Returning rooted devices? - Nexus 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Has anyone returned (for warranty replacement or refund) their N7 while it was still unlocked/rooted or even running a custom ROM? Does Google care or should I return it to stock first ?

Return to stock for best experience.
Edit: Make sure you "Fastboot oem lock" while you're at it.

Well I wouldn't take the risk of sending it back rooted in case it invalidates warranty. With the money google must be loosing on returns they might be tempted to stick to the rule book to claw back some cash.
Besides, it only takes a few minutes to put it back in stock.

Related

HTC won't repair my phone...

For a fee that is. Long story short my rooted phone would reboot every time I used data about 3 months ago. I tried flashing all types of roms, but the problem still persisted so I flashed everything on my phone back to stock. However more problems emerged and everything got worse and worse to the point that I couldn't charge my phone because it would get really hot and reboot itself and get stuck on the X. The phone was useless I couldn't make a phone call without the dam thing rebooting.
I sent my phone to HTC and I was told that my mainboard needed to be replaced and it wasn't covered under warranty, I asked the lady that was speaking to me why I wasn't covered under warranty and I was told that I was running a custom rom. I asked her why is it that so many other people who were running custom roms were able to get a replacement. I was told that it was because they were able to flash their phones completely back to stock and they couldn't flash my phone back to stock. What a load of bull! She told me that my mainboard needed to be replaced because they could not flash my phone completely back to stock in order to do their tests. My mainboard needed to be replaced because it was faulty not because of the rom I was running!
Besides my unlocked bootloader, everything was completely stock. I flashed everything back to 2.1 and the default recovery. I then updated to 2.2 through OTA.
It seems perfectly reasonable to me. HTC replacing defective displays/digitizers/buttons makes sense even if it is flashed with a custom ROM. There is no reasonable way that damage to these components would occur due to a custom ROM.
The mainboard however is a component that could easily be damaged by irresponsible overclocking or (far less likely) a bad ROM. HTC has no way of determining whether or not the damage was original or due to tinkering and in that case, especially since we were given plenty of warning, is justified in refusing warranty.
I sympathize with your plight but am siding with HTC on this one.
By stock they may mean v2.1. If they cant downgrade to 2.1 then maybe thats why they're having an issue.
By unlocking the bootloader you've voided your warranty anyway so no point complaining since they have no obligation to fix your phone.
unfortunately you were better off putting your device back to stock before sending it in.
cymru said:
By stock they may mean v2.1. If they cant downgrade to 2.1 then maybe thats why they're having an issue.
By unlocking the bootloader you've voided your warranty anyway so no point complaining since they have no obligation to fix your phone.
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Not once did she mention anything about the bootloader being unlocked voiding my warranty. If she said straight up that I had unlocked my bootloader and they won't repair my phone under warranty and that the people who were able to get their phone replaced were under different circumstances, I would have accepted the fact that I am SOL.
However that was not the case and she stated that they would not replace my mainboard under warranty because they could not fully flash my phone back to its original state. Because of this they need to replace my mainboard in order to get it to stock.
I've read enough posts on people who's phones were acting the same way as my phone was, difference though is that they got their phone replaced under warranty no questions asked.
My phone had the exact same problem, and I did the exact same thing. I unlocked to it to try flashing different roms. Well it didn't work.
Called HTc I was very polite about the whole thing, got a replacement. I did opt for a swap because I thought that if I sent it in for repair thy may notice the unlocked bootloader so I figured swap would be better and it worked out great!
