Opening up your iMac voids the warranty, right?

[LogicPro]

So, all these photos of iMac tear-downs are great... but they void the warranty, right? Also, what's the deal with the screen tape, and closing everything back up?

 

[justperry]

So, all these photos of iMac tear-downs are great... but they void the warranty, right? Also, what's the deal with the screen tape, and closing everything back up?

Right!

If you could bring it back to the exact state it was in before opening they might not see.

 

[rkaufmann87]

So, all these photos of iMac tear-downs are great... but they void the warranty, right? Also, what's the deal with the screen tape, and closing everything back up?

Yup you are right on the money. Some people simply do not care about a warranty and care to self insure which is just a fancy way of saying they will pay all bills.

 

[theSeb]

So, all these photos of iMac tear-downs are great... but they void the warranty, right? Also, what's the deal with the screen tape, and closing everything back up?

If you damage anything when you open the iMac, then your warranty is void.
If you replace any of the non-serviceable parts, such as the hard drive, then your warranty is void.

 

[leman]

If you replace any of the non-serviceable parts, such as the hard drive, then your warranty is void.

I am still not sure whether this is actually true. Of course, Apple would claim it is, but legally it shouldn't affect the warranty (of course, the warranty won't extend to the replaced part). I admit this is purely academic though, as you would be requested to prove that replacing the part didn't indirectly cause damage to the computer (which on practice, is impossible).

 

[theSeb]

I am still not sure whether this is actually true. Of course, Apple would claim it is, but legally it shouldn't affect the warranty (of course, the warranty won't extend to the replaced part). I admit this is purely academic though, as you would be requested to prove that replacing the part didn't indirectly cause damage to the computer (which on practice, is impossible).

Here is the wording from Apple:

This warranty does not apply:

(a) to consumable parts, such as batteries, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship;
(b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports;
(c) to damage caused by use with another product;
(d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause;
(e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside Apple’s published guidelines;
(f) 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 (“AASP”);
(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple;
(h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product,
or (i) if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product.

Points f and g are the specific ones that I am referring to in this thread. There is another document from Apple that also mentions the user-serviceable bit. The iMac manual makes it clear that the only part that is user-serviceable in a 27" iMac is the RAM. Changing anything else will result in a loss of warranty. If Apple considered the hard drive to be a user-serviceable part, then they would have not put a propriety power plug on it. If you change the hard drive, then you are modifying the capability of the Apple Product without the written permission of Apple.

 

[mihai.ile]

The f is somehow questionable since how I read it is that the warranty does not cover damage made by someone not authorized and actually damages something, but the g one says it clear. Any modification inside of the iMac (which implies removing the screen) and you are out of warranty.

One could still open the iMac out of curiosity without changing anything and still have warranty, given that it did not break anything ( line f ) in my opinion.

 

[leman]

Points f and g are the specific ones that I am referring to in this thread.

Ah, you are right, that g) part makes the thing pretty clear... Is it a recent addition? I remember seeing f) before but not g)...

 

[theSeb]

The f is somehow questionable since how I read it is that the warranty does not cover damage made by someone not authorized and actually damages something, but the g one says it clear. Any modification inside of the iMac (which implies removing the screen) and you are out of warranty.

One could still open the iMac out of curiosity without changing anything and still have warranty, given that it did not break anything ( line f ) in my opinion.

If you read the warranty literally, then it is exactly like I summarised in my first post and you're right. In theory, if you open the iMac, have a look, do not damage anything and stick it back together, then you have not voided the warranty. But if the iMac has whatever hardware issue later on and Apple can prove that you opened it (different type of sticky tape or whatever), then it won't be too hard for their lawyers to claim that you caused the damage when you opened it. And Apple has pretty good lawyers.

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Ah, you are right, that g) part makes the thing pretty clear... Is it a recent addition? I remember seeing f) before but not g)...

I am not sure about that. I found it by searching the support pages. There is actually another warranty on a different page that does not have g specifically stated, which is what you are probably referring to.

 

[Razorhog]

With the new screen, I seriously doubt you could take it apart and then reseal it without evidence of your tampering. The sticky tape has to be peeled off and then new tape reapplied.