Could I swap a component before returning a laptop?

I have recently ordered 3 HP laptops - all of them are the exact same model, but with slightly different specs. I have already returned the first laptop, and I am about to return one of the two that I still hold.

The second laptop has an issue with the right Shift key - sometimes when I press it, it makes an odd clicking sound. It seems like perhaps it's slightly misaligned or slightly loose so that when I press on it, maybe it bumps into the side of the key well. The first laptop had this problem too. The third laptop does not have this problem.

But the third laptop has a stuck pixel and a dead pixel. I have tried running those screen flashing programs and haven't had any success in fixing those pixels yet.

I have found the HP maintenance manual with instructions on how to install and remove all the parts, so could I swap the keyboards on the second and third laptops before returning the third laptop? Or does HP take apart the laptops and check all the serial numbers on all the parts when they receive a return?

 

And who is going to get the one you butchered?

That would be theft.

Ordering three laptops with the intention of returning two is why they cost so much.

You're like the guy that takes 2 or 3 parking spots for one car.

 

It's doubtful that HP would ordinarily open up the system to check and what you suggest wouldn't be impossible to do. With this said, if there is any sign that it has been tampered with before being returned, then this could easily cause you problems.

Depending on the screw head type and the amount of care you take, as well as any anti-tampering measures, this might be fairly obvious to anybody who takes even a cursory look at the system.

Tbh this is pretty sketchy and a common-sense analysis of risk-versus-reward will suggest that while the swap may well be possible, you run the risk of being stung as a result. I guess HP will soon have two used systems returned that they will need to price down in order to sell - one of which has potentially been opened up... Maybe I'm just getting old but that seems scummy.

 

I'm not going to swap anything after all. Let's just say the keyboard is a lot more difficult to remove than the instructions make it out to be. The keyboard is even one of the "customer replaceable" parts, since 2 of the RAM slots are behind it.

Now I have to try to live with a couple bad pixels that can't be fixed.

 

Glad you did not try it, its bad karma to do what you were thinking. GL