Maybe call again and explain the whole thing, tell them you paid over $500 for this great phone, but you can't even use it for a a phone because of the factory defects, and you are sure you have they have seen this problem in the past with many other customers; like myself. And tell her that some people online recommend you try unlocking the bootloader so you could reflash it or something, and that you don't understand it all, regardless it didn't work and all you would like is a working phone. So ask if they would be willing to simply change the motherboard or send you out a replacement unit.
I don't know just an idea, worth a shot maybe talking to them again! Goodluck
Tech_Boy said:
My phone had the exact same problem, and I did the exact same thing. I unlocked to it to try flashing different roms. Well it didn't work.
Called HTc I was very polite about the whole thing, got a replacement. I did opt for a swap because I thought that if I sent it in for repair thy may notice the unlocked bootloader so I figured swap would be better and it worked out great!
Maybe call again and explain the whole thing, tell them you paid over $500 for this great phone, but you can't even use it for a a phone because of the factory defects, and you are sure you have they have seen this problem in the past with many other customers; like myself. And tell her that some people online recommend you try unlocking the bootloader so you could reflash it or something, and that you don't understand it all, regardless it didn't work and all you would like is a working phone. So ask if they would be willing to simply change the motherboard or send you out a replacement unit.
I don't know just an idea, worth a shot maybe talking to them again! Goodluck
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tried the same exact tactic to get my macbook fixed but the mac genius was juts too stubborn. remember politeness+cluelessness is the way to get a warrantee acknowledged. well good luck with getting your phone fixed!
... where are all the people on this board that flame you if you dare to ask for a way to re-lock the bootloader? You know ... the ones calling one names and telling people that HTC will honor the warranty despite the bootloader unlock.
HTC did the same to me when mine overheated and cracked it's screen sitting on my desk charging overnight. File a report with the BBB if anything, I did after HTC kept my Nexus for 3 weeks and refused to fix it because of the bootloader and I had a new one 2 days later.
I broke some resistors on my motherboard. They wont fix it for free. I'm so angry.....you accepted the voiding of the warranty when you unlocked. The lady used the wrong terms but you know what she ment. If you void a warranty and the company still honors your voided warranty then good on them. They don't have to and flashing roms CAN mess up a motherboard by overheating it among other things (over voltage etc).
_Dennis_ said:
I broke some resistors on my motherboard. They wont fix it for free. I'm so angry.....you accepted the voiding of the warranty when you unlocked. The lady used the wrong terms but you know what she ment. If you void a warranty and the company still honors your voided warranty then good on them. They don't have to and flashing roms CAN mess up a motherboard by overheating it among other things (over voltage etc).
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Well said, warranty is voided, end of story. We all agreed to those terms when we unlocked our phones.
Anyone willing to sell their broken Nexus One
I killed my Nexus One, replaced the display, but it turns out I need to replace the lower board as well. Anyone have a broken Nexus One they're willing to part with?
BTW, I don't care about the condition of the display, or outside shell.
_Dennis_ said:
I broke some resistors on my motherboard.
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How in the hell did you do that?
HTC also refused to repair my faulty power button because I had an unlocked bootloader and wanted to hit me with the cost of a new motherboard to fix it. I spent close to a week arguing with them (over phone and in person) before they relented to do it at no charge. My phone came back repaired but my motherboard was not replaced. They're just out to charge us for unlocking the bootloaders.
Sure glad I used the one-click root, after getting mine replaced for insensitive touchscreen...
I was trying to remove camera and when I was prying the plastic under the battery off I broke the resistors.
My phone did nearly the exact same thing your did. Every time GPS was used it would reboot. Every time I was on a call for a long period of time - reboot. etc.
I eventually called in a repair ticket, flashed my phone to complete stock (with unlocked bootloader), sent it in and they repaired it. Never said a word.

