Repair or replace your laptop? How to decide

Usually worth repairing

• A worn-out battery

  If the laptop only lasts a short time unplugged, a new battery can make it feel new again.

• A cracked or faulty screen

  Screens are a common repair for most popular models.

• A broken keyboard or charging port

  These are parts, and often far cheaper than a new laptop.

• Slowness, pop-ups or start-up problems

  These are usually software, so no new parts are needed at all.

• A faulty charger

  Sometimes the laptop is fine and only the charger needs replacing.

Usually time to replace

• The laptop is too slow for you even after a clean-up

  Very old processors can't keep up with modern websites and software.

• It can't run the latest version of Windows or macOS

  Without security updates, it becomes riskier to use online.

• Several things are failing at once,

  Such as the screen, battery and keyboard together.

• Parts are no longer made

  For your model.

• The repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable replacement

Questions to ask yourself

1. 1

   Does it do what I need when it's working?

   If yes, a repair is often the better value.

2. 2

   How old is it?

   Check the model and year. Laptops more than six or seven years old are often close to the end of their software updates.

3. 3

   What would a similar laptop cost?

   Compare like for like, not the cheapest new model.

4. 4

   What's on it?

   If your files and settings are just how you like them, a repair saves you moving everything to a new machine.

Things to be careful about

• Before any repair or replacement, back up your files. Repairs can involve resetting or replacing the drive.

• Don't throw an old laptop away without wiping it. Use the reset option in Windows or macOS, and recycle it responsibly.