“Should I repair my laptop or buy a new one?” Perhaps, it is one of the most common questions that many people have in their minds.
Like other things, choosing between repairing and replacing a laptop is a difficult decision to make. Because laptops don’t come cheap, you should consider several factors before deciding.
I have many years of experience upgrading or fixing laptops and desktop PCs. Hence, I decided to explain when to repair or replace laptop. This will help you decide which option is better for you.
Whether you should repair a laptop or buy a new one depends on a few things. There are situations when a simple repair might work wonders for you. However, certain situations indicate that replacing your laptop with a new one is a better option.
So, how do you jump to a conclusion? Read on to know more about it.
When to repair or replace laptop
Many people fail to understand whether it is worth repairing their laptops or buying a new one instead. When deciding whether to fix or replace laptop, there are important factors to consider. These might include how old your laptop is, the features you are looking for, the price, etc.
The expected price of repairing your laptop and its overall performance can help you make the right decision. If the cost of repair is less than half of a new laptop, it is better to go for repair. But if your laptop needs costly repairs, consider getting a new laptop.
How often you use the laptop to perform heavy work is another factor to consider. If you use your laptop for everyday tasks, it could serve you for several years. If you are a professional, chances are that you may have to replace your laptop every 4 to 6 years.
Doing heavy tasks on your laptop regularly for years will make it slow eventually. In that case, laptop repairs aren’t worth it. For example, if there is a battery issue, repairing the laptop is the obvious choice. If the damages are more, buying a new laptop is a better option.
Whether you need to fix or replace laptop will depend on specific considerations. The best part is that your laptop will show signs that will help you to decide better. Let’s discuss the signs in the sections below.
Signs that indicate you need to repair your laptop
Now that you are facing issues, laptop repair or replacement becomes your biggest concern. But how to make the choice? Well, look for these changes in your laptop before going to an expert.
1. Laptop shutting down unexpectedly
When your laptop shuts down without warning, you may think that it’s a big problem. If you are in the middle of something important, a sudden shutdown could be irritating. This is when you may think about whether to fix or replace laptop.
Most of the time, it is because of a faulty battery. If your laptop doesn’t run for longer hours on battery power or shuts down frequently, it is wise to consult a professional. Chances are that the problem might get resolved if you replace the laptop battery with a new one.
2. Charging issues
If your laptop battery gets exhausted quite fast but takes a lot of time to recharge, there could be issues. The power cable or the charging port of the laptop could be faulty. But if they are in good working condition, the laptop battery might be the culprit.
Still, if you use your laptop with these issues, the damages could be more. Take your laptop to an expert to find out the root cause. Power cables and charging ports could be repaired at low costs. Also, you can get a new battery. It will cost you less than the cost of buying a new laptop.
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3. Slow response
Because everything is fast today, nobody likes to wait. Previously, people had to wait for 10-15 minutes only to get connected to the internet via a dial-up connection. These days, people get furious when they get a slow Wi-Fi connection. Hence, a slow-responding laptop is a big issue for many users.
If your laptop is lagging or takes some time to respond, it means the laptop has become slow. Most of the time, a software or hardware upgrade for your laptop is enough. Take your device to a professional and they will optimize it.
In my case, a simple upgrade made my laptop work better. Previously, my Acer Aspire E15 laptop used to have 4GB of RAM and 500GB HDD. I bought it in 2017. Now I upgraded the RAM to 8GB and installed an SSD in place of the DVD drive a few months back. The old HDD is now the secondary drive. I noticed significant changes in the overall response of my laptop.
You will get the desired speed. However, look out for the overall cost needed to make the laptop function better than before. Ensure that the repair or maintenance costs are less than the price of a new laptop. For example, if the costs are around 30% of the price of a new laptop, it is better to avoid repairing.
4. Visible lines on the laptop screen
If you notice lines on your laptop’s display screen, it might be damaged. A couple of lines shouldn’t bother you. If the lines increase with time, you may have to replace the screen. The cost will be lower than buying a new laptop.
5. Software not working properly
When something fails to perform well, it means that your laptop is having problems. The good news is that the problem is small and it can be resolved. If you are unable to run programs smoothly, there are underlying issues that could be fixed at less cost.
So, whenever you see pop-ups appearing on your screen as error messages, do not get frustrated. Re-installing the operating system or a few programs might resolve the issues. If you know how to reinstall the OS, do it immediately. Or, you can take your laptop to a repair center to get the job done by a professional.
6. Issues relating to hardware malfunction
Certain hardware-related problems can tell you whether you need to repair or replace laptop. These issues originate in your laptop because of the malfunctioning of some internal components. If you know, you can fix the hardware issues.
For example, if you notice slow transfer when copying large files from one location to another, the laptop’s hard drive could be malfunctioning. If your laptop shows the infamous Blue Screen of Death or BOD, one or more components could be malfunctioning.
