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Will replacing HD void warranty+grounding?

R

rekhyt

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 20, 2008
1,127
78
Part of the old MR guard.
I'm going to replace my MacBook HD using the instructions found at iFixit: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/MacBook-Core-2-Duo-Hard-Drive-Replacement/514/1

Will doing this void my warranty? (I have 3 years of Apple Care for my MacBook.)

Also how do I ground myself to stop myself from electrocuting the HD/other internal components? (I don't have any of those wrist straps and I can't get any right now. :( )
 
It won't void the warranty on the computer unless you break something in the installation process. Also don't expect Apple to replace the upgraded drive if it should fail/crash down the line since its not the one that was originally in the system.

As far as grounding yourself is concerned, just make sure you touch something metal before working inside the casing. Avoid nonconductors like styrofoam, synthetic fibers like polyester. As you can see from the installation guide, you aren't really going to have much of any contact with the integrated circuits on the logic board so grounding yourself is not a huge concern for your particular operation.
 
rekhyt said:
Yep ok allright. :)

Any idea on how I should ground myself when replacing the HD? (I don't have any access to the grounding bands right now.)
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Touch metal thats grounded to the floor like a outside pole. Or anything that allows you to discharge yourself.

Normally, I don't do any of that cause I dont have carpet in the house.
 
Just keep your hands clear of any contacts/pins. You can handle the outside of any connectors though. Handling the enclosure of a HDD is not a big deal. I can't remember how many drives I've swapped with no problem.
 
rekhyt said:
Hmm... I don't really have an outside pole. Would anything else work? Screwdriver, ...
Click to expand...

Touch some metal that is grounded. This could be a computer case that is plugged in as it is grounded in the outlet. Once you open your computer if you are standing on carpet, DON'T move your feet as this could cause static.
 
surflordca said:
Touch some metal that is grounded. This could be a computer case that is plugged in as it is grounded in the outlet. Once you open your computer if you are standing on carpet, DON'T move your feet as this could cause static.
Click to expand...

Well... My floor's wood. And my DELL desktop's basically made out of plastic. Could it be the metal area where there are holes for ventilation for the DELL desktop?
 
rekhyt said:
So I would just touch that and then replace the HD, or do I have to touch it while replacing it?
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I think you're overthinking it. The risk of a static discharge destroying your computer if rare unless you have a lot of static charge built up in your body. Since you have the white MacBook, you can touch the metal part under the touchpad to discharge yourself as per Apple's instructions.
 
Well yeah. I'm kinda overthinking it. Ok, yep, I think I have something metal near in the room.

... I don't think I have access to the trackpad while replacing. (Where are the instructions for that?)
 
As a word to the wise, there is a ribbon-film data connector (from HD to computer board) that is adhesived on top of the HD. When I tried to replace my HD with a 500GB one in my MBP, that ribbon literally fell apart.

Trip to Apple and a most gracious warranty repair and directed to take it to an authorized service center to swap out the hard drive to keep it under warranty....since Apple won't install 3rd party hardware.
 
While replacing the HD won't void the warranty per se, it would raise doubts in the eyes of an Apple repair guy if you have a different problem with it. If that does occur, to remove doubt (and a bit of esplainin' to do) put the old drive back in before turning it over.

Speaking from experience here...
 
patrick0brien said:
While replacing the HD won't void the warranty per se, it would raise doubts in the eyes of an Apple repair guy if you have a different problem with it. If that does occur, to remove doubt (and a bit of esplainin' to do) put the old drive back in before turning it over.

Speaking from experience here...
Click to expand...

This is the best thing that you can do. :)
 
rekhyt said:
Hmm... I don't really have an outside pole. Would anything else work? Screwdriver, ...
Click to expand...

Metal radiators work fine. Pipe works. Metal water tap.

And you may have noticed sometimes that when you wear the wrong shoes in the wrong place with the wrong weather, you sometimes get tiny electric shocks. If that happens, that's the wrong place to open your Mac.
 
aaronw1986 said:
I believe Macbooks are regarded as user upgradeable by Apple.
Click to expand...

i think he is talking about the non UNi's.

I need to get a straight answer from apple. People on here are saying apple told them it will void the warranty on JUST the hard drive, and i am getting told from several genius's from several apple stores that it WILL void the warranty. I would like a larger hard drive for sure, as my 250GB is down to about 60GB...

we should start a poll to what every one is told. So next time we each are in an apple store, we ask this question. This is driving me crazy. Now dont get me wrong, i LOVE taking stuff apart and seeing how it is put together, but it isnt worth costing me a warranty on a $2500 computer, ya know?
 
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