Apple took my ram

[wbe858]

So get this, i took my mini in for service for a problem with no sound and i get it back a week and a half later with 3 gb less of ram. They had no reason to mess with the ram or anything other than the sound board...so why take it out? Either way i am very upset and going to go in there tomorrow and show it. So any ideas on how best to show it and be sure to get my ram back? :mad:

[wbe858]

so looking further into this i found out that they replaced my entire computer because the serial number on this one is different than my original one. Now what would they do with my computer and my ram if all it was, was just a sound board. :confused:

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'm not surprised. Apple has been known to remove aftermarket rams and return the computer with the only the OEM rams installed and the aftermarket rams separately in a plastic bag. They do it to rule out faulty aftermarket rams.

[fridgeymonster3]

I'm not surprised. Apple has been known to remove aftermarket rams and return the computer with the only the OEM rams installed and the aftermarket rams separately in a plastic bag. They do it to rule out faulty aftermarket rams.

That's why you always remove your aftermarket ram before you give anything to them. The less they know the better :)

[nickXedge]

This is good to know. I was unaware they had a habit of removing aftermarket parts. Now I know to remove my RAM before going in for repair, should the occasion rise.

I assume they don't pull this with HDDs... any thoughts?

[fridgeymonster3]

This is good to know. I was unaware they had a habit of removing aftermarket parts. Now I know to remove my RAM before going in for repair, should the occasion rise.

I assume they don't pull this with HDDs... any thoughts?

HDD's are different then RAM. They won't go pulling them - I'm almost positive. All my HDD's are always bought afterwards through Newegg and I just file the original HDD they stick in there away in a cabinet usually.

[aristobrat]

They had no reason to mess with the ram or anything other than the sound board...
Now what would they do with my computer and my ram if all it was, was just a sound board. :confused:
Here's the inside of an Intel Mac mini. Where is this separate sound board thing you want them to replace?

http://www.baconeggs.co.uk/images/dmm/story0421-03L.jpg

[JayLenochiniMac]

I assume they don't pull this with HDDs... any thoughts?

I haven't seen this, just aftermarket rams. Applecare requires at least one original RAM, so it's smart to hold onto your two 512kb sticks (or the one 1GB stick that came with your iMac). Just swap them out before sending it off.

Be aware that this doesn't happen to everybody and there are certainly customers who get their machines back with aftermarket rams intact (especially those who have the original 1GB plus aftermarket 2GB). But it's crapshoot so it's never a good idea to sell off the original rams for $15 or so.

[emoore]

I haven't seen this, just aftermarket rams. Applecare requires at least one original RAM, so it's smart to hold onto your two 512kb sticks (or the one 1GB stick that came with your iMac). Just swap them out before sending it off.

Be aware that this doesn't happen to everybody and there are certainly customers who get their machines back with aftermarket rams intact (especially those who have the original 1GB plus aftermarket 2GB). But it's crapshoot so it's never a good idea to sell off the original rams for $15 or so.

I don't think that is true. I had my macbook in 2 times, one for the case and one to replace the hard drive. Both times I had two aftermarket sticks of Ram and they did not touch them.

[JayLenochiniMac]

I don't think that is true. I had my macbook in 2 times, one for the case and one to replace the hard drive. Both times I had two aftermarket sticks of Ram and they did not touch them.

Technically it does, but like I said, it doesn't happen to everybody.

[Lordedmond]

I would bet that they did not evan open the mini , plug it in OK no sound , give him a new one . So they would not evan know there was more ram installed .

They would check the original spec and provide the same spec

[Consultant]

Apple typically record the configuration of the computer, at least for those with user replaceable parts.

Mac Mini suppose to not be user replaceable, that's probably why they did not record it or know about the additional RAM. If they don't know it, they cannot swap it to the new machine.

[reebzor]

I don't think that is true. I had my macbook in 2 times, one for the case and one to replace the hard drive. Both times I had two aftermarket sticks of Ram and they did not touch them.

You guys seem to keep forgetting:

The macbook's ram IS user serviceable

The mac mini's ram IS NOT user serviceable.

They should have not even fixed it at all because you technically voided your warranty by opening it in the first place.

[JayLenochiniMac]

The macbook's ram IS user serviceable

The mac mini's ram IS NOT user serviceable.


Let's not confuse the matter, because we're also talking about what happens to user serviceable aftermarket RAM once it's in Applecare's hands.

[brand]

They should have not even fixed it at all because you technically voided your warranty by opening it in the first place.

Opening the Mini does not void the warranty. If you want to get all technical about it then provide documentation from Apple stating that it does void the warranty.

[Fonzijr1964]

Opening the Mini does not void the warranty. If you want to get all technical about it then provide documentation from Apple stating that it does void the warranty.

every mac has user serviceable ram except the MBA

[belvdr]

Regarding warranty, the only thing I could find was in the user manual:

If you open your Mac mini or install items, you risk damaging your equipment, and such damage isn’t covered by the limited warranty on your Mac mini .

So if you upgrade it and it breaks, your out of luck. Otherwise, it's okay.

