iMac self hard disk replacement will void applecare?

Replacing a hard drive will not void your warranty. Neither will replacing RAM.

Just retain the original hardware. If you ever need to send your iMac to Apple for repair, put the original hardware back in.

You can locate the AppleCare Terms & Conditions online. The link is:

http://www.apple.com/legal/applecare/appgeos.html

Also please read the following release that came out today regarding upgrading the mid 2011 iMacs. This was published by OWC a respected reseller. OWC HD and SSD article 2011 iMac

If you have any comments about Apple's decision after reading this document you can post them at www.apple.com/feedback.

Roger

If you install parts that are not considered user installable items (Ram) in other words if you open the casing you void the warranty. Look in your iMac users guide it only give you details on how to upgrade your Ram.

Eric & Michael,

I think you both should read the Terms & Conditions of AppleCare using the link I provided to the OP. Neither of you are completely right nor completely wrong, in short it's not a black and white issue.

If it's a user installable part my advice holds true.

Otherwise, it would void the warranty.

On the iMac, the hard drive is not user replaceable so it would void the warranty.

I was wrong in assuming that you could replace the hard drive in an iMac. You can but it will void the warranty.

It is, in fact, a black and white issue. Either the part is user-replaceable as defined by Apple or it's not.

Apple will be able to tell that the hard drive was replaced.

If you want continued AppleCare coverage, don't do it.

Michael,

You didn't read the terms and conditions closely I was referring to:

Limitations. The Plan does not cover:

ℹ Installation, removal or disposal of the Covered Equipment, or installation, removal, repair, or maintenance of non-Covered Equipment (including accessories, attachments, or other devices such as external modems) or electrical service external to the Covered Equipment;

(ii) Damage to the Covered Equipment caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse (including faulty installation, repair, or maintenance by anyone other than Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider), unauthorized modification, extreme environment (including extreme temperature or humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress or interference, fluctuation or surges of electrical power, lightning, static electricity, fire, acts of God or other external causes;

Also the point is moot on a Mid 2011 iMac, please read the article I linked to earlier. Again it is: OWC HD and SSD article 2011 iMac.

*** are you talking about. Replacing the RAM in an iMac is perfectly fine.

Replacing anything else is not.

There is nothing in the terms and conditions that conflicts with that fact.

I already admitted I was wrong about the hard drive replacement. That's not covered.

The warranty says that if any damage is done while replacing parts this voids the warranty. This would include RAM, Hard Drives, SSD's, etc... At the end of the day it's Apple's call if damage was done.

Michael all I'm saying is it's not black and white and to be honest I agree 100% that a user should NOT attempt to change anything except RAM on an iMac. Doing so is playing with fire and IMHO not worth it. Of course if a user has an earlier machine (2010 or earlier) and they do manage to change the HD or add a SSD and does not damage the machine the changed part is not covered by AppleCare of course. In addition if that part causes damage then not only is that part not covered it would void all other parts including OS X.

Just to add an interesting tidbit: I had occasion to watch an AASP dismantle my last iMac in order to replace the logic board. In any case, I watched and noted the following tape on the hard drive: "warranty void if removed". It was in a spot where it would have to be removed to get the hard drive disconnected.

The same rules apply: the SSD is available from Apple as a custom order. Read the warranty terms again (the quote in rkaufman87's post) and/or the entire contract.