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nagromme · Oct 29, 2003, 06:41 PM

I know the HD is no longer user-swappable (under warranty terms) in the 15" and 17".

What about the 12"?

I might pop a 7200 in there if my warranty wouldn't object!

TIA

MrNo · Oct 29, 2003, 06:50 PM

Yeah it will void the warranty. I'd like to do the same thing but if something else brakes ...

vancenase · Oct 29, 2003, 07:59 PM

has anyone determined (yet) if you can have a new, user supplied hard drive installed by an Apple store without voiding the warranty? and how much it might cost?

popstand · Oct 29, 2003, 09:55 PM

The best solution to this problem that I have heard so far is to hold on to your original drive, so that you can reinstall it if anything goes wrong with the rest of the system. That way Apple will be none the wiser. Based on the disassembly photos on the Japanese website there doesn't appear to be any special seals that you have to worry about breaking and voiding the warranty. I'd suggest buying a 2.5" firewire enclosure to use with your former drive, so you'll have your upgrade and an extra bus powered mini external. Still not sure if having an apple authorized install of an aftermarket drive voids the warranty too.

nagromme · Oct 29, 2003, 10:08 PM

Thanks. (And I'd definitely get an external USB case--I did that with my PBG3 drive for cheap!)

Good question, vancenase.

I think I'll wait and worry about adding a better drive AFTER warranty, to be safest.

I see that for $25 BTO you can upgrade to 60 GB. That's worth it even if I DO remove it later.

mainemanx · Oct 29, 2003, 11:16 PM

I still say the onus is on Apple to show that you damaged the unit ... I mean it is YOURS!

On the other hand, I broke the memory retainer arms on the wife's flat panel iMac during a "user installable" memory upgrade.

Apple did everything possible to avoid taking responsibility for an obvious-to-anyone defective part. I ultimately found a solution short of replacing the mother board.

Tomster · Oct 30, 2003, 12:45 AM

It is quite true if something breaks during a swap out, one use to be able to put back the original part, call Apple, and feign complete ignorance as to why the machine broke. All this was based on the fact that no one could tell you tried to change a part out.

I recalled reading that the new Powerbooks are almost impossible to take apart without leaving some trace of tampering. It's either the new and more compact spaces of the new form factors, or the fact that Apple was finally catching on.

popstand · Oct 30, 2003, 01:03 AM

I don't think that folks are suggesting that you take advantage of the warranty if you do something boneheaded during a hard drive install. They just don't think you should be SOL if your superdrive/LCD/anything unrelated to the HD is defective later on.

Tomster · Oct 30, 2003, 01:20 AM

Originally posted by popstand:
I don't think that folks are suggesting that you take advantage of the warranty if you do something boneheaded during a hard drive install. They just don't think you should be SOL if your superdrive/LCD/anything unrelated to the HD is defective later on.

You have a valid point. The unfortunate thing is that the second anyone does anything not officially approved by Apple, the warranty is toast. You can also say adios to whatever amount of time you had left on Applecare.

The problem with working on electronics is that in untrained hands, it is very easy to break stuff. Replacing the drive is not a big deal unless one ignores static precautions and zaps the logicboard.

I recalled the days of overclocking Beige G3's. Once the sticker came off the jumper block, whatever happened to the computer then, even if it had nothing to do with the overclocking, was not covered. Even if a drive door fell off, one was out of luck. Sure, it wasn't fair, but from Apple's point of view, it would have been a logistical nightmare trying to apply contingent warranties.