[jwhazel]

Warranty void upon opening - I've never seen anything one way or the or the other on this. However, Apple does technically have the right to deny warranty claims based on physical damage caused by opening, regardless of whether it appears to affect functionality or not. Whether they will or not is probably up to the individual technician working on it.

They took my ram - Pretty much everything you leave in or on your computer is your responsibility to retrieve prior to service. Stickers, discs in drive, ram, data on the hard drive, etc... If you put it on it or in it, then you can take it back out.

They swapped my computer when all it needed was the sound board - I noticed today that Apple doesn't have the 2009 mini logic board listed anywhere on their site since it's so new. I suspect that anything currently diagnosed with a bad logic board will have the entire system replaced until they get this part into their inventory. I would probably replace any user installed items in the mini prior to taking it into service or risk possibly loosing them for good.

[panzer06]

So get this, i took my mini in for service for a problem with no sound and i get it back a week and a half later with 3 gb less of ram. They had no reason to mess with the ram or anything other than the sound board...so why take it out? Either way i am very upset and going to go in there tomorrow and show it. So any ideas on how best to show it and be sure to get my ram back? :mad:

When I worked at the University we sent hundreds of Macs in for service. Apple always told us on the phone and included a piece of paper advising that all systems should be backed up and any 3rd party products removed because they will not be responsible for damaged or missing components.

Just keep the original equipment and put the machine back to its original state before requesting Apple service OR...

Us an authorized service center. They don't care about add-ons and will not replace or destroy your data.

Cheers,

[czachorski]

What's 3 GB of Ram cost these days? $12?

;)

[monkeydancer]

What's 3 GB of Ram cost these days? $12?

;)

His signature says it's a 2009 model (signature) so it doesn't come cheap (DDR3?).

[Ekos]

If you want any chance at getting that ram back, you better get there before they ship that thing off to wherever they ship it to.

[mzd]

He should get his RAM back. Nothing wrong with installing it himself. Give them a call and I'm sure it will get resolved.

[windels]

They took my ram - Pretty much everything you leave in or on your computer is your responsibility to retrieve prior to service. Stickers, discs in drive, ram, data on the hard drive, etc... If you put it on it or in it, then you can take it back out.

taking = > stealing
they should return IMHO

[JayLenochiniMac]

taking = > stealing
they should return IMHO

As mentioned in the other posts, it can't be considered stealing if they're unaware of it.

[fteoath64]

This is good to know. I was unaware they had a habit of removing aftermarket parts. Now I know to remove my RAM before going in for repair, should the occasion rise.

I assume they don't pull this with HDDs... any thoughts?

If BMW did this to my "after-market" mods, my lawyers will sue their pants off!!!. It is very well known and proven that the manufacturer will have to ASK the owner permission before they remove any of YOUR things. It is still YOUR machine, not theirs. They got the nerve, alright. :mad:

[panzer06]

If BMW did this to my "after-market" mods, my lawyers will sue their pants off!!!. It is very well known and proven that the manufacturer will have to ASK the owner permission before they remove any of YOUR things. It is still YOUR machine, not theirs. They got the nerve, alright. :mad:

All the paperwork they send with the box warns that components maybe replaced as part of the repair and a general disclaimer provided. You and others can rail against the practice all you want; matters not, just take out the mods or use ASCs for service work.

Cheers,

[fridgeymonster3]

If BMW did this to my "after-market" mods, my lawyers will sue their pants off!!!. It is very well known and proven that the manufacturer will have to ASK the owner permission before they remove any of YOUR things. It is still YOUR machine, not theirs. They got the nerve, alright. :mad:

If your mods do something that explicitly void your warranty with BMW they can refuse to service your car and record your warranty is void. However, if they were already working on the car and noticed those mods, I agree they shouldn't remove them without your permission. This case is different because the mini might have just been sent back and a refurb given to the OP - maybe they didn't check the config. Either way, malicious or unintentional, it's still not right. I just take my RAM out to avoid problems. Same thing with my Infiniti M35 - I take out my video bypass that lets me watch video on the DVD screen while moving when I go into Infiniti for service. I don't want anything voiding my warranty or any hassle with the dealer.

[wbe858]

Apparently the sound board is the top board that you plug the ribbon cable into from the DVD/HD enclosure thing. Its separate from the logic board. When they replaced my computer because the ram was not "Apple Certified" they didn't take a note of it and did not put it in the new computer. The reason they ended up replacing it in the first place was because it was a lemon computer to them it had a sound board problem, an HD problem, and it also had a firewire problem (didn't know this). Now i ended getting my ram back before they shipped the old one back to apple, they didn't ask any questions just that they were really sorry for everything. I was more upset that i had to wait a week and half for them to eventually swap out the computer when they could have done that a lot quicker. Either way everything is straightened out now i have a new mini with my 4gb back in there.

[wbe858]

Oh and according to the genius when you do open your mini it does void the warranty due to it not having any user serviceable parts in there so you should not have a reason to open it up. They said they had talked to the manager about mine and because my problems were not related to the ram they were going to let this one go. Guess i got lucky.