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Will installing an Atheros void my warranty ?

post #1 of 37
9/5/05 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
I have a crappy Intel 2200BG and I am looking to replace it with an Atheros. Does this void my warranty ?
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post #2 of 37
9/5/05 at 2:16pm
Taking off the keyboard, replacing a Dell-installed part with a self-bought [and unsupported] one?

Uh, yes?

Try the new drivers before writing off your card...and evidently your warranty as well.
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post #3 of 37
9/5/05 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 
I have the latest driver installed and that doesn't help. Can they tell when I replace the card ? I mean I could replace it and keep the old one in case I have to send in the Notebook.
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post #4 of 37
9/5/05 at 2:48pm
Dell seems pretty lenient about their policies. It might not void it as long as you keep the original card. I'm pretty sure, but don't quote me, that they don't care if you replace the parts in your computer (as long as you don't break it), but they will only service it if it is in the original factory configuration that you ordered it with.

Best bet is to call them and ask.
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post #5 of 37
9/5/05 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks but calling them and ask isn't a solution. I'm pretty sure every dell rep will say something else and the day something breaks they will remember since they might take notes and link it to my service tag. I think I am going to call them and bitch. The need to replace this Intel POS with something else. Are the Dell Truemobile any better ?
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post #6 of 37
9/5/05 at 3:29pm
It won't void your warranty unless it caused demontrable damage to your computer's hard ware. User replaced items, ram, HDDs, optical drives, modems, wifi cards, etc are not covered under the manufacturer's warranty but they don't void it unless they cause a hardware proiblem.

Over clocking, pinmods, altering the MB, ptting in a different processor, crap like that viod the warranty but not a wifi card.
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post #7 of 37
9/5/05 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by debian75
Thanks but calling them and ask isn't a solution. I'm pretty sure every dell rep will say something else and the day something breaks they will remember since they might take notes and link it to my service tag. I think I am going to call them and bitch. The need to replace this Intel POS with something else. Are the Dell Truemobile any better ?

That's funny, I took a Dell 1350 out and put a 2200 in on my 1.6 700m. The 2200 is a much better card in my experience, better range and sensitivity.
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post #8 of 37
9/5/05 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by destruya
Taking off the keyboard, replacing a Dell-installed part with a self-bought [and unsupported] one?

Uh, yes?

Certainly NOT. Want evidence?

Here is a link to Dell's instructions for replacing the wireless NIC. LINK

Here is a note from that page:

"2.4-GHz Wireless LAN PC Cards may be removed and installed by the user."

Since when has upgrading a user-upgradeable part ever voided a warranty unless you broke the seal on a sticker that said, "Warranty void if sticker removed"?

And if you plan to remove your keyboard to replace your WiFi card, have someone else do the job for you. ;-)

-Doc
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post #9 of 37
9/5/05 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
What do you mean not covered under warranty ? So when my HDD breaks I need to buy a new one ? I rememer my HDD break on my old Latitude C600 and Dell did replace it. What is the warranty for if half of the system isn't covered ?
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post #10 of 37
9/5/05 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Carver
That's funny, I took a Dell 1350 out and put a 2200 in on my 1.6 700m. The 2200 is a much better card in my experience, better range and sensitivity.
You won't notice the problem if only browsing. You need to play games such as Battlefiled 2 to notice. It's not a permanent connection when you browse so interuptions of a second wont do nothing there....but it kills you in a game.
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post #11 of 37
9/5/05 at 5:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by debian75
What do you mean not covered under warranty ? So when my HDD breaks I need to buy a new one ? I rememer my HDD break on my old Latitude C600 and Dell did replace it. What is the warranty for if half of the system isn't covered ?

All the parts in your system are covered. If you put something new in, like a new WiFi card, it won't be because you didn't get it from Dell. Changing user upgradeable parts won't void the warranty on the original parts. The new ones simply won't be covered by warranty or support from Dell.

-Doc
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post #12 of 37
9/5/05 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by debian75
What do you mean not covered under warranty ? So when my HDD breaks I need to buy a new one ? I rememer my HDD break on my old Latitude C600 and Dell did replace it. What is the warranty for if half of the system isn't covered ?
He meant Dell only covers the hard drive and such that came with the laptop. If you replace it with, say, a 120GB, Dell isn't going to replace that if it crashes (unless you bought the new HD straight from Dell).

EDIT: ahh Doc, you beat me to it!
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post #13 of 37
9/5/05 at 11:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc.Caliban
Certainly NOT. Want evidence?

Here is a link to Dell's instructions for replacing the wireless NIC. LINK

Here is a note from that page:

"2.4-GHz Wireless LAN PC Cards may be removed and installed by the user."

Since when has upgrading a user-upgradeable part ever voided a warranty unless you broke the seal on a sticker that said, "Warranty void if sticker removed"?

And if you plan to remove your keyboard to replace your WiFi card, have someone else do the job for you. ;-)

-Doc
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post #14 of 37
9/6/05 at 2:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by debian75
You won't notice the problem if only browsing. You need to play games such as Battlefiled 2 to notice. It's not a permanent connection when you browse so interuptions of a second wont do nothing there....but it kills you in a game.
Plus you will most likely get better wi-fi range.. when I put in my Atheros I instantly picked up two new possible connections aswell as receiving better connection strength than I got with that Intel thingy.
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post #15 of 37
9/6/05 at 11:05am
Is the Atheros any good? I'm looking at replacing my 2200 also, and undecided on what to replace it with.

Newegg has an MSI card for $20 and has 5 stars from 4 reviews. I found the Atheros cheap, $50 for the a/g, but is it worth the extra $30?
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post #16 of 37
9/6/05 at 11:25am
Oh well, went ahead and bought the Atheros PA3318U-2MPC a/b/g mini card. $45 compared to everywhere else was almost $100. I guess it will work. Should be in this week and will see how it stacks up to the junk 2200.
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post #17 of 37
9/6/05 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrunoPuntzJones
Is the Atheros any good? I'm looking at replacing my 2200 also, and undecided on what to replace it with.

Newegg has an MSI card for $20 and has 5 stars from 4 reviews. I found the Atheros cheap, $50 for the a/g, but is it worth the extra $30?
Do a forum search for "Atheros"; there's a huge thread on the qualities of the card vs the Intel parts.

-Doc
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post #18 of 37
9/6/05 at 1:24pm
Already ordered it. For $45+ shipping, so will give it a shot, tired of screwing around with the wireless.
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post #19 of 37
9/6/05 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by insayne_kokane
He meant Dell only covers the hard drive and such that came with the laptop. If you replace it with, say, a 120GB, Dell isn't going to replace that if it crashes (unless you bought the new HD straight from Dell).

EDIT: ahh Doc, you beat me to it!

Actually bare drives purchaded form Dell aren't covered by Dell. They are covered by manufacturers warranty.
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post #20 of 37
9/6/05 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrunoPuntzJones
Already ordered it. For $45+ shipping, so will give it a shot, tired of screwing around with the wireless.
You won't regret it. Mine is one of the best upgrades I've made to my system.

-Doc
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