Is my motherboard damaged / warranty broken because of these scratches?

[markelon]

Look at this picture:


http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6466/dsc00238fg.jpg


Is my warranty broken because of these scratches and/or is the motherboard damaged because of it?

Due to the fact that its not copper coloured then it cant have damaged, or?

[Dark Mantis]

Personally in my experience I would agree that the scratches don't amount to any electrical damage as such and are just superficial. However it is not me that would be inspecting the board and someone else might not agree as they could argue that the damage was although not affecting the performance of the board was nonetheless damage.

[markelon]

Well, i bought this from a reseller in Sweden, and they claim that they "cant" take the board back so i have to pay for this board to.

They also claimed that i needed a new motherboard due to those scratches so i bought a new one from then.

They also said that even if the computer starts with that motherboard, it would not run "stable", why that they didnt answered and now i have 10 days to pay them for this "damaged" motherboard, that i need to keep at home for no use due to the fact that they sold me another one.

[Dark Mantis]

If the board came like that then I would want it replaced for free. I don't know why they said you needed to buy another board as from the picture it would appear to be in working condition. I think that they were bulls***ting you to be honest.

I don't know your local retail laws but if it is anything like the rest of Europe there are rules that look after your rights. Try threatening them with these laws and see if they become more responsive.

[markelon]

due to the fact that they refuse to take back the motherboard, can I contact anyone from Gigabyte and maybe send the motherboard back to them using RMA or something?

[Dark Mantis]

That is an option but I think legally you are on a safer footing with the supplier if as you say it was bought like that. Gigabyte might just say that you have damaged it and nullify the warranty.

[markelon]

Well, this is the story:

I bought a computer from this reseller, and then also sent back this motherboard.


I believe i did make those scratches myself, but thats not the problem.

The problem is that before i sent the motherboard back to the reseller, it worked perfectly.
It was when they replaced my graphic cards which was the real issue they also found these scratches and told me that my computer would not maybe run stable on this motherboard due to them.

Then they replace my graphic cards and the motherboard.

And when i am trying to start my motherboard now it only starts the computer for about 7 seconds and then it turns off again. Seems like the reseller (which is a big one in my country) damaged it in some way just to make sure i wouldnt be able to use it again, due to the fact that it worked before i sent it in to them. What should I do?


So the problem isnt really that I need to have to warranty, the problem is that now when I got it back its not even starting in more then 7 seconds with that motherboard, but before i sent it in to them it worked perfectly.

[Dark Mantis]

I am afraid in this type of case your only real recourse is through the legal system. Maybe a solicitor's letter might get something done but who knows. I can only say that this type of thing is one of those that leaves a nasty taste in  the mouth. If they are a big company it might be worth contacting ,by letter, someone higher up in the company and be totally honest with them about how things were.

Good luck.

[markelon]

Okay. But do you think the Motherboard still is useable?
Since when i tried it i remember i didnt really set the CPU fan correctly to 100 %, can that have made it to shut down after a few seconds? Cause IF so, then the motherboard might still be useable.

[Dark Mantis]

Well I can only go on the photo that you posted but from that I don't see why there should be a problem with it.

If you want to list all your hardware makes/models and the exact nature of the problem in a smuch detail as possible we can see if we can sort it out.