Hi All,
Im planning to buy a base model MSI GS75 with 256gb.
If i want to add/replace the storage, and if i add ram later, do i loose the 24 months warranty?
is it the same with any new laptops?
thanks heaps
Is Warranty Void if You Upgrade The Ram or Storage on a New Laptop?
artxty on 06/03/2019 - 19:37
Last edited 08/03/2019 - 20:06 by 1 other user
Last edited 08/03/2019 - 20:06 by 1 other user
Comments
Stop spreading bullshit. If you change the exhaust on your car and the stereo breaks then the warranty isn't void is it?
Don't listen to what manufacturers say, they are full of shit.
Replacing the exhaust on a car doesn't involve opening up the stereo though.
OP didn't say he was going to take apart his memory modules and hard drive and attempt to add more memory and space to his existing components.
Please don't say stupid things that are misleading.
Don't post if you don't know anything, which you clearly don't.
@samfisher5986: I don't care if you say you're "in the industry" or not. I can say I'm a NASA aerospace engineer.
The GS75 is a thin-and-light gaming notebook. That means its components are squished together and there's no separate compartment for RAM or Hard drive - to upgrade those you have to open up the entire laptop and expose the mainboard.
THIS is a tear-down by an actual owner of the actual laptop, and it basically supports what I'm saying in this thread - you can upgrade, but it's incredibly easy to damage something else in the process.
If you think doing this is anything like replacing an exhaust and damaging the stereo, I don't know what to tell you. Find another line of work?
@HighAndDry: Its definitely more difficult, but there is no risk of damage if you are careful.
I would be more worried about incorrectly putting it back together, which will not damage the laptop, it will just require you to either watch a youtube video or pay a service tech to put it back together correctly.
@samfisher5986: I know I sound like a broken record, but "being careful" is much easier said than done for someone who's never worked on a laptop before - especially a thin-and-light laptop. And especially for MSI ones which aren't designed the best with user-accessibility to internals in mind.
And again - OP isn't going to know if any issues after he replaces a part is because he missed something, the laptop is actually defective, or he broke something while putting it back.
@HighAndDry: Outside of a CPU, I've never seen anyone damage a computer part as long as they were not being forceful.
Its the one and only rule to follow.
@samfisher5986: https://forums.overclockers.com.au/threads/warranty-void-sti…
In my work a get quite a few people who decide to upgrade their laptop on their own and end up missing a screw and breaking amount when prying apart, or tearing a ribbon cable that connects, keyboard, mouse or buttons for top panel to the MB. Also putting screws of different lengths/width into the incorrect holes and end up screwing them into the pcb (Asus is notorious for this using 3 different length screws for the base assembly.)
@samfisher5986: Yeah. I don't think we're disagreeing anymore, just coming at it from different angles. I'm basically putting huge weight on the fact that OP isn't familiar with working with laptops and effectively can't be trusted to do everything right. You're taking a more black-letter approach - which I respect - but which, again, in this case I don't think is all that practically useful.
@HighAndDry: I'm not disagreeing with you, its very possible he can mess it up if he's not careful. He should probably watch some youtube videos too if he has never taken some things apart.
No it won't.
Stop trying to mislead people.
Why even come here if you clearly don't know anything?
https://www.google.com/search?q=warranty+void+sticker+austra…
From a theoretical perspective, warranty void stickers are illegal. A more accurate term would be tamper evidence sticker. Removing such stickers would tell them you've potentially tampered with the internals if you ever sent it in.
In a warranty claim, the burden is on the manufacturer to prove your mods broke your laptop. A broken sticker doesn't mean anything. I.e. if you did a proper job and the mod isn't the reason the laptop failed within the warranty period, the warranty stands.
That's just the theory. The problem: Most people only own 1 laptop and phone. Most people also rely on them everyday. They're not going to bother/take the risk, since warranty claim/RMA processes can be extremely tedious. Even when it's a clear cut case, it can take months before you get a replacement. Then there's the "mass casual" crowd who don't know it's illegal and are terrified of touching the sticker at all. Most manufacturers know this, which is why warranty void stickers still exist.
Disclaimer: I am not a consumer goods lawyer, please do your own research. Don't shoot me.
In a laptop, everything is so closely connected that you can definitely screw up something else (CPU, USB controller, PCIe connectors, etc) just in the process of replacing RAM or Harddrive, because you'd have to open up the whole laptop (generally, some models do have a specific section for just those two), and you'd be exposing the whole of the mainboard to work on it.
I don't think i've seen a laptop in 10 years that doesn't have specific openings for ram and hard drive
You haven't seen any thin and light laptops in the past… 10 years then*. Things have become more integrated in ultrabooks and similar slim laptops the same way they have in mobile phones, in order to pack more components into smaller spaces closer-ly together. The GS75 is called "Stealth" for a reason - and in return for its formfactor the trade-offs are harder upgradability.
