Laptop batteries don’t last forever, and that’s not a flaw or a design failure; it’s just chemistry. Every time your battery charges and drains, it goes through what’s called a charge cycle, and each one causes a tiny amount of wear on the cells inside. After 300 to 500 of those cycles, most batteries are operating at somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of their original capacity. After 800 or more, many are down to half or worse.

Think about how often you charge your laptop. If you’re plugging in every day, you’re burning through charge cycles faster than you might realize. Within two to three years, most people are already well into the range where noticeable battery degradation sets in.

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The heat doesn’t help either. Batteries wear out faster when they run hot, and laptops that spend most of their life on soft surfaces (blankets, pillows, your lap) tend to trap heat underneath them. Using your laptop while it’s charging, leaving it plugged in at full charge for extended periods, and running demanding programs all add to the wear.

What’s actually happening inside the battery

A laptop battery is made up of cells, similar in concept to the batteries in a TV remote but far more sophisticated. Over time, those cells lose their ability to hold a charge as effectively. The battery itself isn’t broken; it’s just old. The laptop still works, the ports still work, and the screen still works, and the only component that’s genuinely worn out is the battery.

This is why it’s worth pausing before assuming you need a new machine. Most people get to this point and conclude that the laptop has “had it.” In reality, the only part that’s had it is a component about the size of a small notebook that sits inside the case and can, in many models, be replaced for a fraction of the cost of a new laptop.

Can it be fixed?

In most cases, yes. Battery replacement is one of the most common repairs we do, and it’s often quicker and less expensive than people expect. For many popular laptop models, it’s a straightforward job: we remove the old battery, fit a new one, and your runtime goes back to something close to what it was when the laptop was new.

The question worth asking yourself is this: if the rest of your laptop works well and it’s otherwise running smoothly, why spend $800 or more on a replacement when a battery swap might solve the problem entirely? A battery replacement typically costs a fraction of a new laptop, and if the machine is otherwise in good shape, it’s almost always worth doing first.

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What to do next

If your laptop is struggling to hold a charge, bring it in and we’ll take a look. We can check the current health of your battery and tell you honestly whether a replacement makes sense, whether the laptop is worth fixing, or whether there’s something else going on. Most of the time, the answer is a battery replacement, and you’re back to a properly portable laptop quickly.

Most people assume a dying hard drive will announce itself dramatically: a loud crunch, a blank screen, or a folder that simply vanishes. Sometimes that does happen, but more often, the warning signs are subtle and easy to explain away: a computer that felt sluggish one afternoon, a file that was slow to open, or a crash that seemed like a one-off. And because each sign seems minor on its own, people don’t connect the dots until it’s too late.

The sounds you shouldn’t ignore

A healthy hard drive is nearly silent. You might hear a quiet hum or the occasional soft seeking sound during normal operation. What you shouldn’t hear is clicking, grinding, or a repetitive ticking that wasn’t there before.

If you hear something unfamiliar coming from your computer and you can’t trace it to a fan, stop using the machine and get it checked. Every read cycle on a mechanically compromised drive risks making things worse.

Files that take forever to open, or won’t open at all

Hard drives store data across thousands of tiny areas on a disk. When some of those areas start to degrade, they become what’s called bad sectors, spots that can no longer reliably hold data. The computer has to work harder to read around them, and this shows up as files that suddenly take much longer to open than they used to, applications that hang or freeze partway through loading, and documents that throw errors when you try to access them.

The operating system does its best to work around bad sectors, but it’s a holding pattern, not a fix, and the bad areas tend to spread. What starts as one stubborn file becomes several files, and eventually the drive can’t compensate any further, and everything stops working altogether.

Your computer is running much slower than usual

Slowness has many causes, but a failing hard drive is one of the more serious ones. When the drive is struggling to read and write data consistently, everything on your computer slows down. Startup takes longer, programs are sluggish, and simple tasks that used to take seconds start taking minutes.

READ MORE: Why Is My Computer Running So Slow?

The tricky part is that this kind of slowdown is gradual. It creeps up on you, and you adjust to the new normal without realizing how far things have slipped. If your computer feels noticeably slower than it did six months ago and you haven’t added much new software, the drive is worth looking at.

Crashes, freezes, and blue screens

Random crashes are frustrating, and they’re easy to dismiss as a software glitch or a bad update. Sometimes they are, but when crashes happen repeatedly, especially during disk-intensive tasks such as copying files, opening large documents, or running backups, the drive is often involved.

