Acer Aspire 3 (A315-22), Do I void my warranty if I install Linux alongside Windows 10?

Samaritan
Samaritan Member Posts: 3 New User
edited May 27 in Aspire Laptops
I'm currently using an Acer Aspire 3 (A315-22) that comes preinstalled with Windows 10. I'm still in warranty and would like to install Linux, but am afraid I would void any warranties I have active if I was to install an alternative operating system onto the laptop. I've heard one some topics here that installing a Linux distribution alongside the preinstalled Windows 10 won't void the warranty, but those were a few years old and I'm unsure if the policy has changed since then.

If I was to install, say, Arch or any Ubuntu-based distribution, but keep Windows 10 installed and available to boot from GRUB, would this keep my warranty active still?


Specs:
AMD A9-9420E
8GB DDR4 1866MHz SODIMM
1TB Toshiba HDD
Windows 10 Home

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Answers

  • Jack22
    Jack22 ACE Posts: 4,007 Pathfinder
    edited February 2021
    @Samaritan
    No it will not void the warranty. If you are running Linux and for example your hard drive goes out, Acer will replace the drive if the system is under warranty but they will install the Acer OEM operating system on the drive before shipping it back. They have to do this in order to test the drive properly, since Linux is not a supported operating system. Hope this helps!
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!
  • user380thq2
    user380thq2 Member Posts: 2 New User

    2024 weighing in here, Jack22's experience reversed: just spoke with Acer tech support and was denied warranty coverage for a bad SSD on a 4 day old laptop. R/W errors, data loss, repeated partition loss, the works. Apparently installing Linux is considered a "modification" which voids the warranty, according to multiple techs.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 33,968 Trailblazer

    Although warranties are different in different countries, I don't think there are any that are void just because you changed the OS. If the drive has failed, it isn't due to the software. They should replace it, but they will send it back with Windows installed.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • user380thq2
    user380thq2 Member Posts: 2 New User

    USA, straight up denied twice - they won't cover hardware failures if Linux has been installed. Reeks of 90's collusion between OEMs and M$.

This discussion has been closed.