Return my Atrix to ATT but it is rooted,unlocked and unlocked sim

Hey guys I am still in my first 30 days of having the phone I want to return it and pay the restock fee. However I have unlocked, rooted and also sim unlocked the phone. Just wondering if I need to return it back to stock condition and if so how can I achieve this now. Or can I just take it to att and return it and pay the restock fee as is.
I usually just put it back in the box when returning it, they don't open the box if your just returning it, just make sure the sim card is out and such. To make it unnecessary to open the box
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
It's a good thing this wasn't ever talked about or covered be4.
Here.http://www.atrixforums.com/forum/motorola-atrix-general-discussion/1772-t-atrix-4g-return-proper-firmware-prepare-furture-updates.html
Here. http://www.androidcentral.com/return-your-motorola-atrix-stock-official-way
Here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=977671
And that was one google search.
I just returned my phone, I sbf'ed to a stock rom to get rid of the unlocked in the boot up and I was good.
@Phalanx That easy for you to be a douche huh? Didn't have to google search that to find out!
Can you explain the procedure I am still unsure even from links. I am running 4.5.91 btw and didn't see anything for that.

Nexus 7 Warranty Concerns (bootloader)

Ok, so the obvious solution to my problem is to return the unit and wait for a new one...
That said, here is my dilemma:
My son's birthday came around and he asked everyone for gift cards so he could get the Nexus 7 (his first tablet). We went to Best Buy and they had one, however it was Open Box. Every store in the city is (and has been) sold out, and we were going to get the 2-year in-store warranty anyway, so we went ahead with it.
Now, we got home and I noticed right away that SuperSU was installed. After looking further into it, the guy who returned it (reason it's open box) unlocked and threw a custom ROM on it. I had no intention of rooting or unlocking this tablet for him, so I'm a bit concerned about warranty now.
I returned it to stock via this thread, however knowing ASUS and their by-the-books RMA process, I have some concerns...
Is there ANY way that ASUS could determine that the tablet has been unlocked? Does the lock/unlock event get logged at all?
Alternatively, has anyone successfully sent in and gotten back a Nexus 7 that was at one time unlocked? Anyone get refused?
I really don't want to get stuck with a $200 repair on a $270 tablet...
Thanks guys.
I have the same question. Anyone got any experience yet?
Hmm, so far nobody has mentioned anything like a "flash counter", but I am curious as well to find an actual answer. If we flash custom ROM's or unlock the N7, and then restock it, will the warranty still be honored?
You got a 2 year in store warranty, why return it to Asus then?
Sent from my Nexus 7
This is a Nexus device. The device is setup to be unlocked. Unlocking does not void the hardware warranty.
There is no "counter".
No your previously unlocked boot loader will not affect your RMA process. Only reason it would void your warranty is if you bricked it as a result of the unlocked bootloader. And no there's no flash counter.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Man I would be so pissed!!! I would go to best buy and either get money back or new device. Why would they give you a open device?!?!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I had the exact same problem, maybe worst because mine was in a new sealed box, but hsve custom rom on it, is ur working great? did u flash it back to stock rom?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio X315e using xda premium
Best buy always sells open box items, generally it's not a problem but ASUS in particular are jerks about it.
I wouldn't Rma through ASUS but best buy likely would after getting it from me.
The minute I found the custom recovery I flashed it all back to stock and re locked the boot loader. Did the ota update and all is normal now, was just curious if there is any history stored of unlocks and such.
Might as well flash him a good ROM now that it's been unlocked anyway
No one's mentioned anything about a flash counter, and given that it's a Nexus, it seems unlikely. Even if there is one it's now water under the bridge.

[Q] broken screen

so i just broke my nexus 7 screen from about 60cm to the floor, but my Q is i am rooted, and custom rom, but i got no insurance on it, do i still need to flash back to stock ?
I would think you do not need to put it back to stock. Its a nexus device first off.. Second if your sending it to be repaid at your expense for out of warranty they will not care unlocked or not.. .
If it were bricked or a software issue on a unlocked device then they could say NO WE Will not pay for it. But its physical damage different situation...
If its like square trade warranty they will not care if its unlocked or software modified ..

[Q] Has anyone had luck with warranty after root?

Has anyone had luck with getting a replacement thru warranty after being rooted? my vibration stopped and the warranty dept said they will send me a new phone... but also said i could pay the full price off the phone if the warranty dept finds i voided my warranty. this has me scared, im tempted to just pay the deductible on insurance rather than be at risk for the full price.
What firmware are you on? You can remove root.
jd1639 said:
What firmware are you on? You can remove root.
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currently removed root and on mf3... but i was amdl and removed root, as soon as i removed root it prompted me to install mf3, so i did. i guess im more curious if someones been denied due to havinig had root, assuming anyone who would of sent theres back would of removed root, but like they found traces of it
I've seen a lot of people here use warranty claim and none of them reported any problems. If you're unrooted no one can tell if it was rooted. I've personally sent two devices in over the years and had no problems. Both of them were rooted.
I was like that too (rooted on MDL though)...but I had to RMA to Samsung regardless. My LCD screen had discoloration and lines on it. It's in this topic if you're interested to read: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2395948
But in short. I called Samsung and made a repair ticket. Sent it to Samsung using free 2day air UPS they gave. I put a sticky note on my phone mentioning "Hardware problem - screen is weird".
I got my phone back 2 weeks later with everything fixed. Upon inspecting the receipt and email they sent me, everything was free because of my valid warranty. Once I found that out I was happy since I was worried about paying for some stupid fee :S
Unfortunately, they updated my phone to MF3, might have left my phone on for awhile during the repair and it auto-updated.
ok cool, i feel better about sending it in now. im sure i will still be wondering for a couple weeks until they clear it lol. thanks

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