The same goes for the computer freezing for no clear reason or Windows showing a blue error screen (the “blue screen of death”). These events are worth taking seriously, not just restarting and hoping for the best. If they keep happening, there’s a reason. Finding out what it is while your data is still intact is a much better situation than finding out later.

Files that seem to have changed on their own

This one catches people off guard. A document opens and the content looks different from how you saved it. A folder shows files you don’t recognize, or files you know you saved aren’t there. Filenames appear corrupted, showing strange characters instead of the normal text.

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This kind of data corruption happens when bad sectors affect the areas of the drive where your files are stored. The data gets written incorrectly, or it can’t be read back accurately. That distinction matters: you’re no longer dealing only with a drive that’s struggling to function, and the damage has reached the files themselves. That’s a different conversation entirely, and the sooner we have it, the better.

What to do if you recognize any of these signs

Stop using the computer for non-essential tasks. Don’t run disk cleanup programs, defragmentation tools, or anything that puts heavy demand on the drive. A drive that’s failing can keep going for days before it stops completely, but every extra read and write is a gamble with your data, so don’t assume it’s fine just because it’s still working.

Bring it in and let us take a look. We can run diagnostics to check the drive’s health, including the manufacturer’s own health monitoring system called SMART, which logs signs of deterioration over time. In many cases we can copy your data off the drive before it gets worse. In some cases we can recover data even after a drive has partially failed.

What we can’t do is guarantee recovery after a full failure. Once a drive stops working completely, getting data back becomes much harder, much more expensive, and sometimes impossible. The sooner you act, the more options we have.

And if you don’t recognize any of these signs?

Not seeing any of these signs doesn’t mean your drive is healthy. It might just mean you’re earlier in the process than you realize. Hard drives can fail without much warning at all. Age is a factor, with most drives having a practical lifespan of three to five years, though many run longer and some fail earlier. Heat, physical knocks, and power surges all take a toll over time.

If you’re not sure how old your drive is, or if you’ve never had a health check done, it’s worth booking one in. We can give you a clear picture of where things stand and flag anything that needs attention before it becomes a problem. Your photos, your documents, and your records are worth protecting before something goes wrong, not after.

There’s no magic number of years a computer is supposed to last. Some go strong for ten years, while others barely reach their third birthday. The difference often comes down to what you bought in the first place and how it’s been used.

Let’s walk through what actually affects how long your computer can keep up with you.

What Kind of Computer Did You Start With?

Think back to when you first bought your computer. Was it a top-of-the-line model with room to grow, or was it a budget-friendly option that just did the job?

A more powerful computer at the start usually has more speed overhead. That means it wasn’t working at full capacity right away, so it can handle growing demands for longer. Budget computers, on the other hand, often run close to their limits right out of the box. That can make them feel outdated much sooner.

So, if your computer was already struggling with a few tabs open in the browser back then, it might not be age catching up; it might never have had much breathing room.

Why Does It Feel Like My Computer Is Getting Slower?

Here’s the thing: your computer hasn’t become slower; its specifications are the same as the day you bought it. What has changed is the software.

READ MORE: “So Slow!” Is It Your Computer or Your Internet Connection?

Operating systems, apps, and even your web browser are constantly being updated. These updates often come with more features, bigger file sizes, and higher demands on your computer’s resources. Over time, your once-speedy system starts to feel like it’s dragging its feet, not because it’s broken, but because it’s trying to keep up with software that’s expecting newer hardware.

When Software Outgrows Your Hardware

Eventually, your computer might hit a wall where it can no longer be updated. This happened to many Windows 10 users this past October. Once your operating system stops receiving updates, the apps you use, such as your web browser, email program, or even basic productivity tools, may also stop supporting that version.

That’s more than just an inconvenience; it’s a security risk. Web-accessible apps that can’t update leave the door open to security holes. New exploits are found daily, and you’re exposed if you can’t patch your system.

If we spot that your system has reached this point, we’ll be honest with you. Sometimes it’s just not worth trying to stretch it any further.

Can You Upgrade Instead of Replacing?

In many cases, yes. We’ve breathed new life into plenty of older computers with a few simple upgrades.

One of the biggest performance boosts you can get is replacing a traditional hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD). It’s one of those changes you feel straight away. Your computer boots faster, apps open quicker, and everything just feels smoother.

