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    HDD required for warranty service?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by del_psi, Jul 7, 2012.

  1. del_psi

    del_psi Notebook Consultant

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    I bought a X230t and I took out the HDD in order to put a SSD I bought. I have backed up everything from the factory HDD. Do I need to keep the HDD for warranty purposes or can I get rid of it (sell it or something )?

    I'm using the SSD and I put the factory HDD in a USB enclosure.
     
    del_psi, Jul 7, 2012
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  2. djembe

    djembe drum while you work

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    You don't need to keep the hard drive for warranty, as it is considered a customer-replaceable unit. However, if you need to send the unit in for warranty at some point, it would be good to have the original drive so you don't have to worry about Lenovo re-imaging your SSD with factory default.
     
    djembe, Jul 7, 2012
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  3. K_Wall_24

    K_Wall_24 Notebook Evangelist

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    Do they actually do this? like if I have a problem with the mobo and have to send the unit back, they might reimage my drive?
     
    K_Wall_24, Jul 7, 2012
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  4. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    Anything that is in the laptop may be replaced, this extends to software meaning that any data you have may be wiped.
     
    kirayamato26, Jul 7, 2012
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  5. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    One of the basic rules for sending one's ThinkPad for any type of depot repair is to NEVER include anything that is not related to the actual problem at hand...

    Keep your HDD/SSD, any additional RAM, battery, AC adapter at home.

    I've been applying this approach for a decade now and never regretted it.
     
    ajkula66, Jul 7, 2012
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  6. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Normally, unless the part is involved in the actual problem, Lenovo will ask you not to include the battery, AC adapter, and hard drive. You can keep those.

    Otherwise, no, your drive will not be wiped unless you sent it in for a software issue: Lenovo techs usually insert their own HDD in for testing hardware issues. But why take the chance?
     
    MidnightSun, Jul 7, 2012
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  7. djembe

    djembe drum while you work

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    This is the opposite of what I was told. My computer is currently in the depot for faulty Intel graphics. The note in the shipping box explicitly says to include battery and AC adapter as well as list the hard drive and memory installed and indicate permission to format the drive if they need to. They formatted my drive even though I had a hardware problem.
     
    djembe, Jul 7, 2012
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  8. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    That's when you leave the space empty by the requirement...

    hard drive size: N/A etc.

    Let them use *their* parts for testing...
     
    ajkula66, Jul 7, 2012
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  9. djembe

    djembe drum while you work

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    In my case, I had upgraded with 4 memory modules and an SSD. I took all that out and put back in the original hard drive and memory for the computer's trip to the depot, so it didn't bother me that they formatted it. I was just surprised that they would see a need to do so for what is clearly a hardware problem. I also saw a post on the Lenovo forums from someone saying the depot would not work on a computer when the hard drive, memory, etc. were not provided.
     
    djembe, Jul 7, 2012
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  10. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    I've had hundreds of ThinkPads go through the depot over the past decade, and have *never* had a repair refused due to the parts not being included...
     
    ajkula66, Jul 7, 2012
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  11. K_Wall_24

    K_Wall_24 Notebook Evangelist

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    This is very good to know. note to self: Remove HDD, Optical adapter caddy, RAM, replace all with stock. Remove battery, AC Adapter.
     
    K_Wall_24, Jul 7, 2012
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  12. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    ajkula66, Jul 7, 2012
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  13. del_psi

    del_psi Notebook Consultant

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    So basically I can just sell the factory HDD and take out my SSD if I need to use the warranty service and leave no HDD or anything in the main HDD spot?
     
    del_psi, Jul 8, 2012
    #13