Things To Know About Laptop Repair Before Going Into The Shop
Computer issues are bound to happen, no matter how careful and gentle we are with our laptops. Even the most high end laptops will need repairs in their lifetime and taking your laptop to a repair shop can mean shelling out big bucks. For those of us who aren't computer science majors, it is frustrating to think that the only thing we can do is take the offending machine in for a costly laptop repair. While there are some issues that should only be addressed by the manufacturer or repair shop, there are a few common problems that can be easily identified at home before you even take it in.
First, check the obvious. Is the laptop charged and plugged in to a functioning power source? It may seem like a no-brainer, but be sure to check your charger for damage. If you are plugged into a power strip, make sure that it is also receiving electricity. If you are using an external monitor, be sure that the cord that connects it to your laptop is also in tact. It is surprising how often a "dead" laptop is the result of a simple connection issue.
Check the battery. Be sure that the battery is securely seated in the battery bay, and that there is nothing obstructing the battery connections. With most laptops, you can easily remove the battery from the battery bay and check to see if there is any debris or damage preventing the battery from powering the laptop.
If the laptop is powering up and then shutting down, check to see if it is running hot. Take a listen and make sure that you hear your laptop's fan come on. If you do, make sure it is not being blocked in any way. The failure of the cooling fan is a very common problem, as are issues with all moving parts.
If laptop is starting up just fine, but running slower than usual, there are a few things you can check out. First, if you are running resource hogging software it might be to blame. Consider lighter alternatives that don't occupy as much processing speed. If it is still dragging, you may need to upgrade your system memory. A laptop these days should have at least 1GB of memory to support operating systems and necessary software.
If your laptop is still running slow, be sure to run a full virus and malware diagnostic. There are some fantastic antivirus software programs available online, often for free. Get a few recommendations and download your software of choice. Update the virus definitions and do a full scan of your system. If you haven't done this before, or it has been a while, chances are you will catch something that could be the culprit.
If your machine is still not running to your liking, it is probably time to take it in. Before you head to the repair shop, try and recollect what happened before you were in need of laptop repair. Take note of any error signs, notices, or sounds your computer might have made. If you can, back up any data that you have on your laptop on an external hard drive or flash drive. Data loss is very common during repair and can make an already frustrating situation worse.
When your laptop starts functioning improperly, repairs can seem overwhelming. The truth is that many laptop issues can be resolved, or at the very least diagnosed, at home with very little hassle. Even if you can't repair the issue yourself, these easy tips should have you walking into the repair shop armed with a little more information.
About the Author
Laptop Repair methods are improving all the time. Brett Matthews is a leading Expert on the subject of Business modelling for Laptop Repair methods. Matthews recommends reviewing the videos at http://www.cambridgelaptoprepair.co.uk/services/motherboard-repairs/ to get the facts on latest repair methods. A useful diagnostic guide is also listed on this page link.
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