MSI: Upgrading Wind RAM Voids Warranty
June 3rd, 2008 by Avram Piltch
Forget about upgrading the memory on your new MSI Wind. Never mind that the system supports up to 2GB of RAM, but comes with either 512MB or 1GB preinstalled. Pay no attention to the easily-accessible, open DIMM slot that’s just sitting there on the bottom of the system whispering “fill me! fill me!” Just let it go if you want a warranty.
When we were fact checking our review of the Wind NB, an MSI rep told us that we should not list the RAM as being “expandable to 2GB” because doing so would void the warranty. Of course, we’d already written and filmed our tutorial on how to upgrade the Wind’s RAM and, if you’re willing to go warranty-less or you’re reading this about a year after you bought your Wind, it’s an easy upgrade.
What’s ironic about MSI’s warranty position is that the Wind is an upgrader’s dream. In fact, it looks like the lilliputian laptop was built to be modified. Unlike the ASUS Eee PC, which comes with its sole DIMM slot already filled, the Wind comes with an unused slot.
To upgrade an Eee PC to 2GB, you have to waste perfectly good silicon by removing the 512MB or 1GB preinstalled DIMM and replacing it with a 2GB module. To upgade the Wind, you just need to fill the empty slot that’s sitting there beckoning you.
When we removed the bottom of our WInd’s chassis and looked at the components, we noticed that the 1GB DIMM which is preinstalled in our review unit is nowhere to be seen. Our theory is that the preinstalled DIMM is actually seated on the other side of motherboard, just beneath the keyboard, but we don’t want to try popping our keyboard out.
So it looks like the designers of the Wind deliberately separated the preinstalled DIMM slot from the “upgrade” DIMM slot to make it easy for users to access the upgrade slot, without accidentally tampering with the default memory module.
Our MSI rep told us that the company plans to offer 2GB configurations of the Wind in the future so we’re left to assume that the empty DIMM slot will be filled on future models. Still, this doesn’t make a lot of sense, because, if MSI wanted to offer 2GB configurations and prevent users from upgrading the RAM, they could leave off the second second DIMM slot and put a 2GB module in the primary slot.
We won’t even talk about the 2.5″ SATA hard drive that MSI has made very easy to remove and replace the default with a larger or faster after-market drive. I think users who want to swap out their laptop’s hard drive aren’t expecting to get warranty coverage afterwards.
When the Eee PC first came out last fall, it had a “Warrany Void if Removed” covering the RAM access door. After a huge uproar, ASUS issued a clarification, allowing users to upgrade the memory without losing warranty protection. Perhaps MSI will issue a similar clarification.
Without a “void if removed” sticker, it’s unclear how MSI will be able to enforce its warranty policy. Users who have upgraded their RAM and later need warranty service may remove the additional DIMM before sending their systems for repair.
More MSI Wind Coverage:
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
Hmmm…. I sure hope MSI will actually go ahead and follow asus and issue that same clarification.
I had been waiting to see this thing, as a longtime MSI product user (MB’s mainly with occasional videocard purchases) who has been totally satisfied with them, I definately want to get one of these as soon as I can but I sure would like to be able to have that warranty and be able to upgrade to 2GB or one could always wait for that 2GB pre-installed I guess. Naw, me wants it now! it’s one very nice looking little computer imho and cannot wait to play with this thing.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
I hope they are going to change there stance on these upgrades. Its like dangling candy in front of kids saying don’t eat it! Either way, I want it and I want it bad. I wish they would launch the linux model at the same time, but I understand that the windows model has more mass appeal.
Guess I’ll just have to be patient to get some linux love.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
What an outrage. MSI had better wake up to how things are in the real world !!!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
My concern is, if the built-in memory module is soldered on the board and by chance it malfunctions, the laptop would be rendered useless. I’m not sure if it’s soldered, but if it’s so, then real perils for the owners!
I think MSI should add a backside door to access the RAM (and HDD too?) on it’s next revsion. Also, worth mentioning that the memory cards protrude out of the slot when inserted.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
>>>We won’t even talk about the 2.5″ SATA hard drive that MSI has made very easy to remove and replace the default with a larger or faster after-market drive.
Or even with an SSD (it seems they are getting cheaper). Which would also improve battery life.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
>>>We won’t even talk about the 2.5″ SATA hard drive that MSI has made very easy to remove and replace the default with a larger or faster after-market drive.
Can we talk about this? I video on replacing the HD would be nice, too!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I would think the same consideration that forced Asus to back off from their warranty voiding stance applies to MSI (in the US at least): a pretty convincing argument was offered by a blogger that Asus’s restriction was in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, so that should apply equally to MSI. Although taking off the whole case bottom vs opening an access door, might be a different situation (although I have done that plenty of times with various notebook repairs and upgrades ;-).
Woof
July 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I ordered a MSI Wind and though it hasn’t even shipped yet, I have already ordered the $20 1GB memory upgrade. Aren’t I escared??
Well, I will test run the computer as delivered out of the box to make sure it has no initial problems.
The article here on adding the memory already tells you what to do in case problems are encounterd later; reopen the case, remove the added memory, and THEN send the computer back for warranty service. I doubt MSI will dust the memory module for your fingerprints.
The idea of upgrading the hard drive is a huge temptation. I have music, photos and even videos……
but then I would have to copy the operating system to the new drive somehow.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Warranty WON’T be void if we ONLY upgrade ram. I personnaly asked for this question on the MSI-computer.ca website and they answered me :
“You can just break the warranty stick if you are only upgrading the memory. The memory will not void but please make sure you do not modify or change other components.
Thanks.”
Then I replied with : “Awesome! Thank you so much for this quick reply! So there is no risk of voiding my warranty if I put another gig of ram inside? That\’s great!”
And their final answer was: “Yes, no risk of voiding the warranty if only upgrade the memory.
Thanks.”
SO!!! Have fun upgrading your MSI Wind to 2gigs SAFELY!!
Have a nice day because I had one
November 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I got the same answer that Jmage got about upgrading memory. You CAN upgrade memory and hard drive. If you need warranty service later and the mainboard or other components looks tampered with outside a RAM/HDD upgrade, then the warranty is void.