What voids dell waranty? Completecare?

Am i allowed to open it up for cleaning/ remove and replace memory/ upgrade cpu and or GPU? how would they know (obviously putting the original parts in) you messed with it, if you had to send it back?
And what about complete care..couldn't I throw it to the floor smash it and say it fell out of my bag on a rock? I'm just trying to understand if it would be worth getting. Also are there things they won't cover in complete done by accident, not on pupose..?

 

For the warranty, I'm pretty sure you're allowed to upgrade your memory and hard drive, but not the GPU or CPU. Dunno about CompleteCare...

 

Ok, so what can't I upgrade and if needed to send it in then just replace the original part? Is one allowed to take apart a laptop?

 

If you want to upgrade it and aren't sure if you're allowed to? I'd just call them and check to make sure, but I'm 99% sure you're allowed to open up the case. You just can't mess around with the CPU + GPU - they might be soldered onto the motherboard.

 

You can actually upgrade ANYTHING in the computer and it will not void the warranty. However, the upgrade parts do not recieve the system warranty unless they are dell sanctioned upgrades purchased from their site. Damaged caused by an upgraded part is also not covered.

Completecare warranties work the same way, except the parts are covered by an accidental damage type "insurance" that requires you to remit the remains of the damaged laptop. So if you ran it over with your car, you would be good, as you could send back the peices of whats left.. but if you dropped it in a lake, then you could not get a replacement unless you fished the computer out.

Dell also allows an end user to replace any part on the machine covered by any (even the send-in service) warranty. Just ask the rep setting up the dispatch for you if they would send the part out, and let them know that you know service manuals are available on the website. Even the reps who are overseas know about this so it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

You can pretty much upgrade anything without any trouble from Dell. As win stated, it won't be covered in your current warranty though. There has been some debate as to whether you can upgrade GPU/CPU, so I suggest to always contact Dell's warranty support to find out. From most of the warranty information on Dell, GPU and CPU upgrades will void warranty. Yet some users have done this, then had the laptop repaired without any trouble.

As for the complete care, it only covers accidental damage. Theft, fire, or any intentional damage is not covered. With complete care, you are not guranteed to get a new laptop. Dell will do everything they can to fix the broken laptop before replacing it.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't have a new laptop and looking to add CC on it. I'm asking about it before I'll buy it. Are the GPU/CPU soldered..? that doesn't right. Do they have a seal on it? one of those tear away kind that tells you if it was messed with. IS there a way besides leaving scratches altering the plastics inside they can find out? for instance buying an E1705 and upgrading the 7900GS to the 7950GTX. In this case you'd have to do some fabricating modification to the metal or plastics from what I read.
And about the complete care, it pretty much does cover anything?

 

I have asked Dell about upgrading the GPU in my XPS M1710, and they told me that the warranty will not cover the new GPU, but otherwise the warranty on the laptop remains intact (I also have completecare). I also asked about overclocking, and I was given pretty much the same answer.

 

Oh yeah. Oops, sorry, they're right... forgot about that. My excuse is that I assumed you wanted the warranty to cover your newly upgraded part

And about the soldering, I heard it somewhere about _some_ laptop... maybe it was the OLPC... but night2004 says it's right ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2052904) so it must be