Has rooting my phone REALLY voided my warranty?
January 15, 2010 9:05 AM Subscribe
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.
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.
If you can get into recovery mode, you can reflash it from microSD. IIRC, hold power and home while the device is off.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:44 AM on January 15, 2010
posted by wongcorgi at 9:44 AM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by valkyryn at 9:45 AM on January 15, 2010
posted by valkyryn at 9:45 AM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by yesster at 9:55 AM on January 15, 2010
posted by yesster at 9:55 AM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by paanta at 10:27 AM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by paanta at 10:27 AM on January 15, 2010
, 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
posted by missmagenta at 1:03 PM on January 15, 2010
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
posted by missmagenta at 1:03 PM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by etoile at 8:15 PM on January 15, 2010
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.
posted by etoile at 8:15 PM on January 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zippy at 9:22 AM on January 15, 2010