Hello fellow MSI users,

I would like to upgrade my GE40 20C-019MY.

1. Take out ODD.
2. Transfer existing HDD to ODD bay with caddy.
3. Install SATA SSD in original HDD place.
4. Factory reset OS installed in new SSD (Don't care if wipe out contents of HDD. No need to transfer files or anything.)

The problem is, warranty sticker on screw at the back. So warranty void if I upgrade myself? Reading from the web, I'm unsure SC will help to upgrade. Is there a place where I can go to do this without voiding warranty?

I made some recovery DVDs for my GE40 using included MSI Burn Recovery Disks. After running it, I got 4 DVDs.

I've tried recovery of windows 8 and all programmes - it just asks for the first DVD. This just resets the Windows partition. The other partitions remained intact.

Will recovery using all the 4 DVDs factory resets EVERYTHING including the different partitions on the HDD?

I thought of getting the full HD version, but 14" is just too small. I don't want to be carrying a 17". Besides, the GE40 needs some serious cooling when you start stressing the graphics card.

So, I got the non full HD version. Save some $$$ and bought a 27" screen for gaming at home and another 23" for work at work. Hehe.

Just sharing my experience with MSI service:

I wanted to upgrade the HDD with 1 TB SSHD on my GE40. I bought the SSHD at a local computer store and asked them to install. Can't because there's a warranty sticker blocking the screw to open the chasis.

So, I called MSI careline and asked about this. They said, for RM85, they can factory restore my computer, transfer the contents of the existing drive into the new drive and stick a new sticker for warranty. THAT was on the phone.

I went to the local MSI Service Center and it was like "back to square one". Here are the issues:
- Warranty for laptop is one year, but included OS can only be restored within 3 months. After that, I have to buy my own.
- The charge is RM85 - to swap (no cloning, just physical swapping of the drive) and sticking a new sticker (all of which I can do myself, if I had the sticker).
- Can't factory reset unless using the recovery drive on the existing drive.

Since my laptop is more than 3 months old, I can't get MSI to do a fresh reset, unless I provide the recovery partition. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted it when updating to 8.1. I do, however, have the 4 recovery DVD I made just before the upgrade.

So now, I'm faced with a dilemma. Should I swap the disks myself and restore using the 4 Recovery DVDs? Will it restore everything (including the recovery partition) back to the original factory settings? Or am I screwed into buying a new OS?

Regardless, to get warranty, I need the sticker, which will cost me a whopping RM85 just for the guy to stick a new warranty sticker!

Opinion?

This post has been edited by winchaser: Feb 20 2014, 04:56 PM

On the website, it says 2 years for notebook. When checked online, mine states STANDARD WARRANTY + 3 MONTHS (purchased 20/10/2013) TQ.

Does anyone know if it is possible to factory restore all the partitions using the 4 recovery DVDs? Seems an awful lot of data for a mere OS install only.

This post has been edited by winchaser: Feb 20 2014, 07:22 PM

U3 has 3 fans with no speed control. Good for portability and movable fan positions. I personally prefer single but bigger fan (lower noise but high cfm) and adjustable fan speeds.

Yup. Agree with moron88. I use X3 when playing games. I also have X-lite II slim. Ok but not as good as X3.

To answer your question, yes, you definitely need a good cooler if you plan to do heavy gaming on the GE40.

This post has been edited by winchaser: Feb 23 2014, 05:19 PM

Sharing info on GE40 upgrade.

I finally got MSI service center to swap the 750GB HDD with a 1 TB SSHD. A simple upgrade but the warranty sticker got in the way.

The charge is a standard RM85 (same price at all SC). Very expensive sticker indeed since I opt not to have them factory restore the new drive. Didn't want to leave laptop there, so I used my own 4 recovery DVDs.

Recovery went well. I chose full restore and it created and partitioned the new 1TB drive into several partitions, including recovery partitions (Yay!)

SSHD is noticeably faster. (More Yay!) Opening programs now is in a blink of an eye! Haven't tried gaming yet.

Unfortunately, I didn't see any option of setting the sizes of the partitions OS_install and Data. And upon upgrading to Windows 8.1, it created another recovery partition in between the two. Sigh.

Anyone know how I can increase the size of Data and shrink OS_install? I certainly don't need almost 600GB in OS and 300GB in Data is tiny. The problem now is the hidden recovery partition in between. Is it safe to move that?

This post has been edited by winchaser: Feb 28 2014, 09:52 PM

I didn't upgrade the RAM. I already asked, though. If I wanted to upgrade the RAM now, need to open the back again, another RM85 to paste the warranty sticker (and continue the warranty).

So best if you can decide to upgrade all and pay RM85 once or wait until warranty has expired.

I hope MSI comes up with new 14", one without optical drive and please don't misrepresent the "options". Advertised responsibly. Currently, talked about mSata RAID, but got * and fine print. When go to shop, almost impossible to get. Also, please don't penalise customer who want to upgrade by charging RM85 simply to replace warranty sticker.

I like d specs but my next lappy will not be MSI if continue to misrepresent specs in advert & squeeze customers who upgrade.

This post has been edited by winchaser: Mar 6 2014, 07:45 PM

Nothing smaller than 15.6? I guess good cooling too bulky to fit into a 14" form factor.

Wah! So many poison here. Msian market, which model best value so far? Weight is top priority.

See my post earlier.