Does opening the Macbook Pro void the warrenty?

swapping the hard drive will void the warranty, as it's not considered a user-serviceable part.

Then again, if nothing brakes, then no harm done.

Not unless you break something or cause damage. Your new drive won't be covered nor any damage resulting from replacing it.

I don't think the warranty can be voided merely by opening the case and replacing the drive. You can read it here;

http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/hardware.html

The important paragraph is this one;

This warranty does not apply: (a) to damage caused by use with non-Apple products; (b) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood, fire, earthquake or other external causes; (c) to damage caused by operating the product outside the permitted or intended uses described by Apple; (d) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider; (e) to a product or part that has been modified to significantly alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (f) to consumable parts, such as batteries, unless damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; or (g) if any Apple serial number has been removed or defaced.

which clearly refers to the "damage caused" or the "part which has been modified". So the damage you cause and the new HD will not be covered.

Best of luck.

Technically speaking replacing ANYTHING that is not listed as user replaceable by Apple, which is everything but RAM in the current MBPs, will void your warranty. It's actually all written as clear as mud in your warranty agreement document that came with your MBP. You might want to read it. While the warranty document is open to interpretation at the end of the day the only interpretation that's important is Apple's.

Now, whether it actually voids warranty in application is variable. If you break something it's quite clear and there's not a lot for you to complain about. If you don't then it comes down to the technician that it lands in front of. Some are "better" than others but ultimately, as soon as they see a swapped component they can deny warranty on the spot. While it's not the norm it does happen.

If you're talking about the hard drive only any you are technically capable then there's no reason why you simply cannot setup the OEM drive hang to look like it's been used, hang on to it and in the case of a failure, put it back in before you ship it off. The drive in the MBP can be swapped without leaving traces that the MBP has been opened unlike other models like the iBook (which is notoriously difficult to open cleanly).

Well I'll stand by what I say. I can't say I agree with everything Ned is saying - I have the highest respect for his opinion 🙂. It's always possible to get someone at Apple who is not a lawyer telling you that the warranty has been "voided. Doesn't make them right but does make it a pain in the neck for you to get around them, you have to argue the case - that much I can agree with. The warranty is not however a gift from Apple. It's a contractual agreement and the contract as written above is crystal clear. The burden of proof would be on the Apple employee to prove the damage you caused - obviously the hard drive isn't covered anyway.

Reinstalling the old drive is all very well until you're asked by Apple whether you've modified the machine - in which case you either lie or tell the truth. If you tell the truth you're back to square one.

Warranties in the US are governed by the Magnusson-Moss Act,here which exists precisely to avoid the sort of confusion over warranty terms that there used to be;

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.shtm#Magnuson-Moss

Unless the written warranty document differs significantly from what I posted above - in which case there is a whole other legal minefield for Apple to worry about 🙂 I'm quite happy to stand by what I said earlier.

Hope that helps.

Best of luck.

PS - ifixit.com have detailed instructions for changing the hard drive.

It's a contractual agreement and the contract as written above is crystal clear.

Absolutely… however most tend to forget, ignore or not know is that while Apple as the warranty provider has certain responsibilities, as does the purchaser of the product. The purchaser is also responsible for keeping the product in such as state as per the contract as well. It's not just a one way street.

Warranty contracts are binding in both directions (with regards to the provider and recipient of the warranty) and the terms of it, in this case, are agreed to upon purchase. The terms of which do specifically mention modification of the purchased computer. The Magnusson-Moss Act does not allow the purchaser to negate their responsibilities as agreed.

While I do appreciate your position, and I do feel mixed about it (one should be allowed to do what they like with what they buy), however fair is acceptable to all parties and not just yourself. I may not like the warranty agreement but I did agree to it.

The purchaser is also responsible for
keeping the product in such as state as per the
contract as well.

Which to some extent is why the warranty excludes damage caused by the Purchaser. The warranty in fact does not lay out obligations on the purchaser - it simply excludes circumstances in which the warranty will not apply. This is what the purchaser agrees to.

It's not just a one way street.
Warranty contracts are binding in both directions
(with regards to the provider and recipient of the
warranty) and the terms of it, in this case, are
agreed to upon purchase.

Only the written terms constitute the warranty in this case.