READ MORE: SSD: Make Your Old Computer Your New Computer

Adding more RAM can also help, especially if you like to keep lots of browser tabs open or work with large files. These upgrades are often more affordable than you’d think and can add a few more good years to your machine.

When It’s Time to Let Go

Of course, upgrades aren’t always the right answer. In some cases, improving an older computer can cost more than it’s worth—especially when several components are nearing the end of their useful life. And sometimes, it’s simply a matter of outgrowing what a system can realistically handle. That’s where we can help.

If your computer feels slow or you’re unsure whether it makes sense to repair or replace it, give us a call at 508-478-6010. Hopedale Technologies offers professional evaluations for $79, giving you a clear, honest assessment of your options.

We’ll take the time to look things over, explain what’s going on, and help you choose the best path forward—whether that’s a quick tune-up, a few targeted upgrades, or selecting a new system that will serve you well for years to come. We keep Dell laptops in stock and also build custom desktop systems tailored to your needs.

No guesswork. Just straightforward advice you can trust.

With more of us working from home, more pet owners share photos of pet co-workers. That cat sprawled over your laptop or dog with his paws on your keyboard may make for funny photos, but they can also cause real damage.

Many pets have sharp claws. They won’t think twice about using them to scratch computer screens, keyboards, or other devices. Also, if your pets are close to your laptop or desktop, they could cause them to fall off your lap or other surface.

READ MORE:  Help I Dropped My Laptop

Your pup could pull at the cord while trying to remind you it’s time for a walk, or a curious cat could damage the cable or connecting port, pulling the cord in the wrong direction.

If a cat is climbing on the furniture, she might knock your device to the ground and crack the screen, or worse. A cuddly dog might want to get on your lap and swipe a nearby liquid over your keyboard with a happy tail wag.

READ MORE:  Signs Your Computer Suffers From Water Damage

Even when a dog curls up under a desk while you’re working or watching a show, it might pose a risk. Jumping to save you from a neighbor closing a door, they could push printers or hard drives off shelves. These devices are not built to sustain falls.

Other Pets Can Cause Problems Too
Many animals also like to chew, especially rodents. Their teeth are sharp enough to work through your electronic cables, which could lead to electrical shocks for them or exposed wires that are a danger to you.

Think you’re safe with a bunny or hamster? If you let them roam free around the room, you risk them urinating on your devices. Or a bird might nest near your electrical cords. These actions could cause costly damage or corrosion.

READ MORE:  5 Tips to Protect Your Laptop From Physical Damage

Any furry family member you have could also cause damage by shedding. Hair accumulating in computer vents and fans can cause overheating and performance issues.

You’re not entirely secure, even if you have a snake or fish. Snakes and fish can require heat lamps or aquariums, which can cause an electrical surge that might damage your devices. You’ll want to install a surge protector.

What To Do About Pet Risks
Keeping your pets away from your electronics is a good idea. Keep liquids away from your devices when your computer is out around your animals. That’s good practice whether you have pets or not.

Also, store technology securely. Avoid leaving it unattended on high counters or other places pets might reach.

Bundle electronic cords to protect devices from damage and pets from electrical risks.

Getting your computer’s internals professionally cleaned occasionally is also a smart move. Again, this is good practice whether you have pets or not. Dust and hair can also build up inside and slow the computer’s mechanics. A good clean can help you keep that computer running its best for longer.

Hopedale Technologies can help you set up your home office safely and securely. We can also help you clean or repair your devices … but you are on your own for potty training pets or feeding mice to your snake.

These advertisements are often described as Registry Cleaners or by a few other names that attempt to convince the user they will somehow clean or improve their home PC. Within the IT industry, they are known as “scareware.” They are software designed to convince you that your computer has problems it might not have.

Are they trustworthy?

Almost all popups and advertisements that use banners saying “Fix now for free” are untrustworthy. They are little more than a scam attempting to take your credit card details, PC data, or both. At best, these programs might claim to scan your computer and show a convincing list of plausible-sounding computer problems. Using this, they will ask for payment to “fix” these problems to get your PC back in shape again.

