upgrade issues with warranty

My question is simple.
Will upgrading my Dell E1505 myself void my warranty in any way shape or form?
I read from a linked site somewhere in the forum about upgradeing graphics cards that if you open the case you will void the warranty.
If this is so, then I am to assume that all you who have upgraded don't care about warranty/don't have a warranty/have a laptop that allows upgrade without conflict with warranty.
Since I will probably wish to upgrade my memory/graphics/hard drive in the future, this is a problem that needs to be solved immedaiatly.
Can annybody help me clear up this matter?

your help will be greatly apreciated!

ucb9999
:ati: :centrino:

 

Ususally the only things you can upgrade without voiding warranty is:

Battery
Ram
Hard drive

 

Is there any way besides calling my laptops manufacture to verify this?

ucb9999

 

these are "user upgradeable"....

HD
RAM
MiniPCI card(s)

if you upgrade using non-dell products they are not covered under warranty. everything else still is.

 

I upgraded my ram but kept the old sticks just in case I have to send the computer back. if something craps out then I'll just stick the old ram back in. the 1505 has the terms and conditions online, so I would read those. I don't have the link, just browse the dell site or google it.

I hope no "Acts of God" destroy your comp, cuz those aren't covered. honest...

 

Nope, its their computer, so their the ones who ultimately make the decision when it comes to what u can upgrade and not void ur warranty.

 

can I at least open the case without voiding my warranty?
ucb9999

 

If by case you mean the little panels on the bottom, then yes. If you mean open up the whole case, then no.

 

U can open whtver u want because 1) that doesnt matter for wrrany, ur not replacing anything and 2) they cant tell that u opened ur case as easily as they can tell if u put in a different processor.

 

Well I called compusa and anything you replace isnt covered. So if I replace my ram or cpu or anything it isnt covered. But my warranty isnt voided by doing an upgrade.

 

Is this compusa's warranty, or acer's?

Because I called acer about a cpu swap, and they told me that such a move will void my system's entire warranty.

 

For the original poster, I think you said you wanted to upgrade RAM, hard drive, and video card, right? RAM and hard drive do not require opening the case so you are fine there. Video card upgrade will certainly void the warranty, but here's the thing. You only have a limited upgrade path there. If you have the x1400 or the GMA950, there is nothing to upgrade too. The only upgrade that MAY be possible is an x1300 to x1400. It really is not worth the performance boost to risk not only your warranty but screwing your system up. The same goes for a Yonah to Merom upgrade. The real world performance increase is not worth screwing your system and voiding your warranty.

 

ram, cpu, HD, GPU
Which of these can I get to by removing a panel and which by opening the whole case?

ucb9999

 

RAM and HD will have their own panels and will be visible and easily upgradeable. The GPU and CPU are protected by a heat sink (usually copper) and I have no idea how you remove that.It will involve opening up the entire laptop however.

 

Thanks radditz. Have you ever looked at the bottom of an E1505? I can only see the panel for the ram on mine. Maybe I just need to look at it again.

ucb9999

 

The hard drive likely slide out of the side. Look under you pc card slot.

 

There seems to be a slot about 3inches long in size. Could this be it? IF it is I can't get it open. There are two screw next to it with what looks like a picture of a canister next to each screw. If this is it then it is ceartainly the smallest hard drive i have ever seen. Then again I have never seen a notebook HD.

ucb9999