Switching to another OS vs Warranty

[Sucharek]

Hello,

I've recently bought my new laptop, but it comes with Windows 10 pre-installed.

I'd like to switch back to Ubuntu, but since the notebook was bought one month ago, I don't want to void any warranty.

Hence my question: Is installing different OS going to void my warranty?

I've bought it in Poland if that matters.

Thanks in advance

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Sucharek

HP only warranties their PCs for usage with the OS that comes preinstalled.  IF you replace that or add a different OS, then you assume full responsibility for maintaining that other OS -- as HP then provides  assistance only on Redhat and then only to commercial customers.

It doesn't "void" the warranty; it's just that the warranty then no longer applies -- and if then send the PC in for repairs under warranty, HP might not then honor the warranty.

[erico]

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@WAWood wrote:

@Sucharek

HP only warranties their PCs for usage with the OS that comes preinstalled.  IF you replace that or add a different OS, then you assume full responsibility for maintaining that other OS -- as HP then provides  assistance only on Redhat and then only to commercial customers.

It doesn't "void" the warranty; it's just that the warranty then no longer applies -- and if then send the PC in for repairs under warranty, HP might not then honor the warranty.

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I could be wrong,  but I do not think that is accurate.

HP will repair the notebook if there are hardware isses  and return it to the owner with the original operating system installed.

[WAWood]

I don't want to get into an online arguement about this -- but I wrote what I said because I had previously seen other threads where Experts had not only said that installing Linux voids the warranty, but where customers had said they called HP Support about this and been told by the HP support reps that installing Linux voids the warranty.

Personally, I don't think it does -- but also, I don't think that HP is going to turn a blind eye when they see a PC with Linux on it and just reimage the original OS and send it back.

Probably the best course of action in the future, since this seems to be a "grey area", is to say we simply don't know and have folks contact HP support themselves in order to get an answer.

[Sucharek]

Guess i'll stay with Windows for now to be safe,

Thank You folks for the replies 😄

[erico]

@Sucharek

Consider purchasing a hard disk to use for Linux and removing the original drive and store it in a safe place. 

 That has been my solution for years.

If you ever have a need to send the notebook in for warranty hardware repairs, you can just remove the Linux disk and reinstall the original hard disk before sending it in.

[Sucharek]

Yeah I've thought about AN SSD anyways, but isn't opening the notebook going to void the warranty by itself?

On older hardware there used to be warranty void if removed stickers hidden inside. 

[erico]

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@Sucharek wrote:

Yeah I've thought about AN SSD anyways, but isn't opening the notebook going to void the warranty by itself?

On older hardware there used to be warranty void if removed stickers hidden inside. 

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As long as you don't damage the notebook or are careless to the point that it is obvious that it has been opened, it will not void the warranty.

How did you think people upgrade their memory or upgrade to SSD products? 

There are even specific sections here in the forum in the notebook and desktop section where we give advice on upgrades.

[WAWood]

@Sucharek

Some of the older laptops had access doors -- for the hard drive, memory and (in some cases) even the WiFi chip.  So clearly, in those cases, opening those to do replacements was not a warranty issue.

Some of the new laptops have no access doors, so as @erico indicated, you have to be careful opening the case so as to not damage the laptop and not leave visible signs that you opened it.

But basically, no, accessing the internals of the laptop, and and of itself, does not void the warranty.

Also, it depends on WHERE you are located.  In the UK, for example, there have been laws passed recently that grant the consumers more rights than before, and dissalow manufactures from claiming warranty violations with the ease they had previously.

[Sucharek]

Thank You guys very much, You've been very helpfull