READ MORE: More Than a Virus, Common Malware to Watch Out For

At worst, these advertisements can be downright malicious. Some may use fake warnings and scare tactics to trick customers into installing spyware on their computers. When installed, spyware will try to steal information in the background. Attackers may use this technique to steal usernames, passwords, emails, and credit card details. Sometimes the first sign a user has that something is wrong is when a virus scan detects software doing something it shouldn’t be. 

Do I need to clean the registry?

The Windows system and various applications installed on your PC leave files stored on your computer. These files can stay behind or go out of date even after the application that initially made them has been removed. These files can use up a little space on the hard drive and generally cause minor clutter within the system.

READ MORE: Computer Cleaning for the New Year

Despite the large amount of “scareware” and fraudulent computer cleanup scans, legitimate applications designed to clean your system do exist. This can be something we cover and is often done as a small part of a complete computer tune-up. Keeping up with out-of-date files and freeing up unused space is worthwhile and can be considered “good housekeeping.” The vast speed boosts many online advertisements claim to unlock by simply moving files around are almost always false.

The home computer, however, is commonly upgraded and can be boosted by more conventional means. If the speed of your PC is no longer up to the task, there are ways in which we can unlock far more significant gains than simple housekeeping chores.

PC Boosters

Relatively low-cost hardware components such as memory can often be added to boost the speed of an older PC and unlock a new lease of life. Upgrading the computer’s RAM can double the working memory available to the operating system. With extra memory, many programs can keep more information open to work with. This upgrade reduces loading times and increases the computer’s ability to run more programs simultaneously.

READ MORE: What are the Best Ways to Give an Older PC New Life?

Another standard speed-boosting upgrade involves how we store and load data from the computer. Switching from an older mechanical hard drive to a modern Solid State Disk (SSD) can reduce the startup and loading time of any PC.

Loading data from the hard drive is often the slowest part of a computer, the bottleneck in an otherwise high-speed system. Because an SSD does not use mechanical components, the time to access the disk is nearly instant compared to older, mechanical hard disks.

Safe Speed Boosts

These upgrades offer boosts in speed to rival a modern system at only a fraction of the cost initially paid for the computer. Upgrading the RAM, swapping to an SSD, or doing both will provide an instant, dramatic, and safe improvement to the speed of your PC.

#1 Computers are complicated

Computer developers put a lot of work into making it easy for you to use your computer. A good user experience is part of the appeal of one brand over another. But that doesn’t mean that what’s happening inside the device is simple to fix.

There are a lot of complicated connections “underneath the hood” of your laptop or desktop, and prying the device open to see if you can do a DIY repair could prove disastrous. It will be safer to turn to a trained repair tech instead.

READ MORE:  Why Do Computers Break?

#2 You could make things worse

Maybe you’ve done this around the house when trying to be “handy.” That leaky faucet becomes a full-blown broken fixture thanks to your efforts.

You might think that you can watch a YouTube video and do an amateur fix, but know that just hitting the wrong key combination could create a different problem. Digging into the backend of your programs could change something for the worse.

Tip: If you try to fix something solo, don’t erase your history. It could be necessary for the tech expert to retrace your steps to figure out where you went wrong.

#3 You risk being scammed

Bad guys are always finding ways to exploit people, and some scams appear to be repair assistance programs. You may be looking for a fix, but instead, you click on a link that installs malware on your device. Now, you’ve got another problem to deal with!

READ MORE: Don’t Fall for Tech Help Scams

#4 You could lose your valuable data

We store much of our lives on our computers these days. If you attempt to fix your device without first backing up your files, media, and other data, you could lose it all.

READ MORE:  What is the Best Way to Back Up?

#5 It may not be worth it

It’s not difficult to find a reasonably priced computer today (HINT: We sell them). You may end up paying for expensive repairs for an old computer when you could have bought a new one. For $79, you can get an evaluation from us. We’ll give you expert input into whether your device is worth the time, effort, and money to repair before you go too far down that road.

Choosing the right repair service

With age comes the wisdom to ask for help when we need it. Regrettably, not all repair services are as reliable. When looking for computer fix-it help, read reviews, and check credentials and service guarantees.

Don’t hesitate to contact Hopedale Technologies for your computer repair needs. You have your skills; we have ours. Let us do the hard work and keep your devices ship shape for you.

If you are right there when your computer is exposed to liquids, unplug it immediately. Wet components can short-circuit and cause issues for your motherboard, hard drives, and more.