*As an example, the RAM in Dell XPS13s are soldered to the motherboard and there's zero expandability.
Stop trying to pretend like you know anything.
You know nothing but are attempting to pretend like you know something.
Lol stop projecting. Just because you have to pretend to look like you know anything, doesn't mean others are equally ignorant.
@HighAndDry: I work in the industry, I know what I"m talking about.
You are one of two people here who are making things up.
Time to grow up and learn something for yourself instead of making it up.
@samfisher5986: Yeah and I'm Einstein. I can accept you might work in the industry - but OP doesn't and isn't a professional, do you at least accept that in the process of upgrading the RAM and harddrive it's easy to also damage other components?
@HighAndDry: You can damage other components doing a wide range of things.
All kinds of places have procedures for making decisions based on what is wrong.
If you put in an SSD, and the motherboard dies a month later, they won't void your warranty because you change the hard drive.
They will void your warranty if you've damaged the motherboard.
This is all standard things they check, they won't replace your laptop based on your word.
You can damage other components doing a wide range of things.
Yes. And if you damage something, it'll affect any warranty claim. Plus, much easier to damage internal components if you're opening up the laptop exposing the internals.
If you put in an SSD, and the motherboard dies a month later, they won't void your warranty because you change the hard drive.
Maybe they won't. Maybe they'll see the motherboard died because there's a loose screw in there - and then they will.
They will void your warranty if you've damaged the motherboard.
Again - much easier if you've opened the laptop and they can show that, versus if you
Don't take my word for anything, this is from someone else who also (apparently) works in the industry:
https://forums.overclockers.com.au/threads/warranty-void-sti…
And again - all of this are things you should already know if you're also in the industry.
This is all standard things they check, they won't replace your laptop based on your word.
Yes - and having opened the laptop makes it a lot more likely for a warranty claim to be denied, whether or not it's a valid denial.
@HighAndDry: If you damage something, it only affects warranty for that specific thing.
I deal with companies like dell all the time and a lot of user damage.
They will only charge for the user damaged parts and warranty is still valid for the rest of the laptop.
They will never deny your warranty claim based on a mysterious reason.
Either you damaged the laptop or not.
The only time it gets a little interesting is if there is physical damage, chipped plastic etc around the laptop, this will often mean that companies won't replace parts like the laptop screen as there is a lot of evidence the laptop has been dropped.
If you damage something, it only affects warranty for that specific thing.
Yes, of course. But it's very easy to accidentally damage other things even if all OP is doing is upgrading the RAM or Hard drive, because OP would have to open up the entire laptop.
@HighAndDry: Its not that easy.
OP has a higher risk of forgetting to plug the battery in or something rather then damaging something.
If he damages the laptop while working on it, he was way too rough.
Most of my actual accidental damage stories from genuinely trying to replace something in a computer come from people attempting to install CPU's, which is an actual dangerous thing to do if you have no experience. A lot of bent/broken pins….
OP has a higher risk of forgetting to plug the battery in or something rather then damaging something.
Sure - but that's if OP remembers to unplug the battery first in the first place - I can't overstate this enough: OP IS NOT A PRO. As demonstrated by the fact they're asking these questions in the first place. I try to give advice conservatively - if everything goes perfectly, yes - OP's
warrantyACL rights will be 100% intact, but you work in the industry, you tell me how often these things go 100% according to plan. And even if it's as simple as a disconnected ribbon cable - how do you rate OP's chances of being able to diagnose that without sending it back to MSI or taking it to a computer shop at their own cost?If he damages the laptop while working on it, he was way too rough.
Yeah but OP isn't a pro - if this is the first laptop they've opened up and tried to upgrade (which it sounds like it is), they've no idea what the correct level of roughness is. And some of these things are a ***** to try and get screws out of, even if you have the correct tools. If not, basically 50/50 chance of something as simple as stripping a screw and then you're screwed (pardon the pun).
Most of my actual accidental damage stories from genuinely trying to replace something in a computer come from people attempting to install CPU's, which is an actual dangerous thing to do if you have no experience. A lot of bent/broken pins….
Oh I don't doubt it. Comparatively, RAM and harddrive are much easier to user-upgrade. But only comparatively. I wouldn't trust most of my same-age friends to do that to a desktop, much less a thin-and-slim laptop, without breaking something.
AND JUST TO BRING IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT
A warranty-void-if-broken sticker is absolutely valid as it affects the manufacturer's warranty - NOT the consumer's ACL rights. ACL Consumer Guarantees are by the consumer against the seller, but not (generally) against the manufacturer. The manufacturer's warranty is a private commercial agreement.
You can absolutely lose benefits (which are over and above ACL rights) under a manufacturer's warranty if you breach the conditions of that warranty, including breaking these stickers - as examples, onsite service or repairs (not an ACL right), free pick-ups for repairs (not an ACL right), or free replacement units while your unit is being repaired (also not an ACL right), etc.
