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Please check if the information is correct as dell refuses to provide me warranty because of using VLC .. below is the mail from dell


Dear <my name>

Greetings From Dell,

This is with reference to your last conversation with Dell in regards to your system carrying service tag ST: <my service tag which whill share you on a private message >

As per Dell’s warranty terms and conditions any Third Party software causing the issue with Hardware, Dell will not be obliged to provide any service and replace the part, as this is considered as Customer Induced Damaged With/Without the Dell Drivers installed. However, We are sorry to inform you that Issue reported is not entertained, and replacement done only on chargeable basis. Please read through attached warranty terms documentation carefully for more clarification under Damage Exclusions section page no. 4 that “Use of components or software not supplied by Dell “ are not covered under warranty.

we are offering you to purchase the speakers with Engineer Visit to have the speakers replaced which itself carry 90 days of warranty.

Speakers + Engineer Visit: Rs. 1000/-

Please do reply back to email if you wish to purchase the speakers.

Else other hardware functional issues WILL be covered under warranty normally


Kindly check the link below in which many claims that VLC player will damage the speakers.

http://www.indiastudychannel.com/expert ... aptop.aspx

NOTE: The information is on a blog based on users experience.

Regards
Mohd Ismail
Sr. Support Resolver (SMB-ESCALATIONS)
Dell | GSD Services
Get online support by visiting: http://support.ap.dell.com/
My work schedule is 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Mon-Fri)

This is, of course, complete nonsense.

VLC uses software amplification, so at worse, you clip everything. It's like saying that you should not listen to metal or experimental music because it is more saturated and might destroy your speakers. The software cannot make the difference.

VLC only uses the normal system APIs, so at worse, it will have a fully saturated output, that could be caused by the input OR the software amplification. If the laptop speakers cannot hold what the audio card is outputting, the issue is in the drivers.