No matter how hard you try to stretch out your laptop’s life, nothing lasts forever. To get the most out of your investment, upgrades and repairs are necessary. They can keep your machine running for a decent amount of time, but at some point, upgrading it will be the better option—you spend on maintenance, too! Deciding whether to replace or repair a laptop is a huge decision. There are many factors and costs at play, especially considering labor, parts, and software updates. On the other hand, purchasing a laptop is another investment that will need careful consideration. What do you do?
What’s the matter?
Before anything else, it’s crucial to understand the root cause of laptop issues. To make sure you’re playing money at the right place, you need to diagnose the source of the problem. Your computer consists of multiple components, each serving their respective purposes. One or a combination of them could be causing the issues. One could be failing entirely, such as the video card, or your RAM may be taking a bad hit.
The software could be causing problems, too, so run a malware test to ensure that it isn’t infested. Moreover, check the operating system. Corruption could be present somewhere, especially if you haven’t updated the operating system in years.
The repair route
Upon careful analysis and thorough diagnosis, you’ve decided that your laptop is still worth repairing. Before turning it over to a repair shop, however, make sure that you research on the following items:
1 – Does the shop offer warranty on repairs?
Plenty of repair shops offer a 90-day warranty on service, so make sure that your chosen shop offers the same. Should any more issues arise, you’ll be guaranteed a free fixing session during the warranty period.
2 – How long will the repair take?
Repair means turning your laptop over to the shop—most shops ask for a week or longer for thorough repair sessions. Work and school may be dependent on your laptop, so make sure that you have a spare you can use.
3 – Back up your files
Most repair shops do this for you, or you may be asked to pay additional costs on any backup processes. It may seem secure, but back up your own files before taking them to repairs. Once data is gone, it’ll be gone forever—it’s better to be safe than sorry!
4 – Check the reviews
Never skip on research. While a shop may seem secure enough, make sure to look up reviews online. You’ll find insights on the quality of their services, any mishaps they might have done, and plenty more necessary information. By doing extensive research, you’ll be able to avoid any risks.
Preparing for the worst: The upgrade route
If your laptop isn’t repairable, then it’s time for an upgrade. You may be tempted just to leave it at the repair shop, but don’t do it without removing the hard drive. They’re unscrupulous computer experts and any retrievable personal data can still be accessed and used for ID theft. Once the hard drive is in your hands, take your laptop to an electronics recycling center instead. After that, you can now peacefully (and maybe tearfully) research for a new laptop.
Conclusion
It’s easy to dismiss the purchasing route because of financial restraints, but relying on repairs and upgrades may prove to be more expensive in the long run. Nevertheless, a laptop that works with only slight issues can still be worth saving!
With that said, if you’re looking for a shop that does computer repair in Indianapolis, get in touch with us today! Honest, secure, and reliable, we’re your one-stop-shop for every technological need.
