When Should You Ditch Your Old Laptop Instead of Repairing it?

There are a number of pros and cons related to buying a new laptop. I for one would prefer NOT to buy a new laptop unless I absolutely have to. There’s something familiar and comfortable about using a laptop that you’ve grown accustomed to. On the other hand, there’s also something new and exciting about getting a new laptop. But how should you recognize that it’s time to ditch your old laptop for a new one?

Here are 8 sure signs that your laptop has had its day and is not worth repairing.

Your Laptop Can Only Handle One Task at a Time

We’ve all grown accustomed to our laptops and PCs multitasking. If I’m working, I like to download something at the same time. If I’m gaming, I like listening to music at the same time. If your laptop struggles to handle more than one task at a time, it’s way past its usefulness phase.

A good laptop should be able to handle several tasks simultaneously. As someone who uses my laptop for various tasks, I need one that can multitask. Not only is it convenient, but it’s my bread & butter!

Repairs Become Too Pricey

At some point you have to do the math: is it cheaper to repair something on your laptop, or simply buy a new one? Recently I took my laptop in for a memory boost. Adding memory seems easy enough, but not when you have to replace the whole motherboard just to accommodate that additional memory.

The result? I was forced to recycle my old laptop and buy a new one. Why? Because a new one would have cost me less in the short and long run.

Your Laptop’s Hardware is Making Loud Sounds

Fans usually spin faster when your laptop is ‘thinking’. This processing can put a significant amount of strain on your hardware. When a fan is spinning loud and fast, it’s a good indicator that your laptop is straining to process tasks that used to be more rudimentary.

New Software Results in Incompatibility Issues

Software is improving on a day to day basis. As soon as new software is rolled out, newer software is not far behind. The newer the software, the more space and memory it will begin to take up. Laptops can only take so much upgraded software before they start to show signs of incompatibility.

To know if your laptop is becoming incompatible with new software, simply compare your old software with the new. If the new is working slower and less effective than the old, it probably means your laptop is too old for that software.

Startups Have Become Warm-ups

Does it seem as if your laptop has to ‘warm up’ before it’s any good to you? Laptops may take a minute or two to boot up, but anything longer than that means it’s struggling to handle all of the accessibility you expect.

Shutting Down Has Become a Drawn Out Ritual

Then there’s the shutting down process. Is your laptop taking a ridiculous amount of time to switch off? A laptop that’s older than 8 years or so may begin to struggle with closing up for the day.

This points to a processing issue which is simply due to the applications and software you have being ‘too much’ for your poor old laptop to handle.

Your Laptop Rejects New Applications

Have you tried downloading a new application recently? Did you receive an error message that said your device is not compatible? This has nothing to do with the TYPE of device you have. It has to do with the version or age of the device.

In the same way, if your updates of software end up slowing down those processes, it’s time for a new one.

Security Signs

Your laptops security is one of the surest ways to know if your laptop is worth recycling. Advanced security applications won’t work on older laptops, but these are still very essential to protect against advanced security threats.

If you are no longer to keep your laptop secure, it’s time for a new one.

Final Thoughts

No one really wants to hear that it’s time for a new laptop. Not only do we grow accustomed to our devices, but in many ways they also grow accustomed to us.

‘Training’ a new one to do things the way you prefer is a daunting prospect. Not only will you have to get used to all the new features and built-in software, but you’ll also have to adjust your settings, update your passwords, install your software and tons more.

But when it’s time, it’s time. There’s no point in keeping it that’s past its point of usefulness, so hopefully this has helped you to make the right decision.

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