When Do OzBargainers Stop Repairing Their Laptops?

JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 09:52

Bit of a broad question, I understand that there are multiple factors that go into the decision of whether or not to repair a laptop, but when do you generally stop repairing your laptops, what age, what faults would you deem to not proceed at all with repair?

For example, many will not proceed with repair if there has been water damage, but what about a no power issue? Screen damage? KB stops working?

I'm curious because recently we've seen a massive increase in the amount of people that were happy to completely dispose of a relatively new laptop due to a very minor issue like the battery being faulty. Got us thinking how many people think their laptops are beyond repair or that the cost of repair is not economical.

Cheers.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • Hybroid on 17/06/2025 - 09:57
    +13

    I don't think any of us have a specific chart mapping out each fault and repair process. It depends on what the issue is and whether it's perceived to be worthwhile to attempt to repair. Sometimes you factor in the age of the device and whether or not you want/need a brand new one anyway.

    I had a recent issue with an old dishwasher shorting out everytime it was switched on. Repairs wanted $250 call out fee plus any parts needed and any additional labour thereafter required to repair it. I didn't see the value in that and just got a brand new one for bit more than double that instead. I would probably do the same if a laptop screen repair or electrical fault is going to cost a significant chunk of a brand new replacement.

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:11

      Yup, and then let's say you deem it not worthy of repair, where does the laptop go? Straight to e-waste? Are you trying to sell it for parts? Giving it to a family member to see if they want to attempt a fix?

      • Hybroid on 17/06/2025 - 11:03
        +1

        Again it depends on the item. A 5-year old HP laptop is going to ewaste as worthless. A Macbook wouldn't.

        • Switchblade88 on 17/06/2025 - 13:41
          +15

          I just bought a used 5yo HP laptop as the newest laptop I now own!

          This replaces a 10yo Macbook that was retrieved from an ewaste bin

          • Dr Phil on 18/06/2025 - 08:16
            -2

            @Switchblade88: Interesting way to get a bargain.

            Was the MacBook free or you paid a reasonable price for it?

            • 2027 on 18/06/2025 - 08:21
              +1

              @Dr Phil:

              This replaces a 10yo Macbook that was retrieved from an ewaste bin

        • Hangryuman on 18/06/2025 - 17:15

          I'm still using a 2011 HP ProBook 4730s 17" screen - barely - as it's definitely getting flaky in its old age at 14yo - one of the keys ("U"?) is intermittent, and W10 is not so much supported these days, tho' it still gets security updates.

          My main problem is running some software that doesn't work on W11, and is a bit of a PITA to run on the older, slower HP after using my newer 2yo laptop, which is much faster despite similar at first glance 'i5' specs.

          • Hybroid on 18/06/2025 - 17:28

            @Hangryuman: That's fine, I also have a Surface Pro 3 from 2014 in daily light use, but if the screen broke on either of our older machines, it's unlikely we'll spend hundreds fixing them, which was the original point.

          • Jackson on 19/06/2025 - 16:10

            @Hangryuman: I still use an old Del Inspiron 640n with a core duo as my Linux machine, which means it sits doing nothing for a while and then gets a tonne of use sporadically. It was the first laptop anyone let me spec for myself at work, so despite being 20 years old I can live with most of the short comings, but the Linux kernel ditching 32bit was a real pain, I have to run an old version of Ubuntu and I rue the day I thought I wouldn't need the core 2 duo because who needs 64bit to address 4gb of ram?

    • Dr Phil on 18/06/2025 - 08:14

      I believe thats call the "Common sense approach"

  • boomramada on 17/06/2025 - 10:03
    +1

    I usually upgrade my laptop after 3 years, and none of my previous laptops have died yet.

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:12

      Interesting, do you find after 3 years that the performance is not keeping up anymore?

      • John Barosa on 19/06/2025 - 13:09
        +1

        Computers after 2020/2021 have aged wonderfully. I got a fifth gen Ryzen on my Dell, and it's excellent Computer's low on ram, but I can always upgrade it.

  • elgrande on 17/06/2025 - 10:05
    +37

    When Do OzBargainers Stop Repairing Their Laptops

    Normally 8:30pm.

  • Maneki Angel Fund on 17/06/2025 - 10:12
    +1

    Battery run time below 3 hours is usually the killer because students need to do their 3 hour exams. Wipe and reinstall windows from ISO and then sell on Facebook marketplace. You can also turn on bitlocker (select option to do full disk encryption) and then do a clean install over the top which should make anything irrecoverable.

    You could replace the battery but the runtime on the generic batteries are pretty poor, and usually the equivalent to 70% battery health of the original; and can often have issues like suddenly shutting down at 40% battery left on cold days like today.

    Back when I was still capable of attending conferences, which generally run 3-5 hours, you need that type of run time whilst moving across rooms. The needs for each person will vary.

    *Other issues of replacing the battery was that a few years ago it was difficult to replace the battery without destroying the screen at the same time, which meant you needed to pay for both. Surface devices come to mind.

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:35
      -1

      I don't think anyone should replace a battery with a generic one. Why are you limited to changing it with a generic one?

