Comments on: Has rooting my phone REALLY voided my warranty?

Question: Has rooting my phone REALLY voided my warranty?

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:05:33 -0800

I installed a custom ROM on my Android phone. Due to the phone's crappy build, the USB port is now physically broken. Can I take it back to the shop?

I installed the ROM when I got the phone (a PAYG T-Mobile Pulse) about a week ago. Things were going fine until earlier when I tried to plug it in to my computer and it wasn't mounting. Then I plugged it in to charge and it was charging, then when the cable moved a little it stopped, and so on. Now the thing isn't charging at all and will be out of battery soon.

Because of this I can't install the default software to restore it to factory settings. I'm certain that this is an issue with the hardware – the port has always been a bit loose and came half-out when I tried taking the USB cable out earlier.

Will I still be able to return the phone? The end user warranty says both that installing a 3rd-party OS will void it, but that this doesn't affect my statutory rights, which I presume would cover a broken USB port 8 days after purchase.

Bonus question: Apparently T-Mobile no longer stocks the Pulse. Will I be forced to buy a different phone or can I get my money back?

I'm in the UK.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:12:34 -0800

What I would try is to completely drain the battery so the phone will not switch on at all, then take it back to the shop that you purchased it. Show them the broken port and insist on a warranty replacement or refund. Since the phone is dead and obviously physically damaged, they might not bother with slapping a fresh battery in it and checking on the OS.

By: zippy

zippy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:22:59 -0800

I think you can reinstall a stock rom over wireless.

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:44:35 -0800

If you can get into recovery mode, you can reflash it from microSD. IIRC, hold power and home while the device is off.

By: valkyryn

valkyryn — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:45:31 -0800

The only person who is going to be able to answer this definitively will be your wireless provider. They may choose to be generous about the warranty. They may not. Only one way to find out.

By: yesster

yesster — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:55:34 -0800

Is it possible to buy another battery for your phone, or an accessory charger that charges the battery itself directly? If so, it would be worth some additional cost in order to get the phone replaced, since it is a physical defect unaffected by your OS. I would try to avoid letting your provider know anything about it. The first answer is probably the best, if ancillary charging/extra battery is out of the question.

By: paanta

paanta — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:27:48 -0800

Go into a store and ask them to replace it on the spot. They probably won't be smart enough to notice the different OS. If they refuse...

Pop the battery, put it in the microwave, and give it 2 seconds. Test. Repeat as necessary and return it to a different store.

I'm not saying it is or isn't a morally justifiable thing to do, but it will do the job of making your phone really, really dead without leaving marks on it.

By: missmagenta

missmagenta — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:03:23 -0800

, but that this doesn't affect my statutory rights, which I presume would cover a broken USB port 8 days after purchase.

Yes. Go back to the shop and tell them about the broken port and get a replacement or refund. It doesn't matter that you voided the warranty the product was not of satisfactory quality under any 'reasonable persons' definition.

Theres lots of good info online about your statutory rights

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:06:30 -0800

Pop the battery, put it in the microwave, and give it 2 seconds. Test. Repeat as necessary and return it to a different store.

In case it wasn't already glaringly obvious, never put something like lithium ion batteries in a microwave. Even if it's just for 2 seconds, that's just foolish on principle.

By: etoile

etoile — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:15:21 -0800

For that matter, don't put electronics in a microwave at all, unless you are prepared to never use them again. No matter how many people have successfully microwaved their gadgets, you don't want to be the one person who breaks theirs.

As for reinstalling a stock ROM over wireless, it is possible, but getting one onto your SD card is the way to go. You should be able to download DREAIMG.nbh here (go to that link from your phone) and then enter recovery mode. (Alternatively, take out the card and put it in a reader attached to your computer, then use this zip file.)

Recovery mode on a Pulse should be Menu+End Call (red button). You will, of course, wipe your phone by reinstalling the stock ROM, but hopefully you didn't have too much on there in the first place if you've only had it for 8 days.

For what it's worth, I've never heard of installing a custom ROM killing the USB port.