Is it worth fixing?

When a laptop starts misbehaving, it’s tempting to go straight to buying a new one. Sometimes that’s the right call. Often it isn’t: plenty of machines that come into our West Ealing workshop need a single part or an afternoon’s work, and then run well for years.

The answer depends on three things: what’s actually wrong, how old the laptop is, and whether it can still run a supported version of Windows or macOS. Here’s how we weigh it up.

Faults that are usually worth repairing

  • A battery that won’t hold a charge. Batteries wear out long before the rest of the laptop does. A replacement is one of the most cost-effective repairs there is.
  • A cracked screen or a broken keyboard. On a laptop that’s otherwise healthy, both are straightforward part swaps.
  • Slow start-ups and general sluggishness. This is very often an old hard drive. Switching to an SSD, and adding memory where the laptop allows it, can make a five-year-old machine feel new.
  • Crashes, pop-ups and viruses. Software problems rarely mean the hardware has failed. Finding and fixing the root cause costs far less than a new laptop.
  • A failing drive with files you need. Even if the laptop isn’t worth saving, the data usually is. Get it recovered before you decide anything else.

Signs it’s time to replace

  • It can’t run a supported operating system. Windows 10 stopped receiving security updates in October 2025, and many older laptops don’t meet Windows 11’s requirements. A laptop that no longer gets security updates isn’t safe for email, banking or business work, however well it runs.
  • The repair costs more than half the price of a comparable replacement. That’s the rough line we use. Above it, the money is usually better spent on a new machine with a fresh warranty.
  • Several things are failing at once. One worn part is a repair. A failing battery, hinge and drive together usually means the laptop is at the end of its life.
  • It no longer does the job. If it’s too slow for your software even after an upgrade, or too heavy and short on battery for how you work, repairing it won’t change that.
  • Liquid damage. Liquid spreads and causes corrosion that can keep surfacing for weeks, which is why we don’t take on liquid-damaged repairs.

Upgrading: the option in between

Between repairing and replacing there’s a third option: upgrading. An SSD and extra memory cost a fraction of a new laptop, and for everyday work like email, browsing and documents they often make the difference. It’s worth it if the laptop is still getting security updates and the rest of the hardware is sound.

Before you spend anything

  • How old is the laptop, and does it still get security updates?
  • What exactly is wrong: one fault, or several?
  • What would the repair cost against a comparable new laptop?
  • Are your files backed up somewhere other than the laptop itself?
  • If you replace it, who moves your files, email and settings across?

Get an honest answer

If you’re not sure, bring it in. You can drop your laptop, PC or Mac in at our workshop on The Avenue in West Ealing, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, with no appointment needed. We’ll assess it free of charge and tell you plainly whether it’s worth repairing before any work starts. Repairs start from £60 + VAT, most are done within a day or two, and every repair comes with a 30-day guarantee.

If replacing makes more sense, we’ll say so. You can shop new laptops and PCs through us, and we’ll set the new one up with your files, email and settings moved across from the old one. Not sure your problem is hardware at all? Seven signs your home PC needs professional help is a good place to start. Repairs are covered by pay-as-you-go IT support with no contract. Our Personal IT Support plan includes remote help, and on-site visits are half price.