The terms of which do
specifically mention modification of the purchased
computer.

So then there is no problem. You can modify because the warranty does not expressly forbid it. You just can't expect Apple to cover the modified parts or damage caused by them because the warranty does strictly forbid it.

The Magnusson-Moss Act does not allow the
purchaser to negate their responsibilities as
agreed.

The warranty is what is written. The warranty constitutes a contractual obligation on the part of Apple as part of the purchase contract - it is not an agreement separate to the purchase of the machine. Unless it lays out obligations on the purchaser in writing there are none on the purchaser. The purchaser doesn't have obligations to Apple or Apple's warranty, but the warranty does have exclusions. So to some extent it is something of a one way street. If Apple did lay out obligations on the purchaser without putting them in the warranty then they would actually be in violation of the Act. Also there is a sizeable body of case law following that Act that does provide the right of purchasers to modify their purchasers with 3rd party products for example - the car industry is an example.

Anyway, I'll stop now as I think we'll end up going round in circles. I'd say the OP has plenty to go on with for now.

Thanks for the input Ned. Greatest of respect for you as always and thanks for giving me the opportunity for a friendly debate. My contributions to the forum often revolve around giving the same advice over and over again about where to get ram and saying "I agree with Ned, Kappy, (delete as appropriate.) 🙂

Best of luck.

So then there is no problem. You can modify because the warranty does not expressly forbid it.

Actually here lies the problem… the warranty document I have, the last time I read one at least (which I don't do very often because all I seem to get from it is a headache!), states (as I read it at least - remember the headache) that mods are a no-no.

The warranty is what is written

Which is my hesitation… it is written.

Greatest of respect for you as always and thanks for giving me the opportunity for a friendly debate.

Haha! A friendly debate is always stimulating and fun. Even better when it's with a topic that's is important to us all. Add to that what applies to you actually doesn't exactly apply to me. Oh what joy and fun!! 🙂

To me the sticking point is part E. The way I read "modified to significantly alter functionality or capability" when applied to the MBP hard drive is that by installing a larger hard drive you alter "capability". Obviously how one defines "significantly" is rather debateable but I think you can see why I take the position I do.

The interpretation one can take on this point alone are numerous so I take the safest, most conservative position when being asked. From there if one then chooses to do an "upgrade" it's done with their eyes open with the potential repercussions in mind. I just find taking the reverse position irresponsible (it's not quite the right word but I'm going to use it anyway and I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say) as it takes away a level of choice.

The more I look at the iFixit instructions, the less scared I am of the procedure

Having done it it's not difficult. Just have the right tools and double that in patience and it's a piece of cake.

OK I'll jump in 🙂 ;

To me the sticking point is
part E. The way I read "modified to significantly
alter functionality or capability" when applied to
the MBP hard drive is that by installing a larger
hard drive you alter "capability". Obviously how one
defines "significantly" is rather debateable but I
think you can see why I take the position I do.

As the drive has been replaced it's not been modified at all, it's no longer in the computer. The new drive was not supplied by Appple in the first place and therefore isn't part of the warranty anyway - in effect you're removing the warranted part and replacing for one that is not warranted.

If I might use a rough car analogy, I "chip" my car - meaning I modify the engine to run faster than the original - then damage to the engine is not covered and consequential damage isn't covered. I replace the engine with one of my own and the new engine isn't covered. If the new engine has the same specs then consequential damage does not apply.

So my point is;
take the drive out, speed it up and put it back - modification.
take the drive out, replace with another - no drive warranty. If the specs of the drive are capable of causing consequential damage that is another issue - e.g temperature or voltage.
If however Apple supply it with the same hardware then they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

None of this stops an Apple employee from being wrong of course and saying the warranty is void. My point is that the warranty and Law is against them - unless there is something more specific in the leaflet which is not overridden by the web page.

Cheers.

It does but there isn't a blanket prohibition on "unauthorised modification" only an exclusion of warranty service for products or parts which have been significantly modified to affect functionality or capability. If you take the view that changing the hard drive does this then you have to consider whether you still want to go ahead.

Do bear in mind that on that basis you have to ask Apple for written permission first before changing the drive - you never know they might agree 🙂 and then you're off the hook!

Best of luck.