@HighAndDry: The original point is you are saying changing/upgrading a laptop voids warranty.
It does not.
The question was not "Can I trust someone not to damage the computer" or "if I damage this, will they fix it for free"
The original point is you are saying changing/upgrading a laptop voids warranty.
No, what I said was:
you can definitely screw up something else (CPU, USB controller, PCIe connectors, etc) just in the process of replacing RAM or Harddrive
I find it more useful to give relevant answers, rather than answering the black-and-white question of what the OP asks, because a lot of the time the person asking is asking because they aren't familiar with the field, and won't know what precisely to ask in the first place.
It's WON'T void the warranty, but if you're willing and able to upgrade yourself then you should also be able to troubleshoot if or when you might need a warranty claim on (say) a faulty motherboard or screen.
Put it this way. You put in a 1Tb SSD:
- New SSD dies, won't boot: claim the warranty on the new SSD.
- Motherboard dies but SSD is fine: claim warranty on the laptop.
Both of these are diagnosed by swapping out the new SSD with the original drive to see if it boots - if the original drive boots you can be sure that your upgraded SSD is no good, however if the original drive (assuming it's still bootable/not wiped etc) is still not working then you can prove to MSI or the retailer that you've attempted an 'alternative' boot drive and thus the fault is with the motherboard.
Of course, a dead pixel in the screen would be independent of either an SSD or RAM upgrade so they wouldn't even bother checking what you've done to upgrade it, they'd just swap the screen or swap the laptop and install your SSD and RAM regardless.
In any situation, the easier you make it to find the faulty part, the easier it'll be to claim on warranty.
would there be any warranty sticker on a new laptop that covers 1 screw?
i mean, once i open the lid, would it void my warranty?
No. I repaired Dell business notebooks in my last job, opening up the laptop definitely doesn't void the warranty. And generally speaking, won't be any kind of physical barrier or anti-tamper device preventing you from opening the laptop. It's just all screws holding the base together.
Don't forget the item needs to be easily replaceable, any hint of damage would go against you….note I am firmly for easily replaceable items such as you mentioned but manufacturers can BE TOTALLY UNFAIR.
There is no way for manufacturers to be unfair here, as long as you don't physically break the memory card holder or the sata connector, you don't have to worry.
Or drop a screw into the motherboard shorting something out, or scratch a trace on the motherboard with an errant screwdriver, or break a clip while opening up the laptop, or pull another connector while doing the same thing.
If you really work in the industry, you should know that the above are things you need to be careful of when opening up a laptop. Maybe it's second-nature to you so you don't notice it anymore, but OP isn't a pro.
You are mentioning user damage to a laptop.
This doesn't void the warranty on the laptop, this voids the warranty on the part you damaged.
Thats logical, wouldn't you agree?
I don't think anyone is assuming that they can damage something and have it replaced.
This doesn't void the warranty on the laptop, this voids the warranty on the part you damaged.
While this is technically right, if you damage the mainboard in a laptop, the cost of replacing that is basically cost-prohibitive and you might as well get a new one. And that's honestly one of the main things you'll damage, whether it's by shorting out a part, scratching a trace, bending a pin (if the pins are on the motherboard not the CPU), etc.
I don't think anyone is assuming that they can damage something and have it replaced.
Not knowingly, but most people who aren't in the industry won't know how easy it is, or that it's even possible, to damage other components while working on the laptop in ways which aren't immediately obvious - heck, damage from a short could be marginal enough that the laptop even keeps working for a while after.
And then you'll have OP posting here about how he only replaced the RAM, didn't touch anything else, laptop even worked after he upgraded, and then it died a week or month later and the manufacturer is denying his warranty claim.
@HighAndDry: Damaging the motherboard only happens if you aren't careful. Its much more difficult to do then you make it sound.
The manufacturer won't deny his claim for no reason. If there was an issue they will let him know.
Is there any terms and conditions set by companies that says we cannot open the lid or else voids the warranty?
Seems like a grey area?
No. No such thing. They need to prove that what you did caused the damage. Certain things like a HDD with a sticker saying open = void. That would make sense and is easy to prove.
Legit a few people have already answered this exact question above. You need to read the responses instead of posting the same question over and over. You legit asked it again in reply to someone who answered it already
my dad's acer laptop has a sticker covering the backcover screw "warranty void if seal is broken"
It is starting to feel like a broken record in here. One more time and repeat with me "Warranty void if seal is broken sticker means nothing"
Did your upgrade cause the problem?
No? Not void
Is your claim about the part directly related to your upgrade? (Ie. changed SSD, corrupted OS).
No? Not void.
Like many posters here, it will not void warranty.
These are common upgrade-able/replaceable parts.If you want to take a crack at DIY, ensure you remove the battery first and have compatible components (Type of RAM & HDD) before the upgrade.
Normally, you can find this out on the specifications of the laptop & usually it tells you the maximum amount of RAM you can insert.Cheers
Yes, this will void the warranty.