If your laptop seems a little sluggish or you’ve had to send it in for repairs several times, you might be wondering if it’s better to just buy a new one. There are always laptops on sale for great prices, so it’s not hard to get a replacement. The bigger question is whether or not it’s necessary.
You probably don’t want to spend money unless you really need a new one, so to help you make the decision, here are some points to consider regarding the state of your current laptop.
1. Does restarting your laptop not help?
If you’ve restarted your laptop a bunch of times with no luck resolving your issues, you might need to choose between having it repaired or getting a new device. However, first make sure you’ve genuinely restarted your computer.
You have two options to turn off your computer: Restart and Shut Down. Both turn it off but they do different things. Only the Restart feature will truly cancel all active processes and applications and give you a fresh start.
If you only use the Shut Down option to turn off your laptop, you’re not resetting everything. Starting with Windows 8, there has been a default feature called “Fast Startup” that was specifically designed to make restarting faster.
When you use the Shut Down option to turn off your laptop, with Fast Startup enabled, it won’t turn off the Windows kernel. Not shutting off the kernel keeps certain processes going for a faster startup next time, but it can also make your computer increasingly slower over time. If there’s a problem with a driver, for example, it won’t be reset and will just continue to get worse.
The solution is to restart your computer. It will take longer, but it will clear up many common errors that make a laptop slow or buggy. If that doesn’t help, it might be time for a new laptop.
2. Have you disabled startup applications?
Sometimes laptops start getting sluggish because there’s a lack of available memory to launch all the programs at startup. Check your settings to see if you can disable some applications from launching at startup. This is a simple fix that works to clear a lot of issues and can save you from having to get a new computer.
3. Are you close to spending more on repairs than it’s worth?
Laptop repairs can be expensive, and if you’re close to spending your laptop’s worth on repairs, it might be time to give it up and get a new one.
Computers often require regular maintenance and repairs, but they shouldn’t cost more than a new device. Smaller repairs make sense to make if you really like your laptop and it has all the specs you need, but when you start getting into bigger repairs, like the LCD screen or the motherboard, you’re usually better off getting a new laptop. The parts aren’t always expensive, but if you don’t know how to replace it yourself, you can expect a big repair bill.
4. Do you lack disk space or memory?
If you’re running out of disk space, you can either upgrade your hard drive or start using an external drive. However, not all laptops can be upgraded with a bigger drive. If that’s the case, and you don’t want to rely on an external drive, it’s time to get a new laptop.
When it comes to RAM, some laptops can be upgraded, but if you’re maxed out and need more, you have no choice but to get a new laptop with more memory.
5. Are you getting errors nonstop?
Constant errors are frustrating, and although they can sometimes be fixed by a repair person, it may not be worth the cost. In this case, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of paying someone to look at and diagnose your laptop. If the laptop you need isn’t that expensive, it might be easier to buy a new one.
Perform a factory reset as a last resort
Sometimes a factory reset is all you need to get your laptop running smoothly again, but you might find that a bit cumbersome. If saving time and energy is worth more than saving some money, get a new laptop and sell your old one to someone who will repair it and resell it later.
If there’s nothing unique or amazing about your current laptop that makes it hard to replace, do what’s easiest. Replacing a laptop is sometimes easier than the hassle of getting it fixed.
