Adding SSD/memory voids warranty

Adding memory or upgrading your hard drive are not considered "unauthorized modifications" and will not void your warranty, although the memory & hard drive, that YOU install, will not be covered. In fact Apple even provides instructions on how to do so yourself:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3419

Memory:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1270

Well, that's rather easy to determine with a MacBook Pro, as there are only two user serviceable parts: the hard drive & RAM.

dnagir wrote:

Ok. So replacing optical drive is considered to be unauthorised and thus voids the warranty.

That would be considered "unauthorized", however, as to whether it voids your entire warranty...fact is the Apple geniuses have a lot of discretion, and I suspect the determination as to what will be covered/not covered will be made on an individual basis. I, nor anyone else here, can categorically state that such will void your entire warranty. No one here works for Apple.

How do we know what exactly is considered unauthorised?

The easy way to tell is to look at the manual (in the User Guides and Information folder). If it tells you how to do it, it's allowed! 🙂

If the machine burns out because the cooling system isn't designed to accomodate a second hard drive in the OD bay, which it isn't, the damage won't be covered by the warranty.

Do all those people lose their warranty?

All the people who have replaced their optical drive with something else (like a SSD)? Yes, they have lost their warranty.

The difference is that the RAM and hard drive in a current MacBook Pro are placed in bays that are designed so that standard parts can be easily swapped by a non-techie. The optical drive is in a part of the machine that is designed to be permanently installed (very few users would ever swap out the optical drive), so if anyone goes in there they have to disassemble the machine to a degree that all bets are off as to the integrity of the components after reassembly, unless they're an authorized tech.

The solution is not that hard, just wait a few months and the warranty will be over. Then you can do whatever you want. In the pre-unibody MacBook Pros, only the RAM was user-replaceable, so I always looked forward to the end of the warranty because on that day I would get my screwdrivers and perform a major hard drive upgrade that would have voided the warranty a few days before.

There is sometimes a third way out. There is a company that performs special SSD+eSATA port upgrades on iMacs, and since that obviously voids the warranty, what that company does is take over the warranty.

dnagir wrote:

Ok. So replacing optical drive is considered to be unauthorised and thus voids the warranty.

Which also means we can't have one more HDD/SDD drive in MBP 2011.

No, it just means you wait until the warranty runs out. Then you can have one more drive in it.

Mr. Reed is very "by the book", in that putting a SSD in place of your optical drive may void your warranty. I prefer to look at it like this. It's a non-invasive upgrade that actually generates much LESS heat and noise then the previous optical mechanisim. So as long as it's properly installed, I can't see it having an adverse affect one way or the other. Now, when it comes to taking the machine in for service on, say, a bad Mobo or power supply, simply swap out the SSD with its bracket (available online) and plug the optical drive back in. Only takes 5 minutes.

" so if anyone goes in there they have to disassemble the machine to a degree that all bets are off as to the integrity of the components after reassembly, unless they're an authorized tech."

That sounds a little paranoid for just having to remove a few extra screws. Understandably, if electronics scare you, and for some people they do, then even upgrading the RAM is going to give you a corinary. Anyone who's ever worked on a PC can do it, or knows someone who's comfortable swapping items.

First, this topic is three months old and has been marked correct. You're really not talking to anyone but yourself, and the regulars who replied and see this topic bubble back up to the top of their watch lists.

Second, the question asked was whether this voids the warranty. You can look at it however you like, but the fact of the matter is that is absolutely WILL void your warranty, as has been more than adequately pointed out. Whether that is a problem is an individual choice.

Third, recommending that people attempt to defraud Apple by trying to hide the fact that they've been fooling around with things that void the warranty is more than a little unethical, and likely to fail besides. If you void your warranty in this way and something goes wrong that would have been covered by that warranty, own up to it.

Fourth, I'm not sure where you get the idea that an SSD generates less heat than an optical drive that is, most likely, sitting and doing nothing most of the time. That's not a statement backed up by facts.

Dear Tom,

While I'd prefer a less hostile approach from you, I can confirm that I never refuted your claims. I simply offered a perspective that was different then yours. And seeing as these replies do show in search results, I consider my feedback just as valuable as yours to the discussion. And if you don't like that, then perhaps you need to chill out a bit -- take a vacation and unwind from these wacky responses that don't jive with your way of doing things.

And lastly, some food for thought, Tom --- it's technically breaking the law whenever you do over 65 on the highway. Kindly turn yourself into the authorities next time you cross the line at 56.

Respectfully,

Paul

Since my entire perspective on this topic was "it voids the warranty," and that is 100% irrefutably true, what reasonable perspective could be offered that is different? If you don't like my reply, don't criticize me while posting misleading, erroneous and unethical information.