Sending in a MBP for a HD upgrade...

[EmptyG]

Just curious if you all have some opinions / suggestions for me. I have a 15" MacBook Pro (2.33Ghz, 2GB Ram) with a 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive.

I am thinking about upgrading the drive to a 200GB 7200rpm drive (more speed, more space) and need to use a service to do it as to not void my AppleCare warranty.

There is a place locally that can do it, but it may be more expensive than the online ones. Still checking on that.

I found a few places that do it so far (techrestore.com, macservice.com) - has anyone used either of these (or another one)? If so, how did it go?

Also, if you have a similar model as me, did upgrading to a 7200rpm drive have any negative effects? I want to make sure the extra heat (if any) won't have any effect on my system.

Thanks!

 

[Shevlock]

I too am thinking about upgrading the 120 gig hd. However, I was going to do it myself, not knowing that having it professionally done was an option. Does this really not void the applecare warranty? I feel like it would be unlikely for them to honor the warranty when not only is it a third party hard drive, but also third party installation.

can anyone confirm/deny from experience/superior knowledge?

 

[EmptyG]

No that I am sure of...

From techrestore.com:

Q: Will this upgrade void my manufacturer warranty?
A:The upgrades or repairs we perform will not void your manufacturer warranty. The manufacturer will just not cover any of the parts we install into your system under their warranty. Those parts are then covered by a TechRestore 1-year warranty and in the case of hard drives, a 3-5 year manufacturer warranty on the drive mechanism itself.

I verified this with my local Apple store and another Apple certified repair place. They said the same thing - if the place is Apple certified, it will not void your AppleCare warranty, as long as they do it.

 

[tmoney468]

Moreover, from what I've read you can swap out HDs and install a new one your self without voiding the warranty so long as you don't damage anything during the install and Apple, of course, won't cover the new HD being installed

 

[Jestered]

Moreover, from what I've read you can swap out HDs and install a new one your self without voiding the warranty so long as you don't damage anything during the install and Apple, of course, won't cover the new HD being installed

That is absolutely correct. Upgrading your HD does not in anyway void the warranty. Obviously, since the new drive was not in the computer when you bought it, it is not covered by the warranty, but everything else still is. Unless you damage something during the install the warranty is completely in tact except for the new drive being put in.

 

[Hls811]

I too am thinking about upgrading the 120 gig hd. However, I was going to do it myself, not knowing that having it professionally done was an option. Does this really not void the applecare warranty? I feel like it would be unlikely for them to honor the warranty when not only is it a third party hard drive, but also third party installation.

can anyone confirm/deny from experience/superior knowledge?

(Exclusions to the Warranty: )
...(b) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood, fire, earthquake or other external causes; ... (d) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider; (e) to a product or part that has been modified to significantly alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple...

It seems like if its done by an Apple Authorized Service Provider the warranty is still in tact.. if you do it yourself, its not...

From what i've been hearing/reading - this is all open to interpretation and theres no clear-cut defined answer.


I know when I personally spoke to an AppleCare rep about this same thing they told me they (apple) doesn't offer the service but there are 3rd party vendors that do although doing so *may* void the warranty... He didn't say definitively but I also didn't push it because I wasn't convinced I was going to do the upgrade (which I still haven't done).

Theres alot of gray area because if something else starts to act funny.. Apple can always come back and blame the issue on the case being opened and the HD being replaced...

 

[EmptyG]

So then I take it that so far no one has ever used either of these sites for upgrading? I am leaning towards macservice.com. They have the 200GB 7200rpm drives, and 10% off for MacWorld readers

 

[Jestered]

(Exclusions to the Warranty: )
(d) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Actually, if you read it correctly it states the exact thing I said. The warranty does not cover DAMAGE that you cause by doing the upgrade. Simply installing a new HD without damage does NOT void the warranty.