Is my old laptop worth fixing?

The quick rule of thumb

If the laptop is under about five years old and the fix costs less than half the price of a decent replacement, fix it. If it's older and the repair is expensive, that money is usually better spent on a new one.

It's a rule of thumb, not a law. A good-quality laptop from six years ago can easily outlast a bargain-bin one bought last year. But it stops you pouring money into something that's on its way out.

Usually worth fixing

• It's become painfully slow. Often this is years of clutter, too many programs starting up, or something unwanted running in the background. A proper clean-up can make a big difference.
• It's slow and it's got an old-style hard drive. Swapping it for a solid-state drive (SSD) is the best upgrade an older laptop can get. Start-up can drop from minutes to seconds, for a modest cost.
• The battery won't hold a charge. On most laptops the battery can be replaced, and it's far cheaper than a new machine.
• Pop-ups, odd behaviour, or "something's not right". That's usually a software problem, not a broken laptop.
• A dodgy charger or a sticky key. Small parts, small cost.

Usually not worth it

• It can't get security updates any more. A Windows laptop that can't run Windows 11, or a Mac that no longer gets macOS updates, is living on borrowed time however well it runs. (If yours is on Windows 10, see my Windows 10 guide.)
• The main circuit board has failed on an older machine. The part and the labour often cost more than the laptop is worth.
• A cracked screen on a budget laptop. Sometimes a new screen costs a big chunk of what you paid for the whole thing.
• Liquid damage. Occasionally it can be saved, but it's a gamble. Your files are a better thing to rescue than the laptop.

Your photos and files are a separate question

Even when a laptop isn't worth fixing, what's on it usually is — and it can almost always be rescued. Before you throw it out, hand it in for recycling, or trade it in, get your photos and documents off it. Once it's gone, they're gone.

Whatever you decide, set up a backup afterwards. Then the next dead laptop is an inconvenience rather than a disaster.

If you do replace it

You don't need the most expensive model. For email, browsing, video calls with family and keeping photos, a mid-range laptop is plenty. The things that matter most are:

• A solid-state drive (SSD) — almost all new laptops have one now, but check.
• At least 8GB of memory, and 16GB if you'd like it to last.
• A screen and keyboard you're comfortable with. Try them in a shop if you can.

Before the old one goes, it needs wiping properly, not just having your files deleted. Then take it to your local tip's electricals bin or a retailer take-back scheme.

Where I come in

Often I can tell you which side of the line your laptop falls on in a few minutes, and locally, under 15 minutes to sort means no charge. If it's worth keeping, my PC health check and tune-up is £69. If it's time for a new one, I'll help you choose (honestly, with no commission) and my new computer setup and data transfer is £99. Everything gets moved across and secured, and I'll wipe the old one safely.

Written by Rich, Cumulus Technologies, Bournemouth.