Sometimes, reinstalling the operating system might resolve the issue. But if it stays the same, take your laptop to an expert. Replacing a component with a new one costs less than buying a new laptop.
7. Overheating issues
Some people believe that overheating of laptops indicates a serious problem. This is when they think of laptop repair or replacement. There could be several reasons for overheating. One good reason is that the air vents in your laptop are jammed by dust. Or, the internal fan is not working.
Running incompatible software or games can make your laptop hot. Also, overusing your laptop for a longer time can result in overheating. Whenever you notice that your laptop becomes hot frequently, you need to repair it.
We have a detailed post on how to extend the life of your laptop in easy ways. That way, you can get the most out of your laptop. And, stop worrying about whether to repair a laptop or buy a new one.
8. Your laptop creates a lot of noise
I know how irritating it feels when you find your laptop making noises. This situation may compel you to think about whether to fix or replace laptop. Do not get disheartened because the noises from your laptop do not indicate a serious problem.
Most of the time, it is because of a damaged or dirty fan. Additionally, the problem could be due to blocked vents. If you do not want costly repairs or replacement, address the problem as soon as you notice it. Take your laptop to an expert and you will have to spend less.
9. Problems with the keyboard and trackpad
After using your laptop for a few years, you may notice that your laptop keyboard or trackpad is not performing well. Reinstalling the OS can resolve the issue but not in every situation. There could be a mechanical failure that results in the smooth transition of the keyboard or trackpad. Repairing the laptop is the best option in this scenario.
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Signs that indicate you need to replace your laptop
Now that you know when to repair your laptop, let’s discuss some red flags that tell you to replace your laptop for good.
1. Frequent overheating
As said earlier, issues relating to overheating could be resolved by an expert. Still, if the problem persists, the reason is something else. Maybe your laptop is too old to meet the demands of today’s tasks. You have to address the situation cautiously.
If you take the matter loosely, your laptop may catch fire or explode due to overheating. Even if you switch off the laptop for some hours and start the device later, your laptop will become hot again in no time. In that case, there is no other way except to buy a new laptop.
2. Wear and tear that you cannot ignore
Using a laptop for many years will result in dents, scratches, and skin peels on it. Typically, you will notice them if your laptop is more than 6-7 years old. Additionally, the device should be bulky compared to the latest models available on the market.
It is not a pleasing sight to look at your laptop tearing off. There is a possibility that you would take care less about the laptop during this time. As such, the condition will deteriorate more. Fixing the laptop won’t be possible and you will have to buy a new one.
3. Your laptop fails to keep up
It is not that the webpages are loading slowly or the laptop is performing slowly. Besides, the laptop takes more than 10 minutes to boot up and shut down. The laptop almost becomes unresponsive when you run two or more programs at the same time.
Sometimes, the slow response of the laptop means that you have malware on the device. If there are no virus threats, the laptop has serious issues. You may have issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not connecting as well.
Or, the screen goes completely black while you still hear the noise from the laptop fan. Only a new laptop can save you from these headaches.
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4. Your laptop has old specs
There is no denying that old laptops will run at decent speeds. But they won’t give you the performance that you can have from the latest models.
A new laptop will have a superior CPU, adequate RAM, and fast-accessible storage drives. Keep in mind that new software needs more computing power, unlike old laptops.
If you have an old laptop, you will have less RAM. As such, you cannot run several programs at the same time. These days, you need more RAM even when browsing the internet.
If you need the convenience to run the latest programs, you have to buy a new laptop.
5. The cost of repair or upgrade is more than buying a new laptop
You can take care of certain problems relating to the slow performance of your laptop by upgrading a few components. But it would be best if you evaluated whether or not the upgrades are worth it. There are chances that the issues won’t be rectified completely.
You may have to face the problems after some time. So, watch out for any costly repairs or upgrades. It is wise to invest in a new laptop rather than spending a lot of money only to get frustrated later.
Wrapping up
Several issues of slow laptop performance can be resolved by upgrading certain components. Besides, you have to know your requirements. Even if the laptop is more than 5 years old and you are happy with it, you don’t have to buy a new laptop.
Maybe you use your laptop to work on a few Word documents and access the internet. Moreover, you may not use the device frequently. So, there is no point in buying a new laptop. Whether to repair a laptop or buy a new one will depend on how you want to use it.
If you need a laptop to do everyday tasks, repairing a laptop is the best choice. If you like to experience new features, consider buying a new laptop. Not everyone needs a new laptop every 4-5 years. However, professionals like graphic designers or gamers may have to upgrade to a new device. Or else, they won’t get the desired results.
If you feel that the repair costs are too high, it is better to buy a new laptop. Sometimes, a speedy, new laptop makes your life easy.
Share your thoughts on what
you feel about laptop repair or replacement in the comments.