Laptop Access Panel Stuck - Comet being difficult

ComplexP

Bought the budget emachines EMD620-261G16MI from Comet and have decided it needs an extra 1GB of RAM since it's running Vista (1GB is not enough).

It is upgradeable to 2GB easily enough according to the specs but the user access panel at the back appears to be stuck. I've taken out all of the screws and have tried lifting it but the sides seem to be stuck fast.

There's no instructions on how to safely remove this panel in the instructions and Comet say that removing that panel will invalidate the warrenty! I'm sorry, if you buy a laptop from Comet you're not allowed to upgrade the RAM????

Surely I can demand that sufficient documentation be provided with my laptop that ALL of its functions are described, not just the ones Comet think I should be looking at?

I'd argue that removing the access hatch is as much a standard function of the laptop as opening the DVD drive. It's designed to be removed for goodness sake!

Also, I tried calling the emachines helpline but they were useless and said I'd need to talk to the store I bought it from.

Opinions please.

Fifer

The second post here might help.

AirCooledHeaven

ComplexP wrote: »

There's no instructions on how to safely remove this panel in the instructions and Comet say that removing that panel will invalidate the warrenty! I'm sorry, if you buy a laptop from Comet you're not allowed to upgrade the RAM????

Opinions please.

Welcome to the comet 'customer experience' :rolleyes:

Fortunately fifer has sorted you out

Esqui

As an aside, removing the panel may invalidate the warranty, but it doesn't remove the protection you get from the Sale of Goods Act. That'd only be lost if a fault occurred as a result of your installing new RAM.

ComplexP

Thank you Fifer. So basically that post suggests that if I ease a screwdriver around the perimetre of the panel it should pop free.

Sounds a little dodgy to try since I've already tried applying some pressure and slightly warped the plastic. You don't suppose Comet would have glued the panel down do you??

Just out of interest, if I attempted to remove the panel and it snapped due to there being no instructions on the correct prodecude in the documentation would that mean that I was at fault from a legal perspective or that Comet are at fault?

Fifer

ComplexP wrote: »

Thank you Fifer. So basically that post suggests that if I ease a screwdriver around the perimetre of the panel it should pop free.

Sounds a little dodgy to try since I've already tried applying some pressure and slightly warped the plastic. You don't suppose Comet would have glued the panel down do you??

Just out of interest, if I attempted to remove the panel and it snapped due to there being no instructions on the correct prodecude in the documentation would that mean that I was at fault from a legal perspective or that Comet are at fault?

I doubt if they'll have glued it. However, if you break it, I strongly suspect it'll be down to you, I'm afraid.