee days to refuse your warranty claim because of that and that and they will let you wait months and months to discourage from replacing or repairing

But it is worth try it .. ONCE

 

Regarding drive, if you're using an EFI BIOS it is possible that they can tell if you had another drive in there. Not sure that it really matters though.

 

No I haven't broken or messed up anything. LOL! It just randomly popped up in my head while I was planning to replace my HDD.

 

Again unless you screw up while installing said CRU's, you should be fine. Certain manufacturers will place a void warranty stick over like a RAM door, then proceed at your own risk.

 

RAM and HDD usually user replaceable. Just put the original stuff back in there if you want to send it in for warranty because they may just scrap or refurb the unit and send you another replacement.

On my Eee 1215B, you have to basically disassemble the laptop to replace the HDD, and there is even a "warranty void if removed or damaged" sticker over one of the screws that you need to remove to replace the HDD! So you know you're not getting warranty.

If I want warranty, i usually buy a machine that lets you swap out components without issue (i.e. Sager), otherwise just buy a system cheap enough that it won't matter much. I usually end up fixing my own machines anyhow.

I don't think they check the screws unless the head has been completely torn apart. There's no proof that it was done by the end user. Finding non standard RAM or hard drive is definitely proof. But then there's always incidents like this:
http://www.hardocp.com/news/2011/12/09/hp_says_cats_void_your_warranty

 

Officially, almost all manufacturers use Loctite or some other kind of sealant on the screws to prevent corrosion. It also lets them immediately if a screw has been removed, as it is not as tight as it once was.

I HAVE seen OEMs void warranties for missing screws and if they saw it was opened up and things were not reinstalled properly. Case in point, follow your service manual carefully, and don't mess up lol.

 

I think they can randomly select your computer and send it to CSI lab for fingerprints over the main board, as well as other microscopic evidence. Then they would send two agents to cross question you while possibly keeping you locked until you confess.

but since that is not going to happen almost guaranteed, you'd be just fine. Not fair from you to break stuff and then claim that it broke by itself though.

 

If you put it all back as it was then they'll most likely never know.

While it is possible that they probably could deduce that you voided your warranty, the amount they'd spend on doing so wouldn't justify the gains they'd get since the majority of laptops they get would be completely untouched, meaning that 99% of all cases the detailed inspection was just wasted time and money.

 

.....................

 

Just massacre them up if they deny warranty. I doubt you will hAve any issues with this hdd changing.

Anyway surely its your personal info and you are allowed to remove it if it is to be returned? anyone can see your personal data.