Warranty

[marko]

1. If I add the Hitachi 7K60 hd and replace the default one...

2. If I add the bluetooth antenna...

3. If I change the miniPCI wireless...

would that void the warranty?

Thank you,

Marko

[Leon]

1. No
2. Maybe
3. No

The antenna is not a CRU, so it technically will void your warranty, although I have never personally heard of a case when IBM refused warranty support because of this.

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[MobileGuru]

1. If I add the Hitachi 7K60 hd and replace the default one...

2. If I add the bluetooth antenna...

3. If I change the miniPCI wireless...

would that void the warranty?

Thank you,

Marko

1. The HDD is a CRU part so you can do what you like with it.
2. The LCD is not a CRU part and could voind your LCD coverage if something goes wrong.
3. The MiniPCI is a CRU.

G.

[JHEM]

CRU = Customer Replaceable Unit.

Regards,

James

[MobileGuru]

Oooops .. gotta remember to clarify that next time hehe.



Thanks for the catch!

G.

[kev009]

To clarify, changing the CRUs wont void the notebook warranty, they just wont be covered.

[Leon]

to clarify further.... they will be covered, but under their individual warranty, not the Thinkpad warranty....

[marko]

Thanks for the replies and your help.

I have the 3 year, pretty much all goes, warranty. Still got 2 years left, so I don't want to sacrifice that.

Ok, so if I put in the new HD and new mini-PCI they will not be covered by the original 3yr thinkpad protection plan but by the default warranty they come with thereafter.

However, on 2 re: antenna, seems there are some disagreements.

One post notes the LCD warranty would be void, which makes sense since it's not (let me use the proper terminology) a CRU. However, considering that, from my experience, the LCD is the priciest thing to repair is quite discouraging and would not make me want to do this for 2 more years.

I really don't care if the antenna will be covered by warranty since it is not really that expensive to replace, and, I say this perhaps naively, does not seem to be a part that would be as prone to damage as the ie. HD, LCD, CD/DVD.

My main concern is that the laptop motherboard, video, LCD, CDrw/dvd etc. (orig. parts) will continue to be covered should I choose to open up the LCD and install the antenna.

[Leon]

To clarify what I said earlier (and this is only my OPINION), "technically", IBM could question a warranty claim on the screen IF they determined that your installation of an FRU caused the problem. In reality I have not HEARD of a circumstance like this, and it is my GUESS that if your installation goes well, that IBM will not pay attention to the fact that there is a BT antenna inside (who's to say, after all, that it wasn't put in at the factory in error) . BUT if you are really concerned, take it to an authorized repair center and have it installed.

[marko]

Thanks, Leon.

Sorry, for perhaps questions with obvious answers but:

Would an authorized repair shop install the necessary parts for me if I bring them? I know I should be asking them that, but where I am right now it's hard to get that info. If so this means that A) they will be covered by their inherent warranty and B) that the original warranty on the LCD will therefore not be VOID, since it was not repaired by the customer?

Maybe I could just take it out before I ship it to them for potential warranty claim.

I read in some other post that removing the LCD screws, putting in the antenna and reassembling the LCD does not leave a tight fit and the one should also order the set of screws and covers, or something since they will not look like they did prior to installation.

I wish I had this thing order with all the upgrades, but as a student, it was hard to afford them all at once.

[egibbs]

Just to clarify a few points...

If you purchase the HDD and Mini-PCI directly from IBM they WILL be covered by the original warranty on you TP - a fine point that is often overlooked when comparing prices. IBM is always more expensive but you may get a better warranty.

If you add Wi-Fi to a non-Wi-Fi notebook you may well get a BIOS error stating that an illegal wireless card is installed and it may refuse to boot. This is theoretically because IBM has not tested and certified that particular machine type and model to meet FCC emissions requirements. If that happens you can find BIOS hacks to disable the error, but installing a hacked BIOS would almost certainly void your warranty.

Why not just get a PCMCIA Wif-Fi card? Sure it's not as sexy as having it built in, but why risk the 2 year balance on your warranty?

Ed Gibbs

[JHEM]

Sorry, for perhaps questions with obvious answers but:

Marko, this entire conversation may be moot if you'd share the model Thinkpad we're discussing.

