What will break your warranty?

I noticed that upgrading your CPU yourself, according to another thread, will invalidate your warranty. I wanted to know what else would void AW's warranty.

Will upgrading RAM do that?

Will changing GPUs do that?

Will changing HDD's?

What else could void a warranty... I know its a sort of noob question, but I wanted to know if we could get a complete (or rather a function towards completion) list of what may void your warranty.

 

RAM = no

GPU = no (as long as you get the unit from AW and they send it to you). i would venture that it would if you bought the GPU from a different source and installed.

HDD = no

you can pretty much do other things like, install a pci-e ssd, install a new wireless card, install a dvd drive into a smart bay shell...and maybe a few other little things.

changing CPU, BIOS for sure void it.

if in doubt, call roswell.

 

There's a lot that you can change without voiding your warranty. CPU will void warranty. BIOS and GPU changes require you to contact AW support. You can change memory, optical drives on some models (especially those with smart bay devices) and HDD, but AW will ask you to change them back if you need to troubleshoot hardware problems over the phone or send a unit in for repair.

It's always good to contact Roswell before doing anything other than memory and HDD changes to make sure you are still covered, and avoid undoing any screws covered by a label or paint without specific approval from AW (preferably in an email that you can refer to later if there are questions).

 

Upgrading your processor will not void warranty unless damage is done to the unit during or after the process, this also applies to any hardware changes you do. When updating bios, is recommended to have an Alienware technician on the phone. In the event you encounter any issues and choose to contact technical support, you will be required to install the old processor back as warranty support only applies to original settings.

 

Armando, I may know of a person who may have recently replaced the thermal paste on his/her GPU and or CPU as the laptop was running a little hot for their liking... apparently from what i have heard.

Has this person (who is most definitely not me) voided their warranty? I believe from what I heard, an exemplary job was done and no damage came to the laptop.

Cheers now

 

If no damage was done, warranty is not voided.

 

I would think unless obvious damage is seen it would be hard to prove if the install caused any damage.

Nice to know you don't need to buy the highest end CPU during the initial order.

 

while nice to know, this has been backwards from everything we have discussed over the past several months to year....
if memory serves, it was said the CPU upgrades voided warranty....no you are saying it does not...

i mean, if it works, then no one would care, but if it does not, and ones replaces the old cpu for warranty issues, and you notice it was replaced, then what?

 

If I upgrade my X9100 to the QX9300, I'm gonna switch it back before any warranty work just to be on the safe side.

I guess I'll do that with my screen too if I have to.

 

If the system does not work even with the original processor installed and in depot is determined that it was due damage to the motherboard or cpu socket, then it is voided.

 

Thanks for the clarification Armando.

 

What about warranty transfers? Is is still true you cannot transfer your warranty to someone else if you sell your Alienware?

 

yes you cannot transfer warrentys

 

Correct, warranty is not transferrable. Once the original owner sells the system or system is bought from a 3rd party, warranty is voided.

 

Right, just like an automobile. 5 years/50,000 miles/or you sell it. Woops, my bad. Those are transferable.

So Armando, if I pay for 3 years worth of warranty and sell my laptop after 1 year, will I get refunded the remaining 2 years (pro rated of course) that I paid for since it can't be transferred? It seems reasonable since it was coverage that was paid for.

I carry a separate "global" accidental damage/theft policy and If I cancel after 6 months the remainder of the fee is refunded.