READ MORE:  5 Tips to Protect Your Laptop from Physical Damage

Still, you might not know immediately that water damage is to blame. You might live in an area with high humidity. Or maybe someone in the family watches Netflix while in a steamy bathroom. That’s when you look for signs of moisture inside your computer.

Signs you can see yourself

Water spilled inside your keyboard can make keys or the trackpad stop working. Even a few water droplets can cause the keyboard or trackpad to start responding to your touch erratically.

You might also experience screen issues. This depends on where the liquid penetrates your laptop. Look out for:

• images not displaying correctly;
• pixel discoloration;
• a display that won’t turn on.

READ MORE:  How to Know if a Laptop Screen is Damaged

These are pretty obvious signs you need to get help. You might also see some discoloration on the outside of the computer. The white or green residue is not a good sign.

Another scary indicator? The computer won’t turn on at all. That suggests that internal components are damaged, and you’ll need to take action.

Signs that repair shops can see

Most people should not be opening up computers on their own. Even if you think there might have been water damage, it’s safer to take the laptop to a trained expert. That way, you won’t do more damage trying to see what’s wrong in the first place.

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The person doing the repairs at a computer shop will look inside for corrosion around connectors and your motherboard. They’ll be looking for that white or green residue you were hoping not to see on the exterior.

Another sign? The water damage indicator shows exposure to water or liquids. The indicator is a small device inside the computer that manufacturers use to deny warranty coverage (despite the consumer’s protests, the laptop never got wet).

What to do with a wet computer

Unplug it. Get help. The sooner you take a water-damaged computer in for repair, the more likely it can recover. Work with a professional IT repair shop to diagnose and repair your device issues. We’re here to help. 

You may not see broken glass, but you can know the laptop screen is damaged because you experience:

• distorted images;
• pixelization;
• resolution lines
• backlighting issues;
• a blank screen.

You might want to turn that laptop into a piece of art. After all, the screen shows very psychedelic, colorful images. If you have an LCD screen, the liquid inside might have spread, which can make deciphering your text or graphics like reading a Rorschach test.

Whether you want to get artistic with that laptop or not, replacing it is one way to go, but it’s also the most expensive response. Ideally, you can avoid this approach. So, what’s left to do?

What to do with a damaged screen

If the laptop is under warranty, and the screen wasn’t dropped or damaged by you, you may be able to send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

Otherwise, you may be able to replace just the screen. The difficulty in replacing a screen depends on the manufacturer and laptop model. There are many screws and very fine cables that are easily snapped, and it’s going to be safer to go to a professional. Of course, you will also need to determine whether anything else was damaged.

Screen replacement is still a costly option. In fact, it may be more expensive than a new laptop. Plus, you might be without your laptop for several days while it is in for repair or even longer if you take it to a big-box store, where they will send it away for attention. That’s one reason to prefer a local repair shop.

Another option is to attach your laptop to an external monitor. This method has its own pros and cons.

It’s a more affordable option and can see you through finishing that report that’s due tomorrow.

The problem? This undermines the mobility of a laptop unless you want to walk around carting a monitor and its cords. Also, you may find the original, broken screen gets in the way.

Avoid damaging your laptop

Of course, we’re also going to share strategies to help avoid breaking the screen in the first place. Try these tips:

• Never open or close the lid by one corner. Instead, use one hand to close the lid from the center, or hold the keyboard as the other hand opens the lid.
• Don’t leave a laptop attached to cords that someone can trip over and bring the computer crashing down.
• Avoid overheating your computer, as it can burn the laptop’s screen.

The price you’ll pay to deal with a broken screen will vary based on brand and model and what’s gone wrong. Check with Hopedale Technologies for an estimate and get back up and running.

Calling tech support (if that’s an option) can be time-consuming and frustrating. So, people turn to the nearest teenager or that cousin with all the latest technological gadgets. Think of it this way: Driving a car doesn’t mean you can fix one. Having a lot of cars doesn’t show the owner knows what to do when one of those vehicles breaks down.

Consider the investment you’ve made in your computer. Now, ask yourself: when was the last time I backed up? Please, say recently! If not, think about the value of the content you might lose if the computer is not handled with care.

READ MORE:What is the Best Way to Backup?

When a computer expert sets out to investigate the problem, they do so with utmost caution. Before doing anything, they’ll know to make a clone of your hard drive. Then, they know what is safe to try in identifying and solving the problem. They also know what actions to avoid.