Many of the later model T4X machines already have the BT antenna installed by default with the unused lead tucked away under the modem daughter card and is installed in the following models for certain as well as in some others:

2373-42x, 4Ax, A2x v 2373-2Fx, 4Fx, 4Gx, 4Px, AFx v 2373- 4Zx, 6Zx, 7Zx, AWx v 2378-EMx v 2378-DTx, DUx, ETx, EUx, FTx, 2373-32x, 33x, 3Cx, 42x, 4Ax, 58x, 91x, 92x, 93x, 94x, 96x, 9Cx, A1x, A8x, A9x, G1x, G2x, G3x, G4x, G5x, G6x v 2373-3Fx, 3Hx, 3Px, 5Qx, 5Rx, 9Ex, 9Fx, 9Gx, 9Jx, 9Hx, 9Kx, AEx, AJx, AKx, AMx, BHx, ANx, GEx, GGx, GHx, GJx, GKx, GLx, GMx v 2373-3Ux, 3Zx, 9Ux, 9Vx, 9Wx, 9Yx, BTx, BVx, BXx, BYx, BZx, GRx, GSx, GTx, GVx, GXx, GYx, GZx, GWx, KTx, KUx v 2374-9Cx v 2374-3Hx, GGx v 2374-8Wx, 9Wx, GTx v 2378-DEx, EEx, EKx, ENx, EPx v 2378-EVx, FVx v 2379-D5U, D6U v 2379-DJx, ESx, 2373-3Xx, 3Yx, 8Yx, AYx, BUx, CUx, Cvx, CWx, CXx, CYx, JXx v 2374-3Xx v 2378-DXx, EXx, EYx v 2379-DXx, EYx.

AFAIK, all of the 15" XGA models do not have the BT antenna installed nor is it offered as an FRU option.

Regards,

James

[marko]

Sorry, I did not post this before it's a 2378CU1...based on 2379D3U, but since I read all the posts regarding models/compatibility etc. I believed I exhausted that possibility.

I even opened up my TP and looked for the antenna.

I did not remove and flip over the mini-pci as in the HMM but I could not see any white cable, or BT marked cable come in from the LCD hinge area, so I really don't think it's there.

Re: mini-pci...thanks Ed, but I already have the 2100B and I wanted to know consequences/possibility of upgrading to a/b/g model which I know IBM sells.

[AbsoluteRaleigh]

Maybe I could just take it out before I ship it to them for potential warranty claim.

That will work fine as long as you do not strip screws and make it obvious you have been inside.

I read in some other post that removing the LCD screws, putting in the antenna and reassembling the LCD does not leave a tight fit and the one should also order the set of screws and covers, or something since they will not look like they did prior to installation.

A new set of screws is what IBM recommends & practices. Different people people have different opinions on this. They have a fresh coating (nylon?) on them when they're new, but they're very tiny and a lot of people just reuse them.

Hopefully you will never need the warrantee service. If you ever do you will probably be impressed.

[JHEM]

Sorry, I did not post this before it's a 2378CU1...based on 2379D3U, but since I read all the posts regarding models/compatibility etc. I believed I exhausted that possibility.

I even opened up my TP and looked for the antenna.

I did not remove and flip over the mini-pci as in the HMM but I could not see any white cable, or BT marked cable come in from the LCD hinge area, so I really don't think it's there.

It's there. Your model is based on one of those that has the antenna installed at the factory: 2379-DXx.

Pop off the keyboard, take the modem daughter card out, the antenna lead is under there.

Regards,

James

[marko]

Thanks, James.

I will check it out again. Perhaps I missed it. I guess the big X in DXx stand for a number whereas I thought it was an actual X.

Nonetheless, it's interesting to learn procedures about putting things in yourself.

I'll check it out tomorrow and let you know.

Thanks for all the posts.

[JHEM]

Dobro Marko,

Be sure that you look under the MODEM for the lead, not the WiFi card.

If you just look by the left hinge area once you get the keyboard off, you should see three antennae leads entering the lower case, two for the WiFi, one for BT.

Pozdravi,

James

[marko]

Hvala.

Ali...no antenna.

Called IBM service center to get a quote. If reasonable will drop it off to them to install it all for me so that I don't void the warranty on the machine, particularly the LCD.

Any advice about leaving your thinkpad at the service center? Should I take out my HDD?

Marko

[Leon]

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689
FAQ #5