When you’ve used a laptop for two or three years, you’ll find yourself wondering whether or not you should buy a new one. With some much time and tons of reviews to consider a replacement, don’t write off that old system just yet. On a limited budget and a bit of technical expertise, you can grant your old system a new life, or at least buy yourself a few more months.
The various components in a laptop aren’t as easy to replace as those in a desktop computer, but it is definitely possible to upgrade a laptop if you have the patience and the right tools. To determine if upgrading is the right choice for you, consider our suggestions below.
My Laptop is Too Slow
If your laptop isn’t as fast as it used to be, there are a few ways you can get it working like new that doesn’t involve immediate replacement. Your laptop might have an outdated operating system, or it could have been infected with malware – you don’t know that yet, so don’t rush.
The primary hardware that determines the speed of a computer is the RAM and CPU. You could upgrade these components, but it isn’t as easy as you thought, especially on laptops. Actually, if you find that either it is damaged or not up to par with your needs, replacing the laptop is preferably a smart move.
However, of the two, the memory part is the easiest to deal with. If you would like to change bad memory sticks or need more RAM, and you’re fine with doing this yourself, you can oftentimes open the bottom of your laptop to do it.
With that in mind, before you tear down your computer and replace something or trash the whole thing and buy a brand new one, ensure you at least try out a few easier and not at all costly things first. A slow system can make it seem like it requires replacement or upgrading when maybe all it needs is TLC.
Check Available Free Storage
If your hard drive is operating on free space, it can definitely grind things to freeze up and make programs and apps slower, or files take forever to save. So, make sure you check your available hard drive space just to be sure.
Reboot
If your laptop has not been rebooted lately, make sure to reboot it before considering a replacement. Rebooting your laptop can fix many problems and is an easy first step.
Background programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow laptop is programs running in the background. Disable or remove any TSRs and startup apps that automatically start each time the laptop boots.
Delete Junk Files
Temporary files usually take up loads of free space, contributing to a full hard drive and compounding the performance by making apps and programs operate harder or take longer to complete their tasks. Make sure you clean the cache in your web browser. Those files are safe to remove, but when ignored and given time, they will definitely slow down your web browsing and potentially even the whole system.
Need More Storage
When performing the above tasks didn’t offer enough storage – or you need a second hard drive for your laptop to store data or backup files, consider using an external hard drive to increase your computer storage.
The best part about external devices is that they’re actually external connecting to any rent to own laptops over USB instead of sitting inside the computer’s casing like the primary HDD. These upgrades will provide an instant additional hard drive space for whatever purpose, collection of videos, music or games, software installation files, etc.
Tip: Purchasing an external hard drive is much easier; in some cases, even cheaper than replacing the internal one.
The Laptop Screen Is Bad
A poor laptop screen might make it impossible for you to do anything. Replacing or repairing the screen is undeniably attainable and isn’t as costly as replacing the entire computer.
Before throwing yourself on the first sparky deal, make sure you research for your specific laptop or at least one that’s similar to your old one. You might be able to find a detailed and step-by-step repair guide on replacing your particular laptop screen.
In case your laptop happens to be more stationary than mobile, a solution would be to simply plug a monitor into HDMI or VGA on the back of the laptop.
The Laptop Won’t Charge
Sometimes, though, you plug in the AC adapter – usually because the battery is almost drained – and you get nothing. No brightened display, no glowing lights, and no “battery charging” icon in the corner.
It sounds silly, but before considering an immediate replacement, you need to make sure your computer is actually plugged in. Check the AC adapter and verify that any removable cables are adequately inserted - and make sure the AC is correctly seated in its compartment.
Lose the Battery
If your laptop comes with a removable battery, remove it, and hold the power button for nearly 15 seconds just to deplete any residual power from the device. Then with the laptop’s battery still removed, plug in the power cord and turn the laptop on. If the laptop seems to work properly, that means your power adaptor is working properly, and the issue is likely a bum battery. Even though you can always re-install the battery and try again – maybe the battery was just wrongly positioned.
Suppose the computer doesn’t have a visible battery cell on the bottom. In that case, it may be integrated into the laptop (like Macs are), and you’ll have to take it to a professional to test the battery.
You Just Want Something New
Sometimes, it’s just time to invest that hard-earned money in something that really suits you, if only because you’re ready for something new, faster, and better. But don’t be hasty. Do the research, educate yourself on the latest models and get the right tool for your needs.