The Price of Amateur Fixes 

Your family/friend tech support might turn to the internet for help. Sure, Google and YouTube will provide some answers, but context matters. Will your oh-so-helpful friend know which answers are relevant to your situation? Trying different things can be dangerous if the approach isn’t suited to the problem.

Ask any computer repair expert. They’ll have stories about computers “fixed” by amateurs who made the problem worse. They may even have lost data along the way. Computer repair may look simple, but expert decision-making determines the best solution.

Computer experts draw upon specialized training and hands-on experience as with most jobs. They’re also up on the latest threats, technologies, and solutions. This helps them to diagnose the problem more quickly. They can go in and fix the problem right away because they’ve seen it before and read about the issue. Or perhaps they have colleagues who have done something like this before or researched the technology to identify different options. Can your Aunt Sue or friend Frank say the same thing?

Think also of your typical answer when someone asks you for help. You’re human. You want to help, even if you don’t know that much about the problem. So, when you ask a family member, they’re likely to say, “sure.” Even when they should be saying, “I don’t know how to fix that.”

When friends admit the repair is beyond them, you’ve already wasted time letting them take a crack at it. Worse, they may break your computer or lose important files. You have to go to the experts for that new part or in the hope of retrieving the data. Meanwhile, you’re not feeling so friendly towards the person who created the new problem, are you? They may also feel annoyed that you didn’t pay them for their services.

READ MORE:Repairing Your Computer Quicker for Less

Don’t jeopardize your relationships, and avoid doing more damage to your computer. Bypass the friend/family tech support solution and turn to the professionals first. Fixing a computer isn’t always straightforward. Get expert help to preserve as much data as you can, and avoid expensive replacements as long as possible.

Have computer problems? We can help! We do computer repairs for a living. And our HT Home Protect package can proactively prevent many problems. It provides remote monitoring, OS patch management, managed antivirus protection, data backup, and our expert advice for an annual fee. 

Dropping a laptop doesn’t always lead to damage, but it will depend on several factors. Learn more about this common concern.

What happens to your laptop if it is dropped will depend on different considerations:

• how hard and far it fell;
• what kind of surface it fell onto;
• whether it was running at the time of the fall;
• the laptop model;
• whether you have a mechanical hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD);

READ MORE:  SSD: Make Your Old Computer Your New Computer
Drop a laptop from a footstool onto a thick plush carpet, and you might not see any damage. Push that same laptop off a kitchen island onto a hard tile floor, and it might be destroyed.

Buying a protective cover for your laptop can help prevent damage. You can also get a screen protector. Another good idea is to be careful where you put your laptop down. Don’t put it in high-traffic areas. Also, ensure corded accessories don’t create a tripping hazard that will see someone taking your laptop down as they fall.

READ MORE: 5 Tips to Protect Your Laptop from Physical Damage

Common red flags

Let’s assume the laptop appears to have survived the fall. You still have an intact screen, and the laptop continues to power on. Whew! That’s great. Still, after a laptop drop, you’ll want to look for the following warning signs:

• noisy fan;
• flickering or dim screen;
• unresponsive keyboard;
• a blue “screen of death”;
• error message saying, “unmountable boot volume”;
• computer won’t power up;
• Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity no longer works.

READ MORE:  6 Signs Your Computer Has a Virus

Your laptop is a convenient, compact computer. That means that inside that hard case, the parts are packed tightly. Dropping the laptop can jar important parts. It’s best to take your laptop to a computer professional to help address any boot, screen, power, or other issues.

What do I do when my laptop falls?

First, don’t panic. Yes, it’s scary to see your technology fall to the floor, but try to remain calm. Retrieve your laptop carefully and handle it gently as you take the following steps:

• Inspect the exterior looking for scratches, dents, or cracks. Small, cosmetic injuries you might cover with stickers. The bigger ones? You may need a technician’s help.
• Examine the screen to see if there are any cracks and if the screen still works as a display. Keep an eye out for lines, spots, dead pixels, or a flickering display.
• Boot the system to ensure the laptop remains functional.
• Listen for unfamiliar noises which could indicate parts have come loose.

The earlier you respond to the damage from dropping a laptop, the better. So, don’t just hope that any issue you notice will go away. Instead, take your computer to Hopedale Technologies for repairs or parts replacement. The reward could be a longer overall life cycle for your laptop. We’re here to help.