Depot Service Question

Since we are all such experts on the in's-and-out's of Depot service.

I've got to send my cousin's notebook into Depot to get fixed. She dropped it and cracked the bottom chassis, and the DC jack so the power plug can no longer plug into the back. No other damage as far as I can tell. Support will only do Depot service to replace the bottom chassis.

So, there are two things I am worrying about: One, if I remove the HDD before I send it in, can they refuse service? She doesn't have enough battery power left to do a Data backup and knowing how Depot tends to screw things up, I don't want them replacing or reformatting her HDD since I have no backup.

Two, I will be removing the Windows COA sticker so I can re-stick it onto the new bottom chassis when I get the notebook back. But what about the service tag sticker? I just don't want the Depot to write the service tag number on the bottom in permanent marker because they're too damn lazy to peel off that sticker and adhere it to the new chassis. But if I remove it, they may claim there's no service tag and therefore the laptop's not covered.

So aggravating, this would be a lot easier if Depot service weren't run like a Foxconn factory.

 

Hi radji,

About the HDD, since the issue is not related, the service will not be refused if you remove the HDD, what they do in situations like that is put in a HDD from the lab just to test the computer. About the stickers, since there are more than one way to find the service tag in your system, there´s no problem at all if you remove them, even the windows one, because as far as I know, the new bottom cover does not include those stickers and I´m pretty sure they won´t peel off the sticker from the old bottom cover to put them on the new one. To remove the stickers, blow hot air for a few seconds to loosen the glue, that way they will still adhere to the new cover.

 

You can always take the HDD out and and use a SATA cable or a HDD enclosure to plug it in another computer and clone it. But like the Dell rep, they will use another HDD in the lab which I think it would be safer for your personal information.

About the service tag, I think the Alien Autospy can tell you the service tag and express code. So yeah, there is more than 1 way to know the service tag. I personally took a picture of the Windows key and service tag at the bottom and throw it on my Acronis back up. Just in case.

I think it sucks that you have to send it to depot. I personally don't like others mess with the inside of my laptop, unless I can keep my eyes on them.

 

Thank you both. I will remove the HDD before I send it in. I just don't want to take that chance of all my cousin's data being lost in case I screw up the clone image. Going from past experiences, I WILL be removing the Windows COA sticker. I have a special razor blade that is extremely sharp and meant cut the felt and glue away from pool table slate without scraping. I was just not sure if I should remove the service tag stick as well, but I am going to do that too. The notebook is only three months old and I don't want to lose that sticker in depot repair so soon. Muchas garcias all.