      • lordezekiel on 18/06/2025 - 05:14
        +3

        Imagine you have a 10 year old laptop, but the original manufacturer stopped making parts for it after 5 years, that's usually why you end up with third party as the only option.

      • sntc on 18/06/2025 - 06:44
        +1

        and also its cheap, two to three times less than original direct from supplier,
        I have replaced few laptop battery direct and other websites like that but nit from ebay and luckily they are almost the as good as oem %

        • Hangryuman on 18/06/2025 - 17:17

          I bought a replacement battery from eBay and it died dead almost immediately - and I have gone back to the original battery which at least has some life left in it.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 17/06/2025 - 10:18
    +3

    Water damage I wouldn’t bother

    Screen damage and keyboard stuffed can be addressed by external monitor and keyboard, assuming you don’t need it portable?

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:25
      +1

      I think it's fair to assume that the majority of those who purchase/own a laptop want it to be portable

      • Protractor on 17/06/2025 - 11:20

        Maybe in the past. Smart phones and tablets are eating into that remit.

      • Forfiet on 19/06/2025 - 05:28

        I liked laptops for space saving and because my first personal computer was a laptop…. can't say it was the biggest factor for me….But its great in a blackout combined with mobile hotspot…..

    • Forfiet on 19/06/2025 - 05:25

      I had a ibm thinkpad when I was a kid….. screen died, plugged an external screen in and used for a few years more….might still have it in the shed….

    • ashanrath on 19/06/2025 - 16:30

      Water damage can be worth it but only if:
      - it was only water, not anything with sugar or dairy (you may fix it, bit it will always stink)
      - it was a minor spill from a drink, not a swim in the pool
      - you can power it off, remove battery and dissemble immediately
      - you know what you're doing

      Even if you can't save it, individually components can definitely be salvaged. RAM, SSDs, etc. Hell, I've got a DIY portable monitor built around an LCD panel pulled from a water damaged laptop. Motherboard was already shorted from not being disconnected, but the screen was fine.

  • wombat81 on 17/06/2025 - 10:24

    I've replaced batteries a few times. It just depends how expensive and difficult it is, outside of that. The main this is, you have to be sure that replacing the screen, for example, will actually fix the issue. You don't want to pay for a replacement screen only to find out that the motherboard connector is the problem.

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:29
      +2

      Batteries are almost always worth changing, and as simple as it gets for laptop repair, yet many customers are pleasantly surprised when they find out that it can be changed.

  • MS Paint on 17/06/2025 - 10:24
    +2

    I just apply common sense. Too easy.

    • EFC94 on 18/06/2025 - 09:56

      If you applied common sense you'd realise that some people struggle to apply common sense.

      • MS Paint on 18/06/2025 - 10:03

        That makes sense. Cheers

  • Baysew on 17/06/2025 - 10:33

    I'm curious because recently we've seen a massive increase in the amount of people

    Where have we seen this massive increase?

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 10:36
      +1

      At me computer store matey

  • Bignudge on 17/06/2025 - 10:44
    +3

    Depends on how much that laptop's worth and whether it's still worth fixing.

    I had a ~6-7 year old Metabox 17" gaming laptop with GTX1050, 16GB RAM, and an i7 7700HQ where the screen's ribbon cable broke. It was perfectly working and fit for purpose of just being a school laptop to play videos and project slides. (Also had a removable battery as well, no such thing in a new laptop).

    $70 for the ribbon cable, swapped it over in an hour, blew out the fans and repasted the CPU + GPU at the same time. It's good to go for another 6 years haha.

    • JustinFR on 17/06/2025 - 11:08
      +2

      Beauty! Love to hear it

    • Windows7forever on 19/06/2025 - 20:42

      Those ribbon cables are notoriously fragile. Glad you were able to fix it.

  • mskeggs on 17/06/2025 - 10:56

    My laptop is a 6th gen Lenovo x1. 2 USB ports have failed so it is on borrowed time.
    If it was a new keyboard/battery/drive I would definitely replace and use it for a few more years. But this likely needs a new motherboard.

    If I see one on eBay with a broken screen and no ram/disk cheap I might swap it out. Otherwise I will give it to a kid for them to use until it dies.

    • Chandler on 18/06/2025 - 21:46
      +1

      3rd Gen Intel inside (heh) a Clevo here =)
      Keyboard failed (unsure if ribbon cable or motherboard; have attempted replacing keyboard but no result, unclear if because fault isn't keyboard or if replacement was dodgy (from AliExpress))
      Also have issues with the WiFi card, which appear to be a bad driver update but it's so old that there's nowhere reputable (that I could find) to source an older version.
      Battery is probably cactus, but it's essentially used as a desktop anyway.
      Still use it but - still does what I need. Browser, Office (2007 :D), and even games (when I have the time).

      When I do replace it, will probably be with a refurb.

    • banana365 on 19/06/2025 - 16:26
      +1

      Bit rough to refer to the kid as "it" but at least they've got a laptop for their final months.

  • dominator293 on 17/06/2025 - 11:06
    +1

    I generally take the approach to buy a well enough specced laptop that will last me, my wife, my parents at least 10yrs (give or take). That way when they cark it (and yeah, batteries can go earlier etc) I don't have such a hard time justifying buying a new one. My wife and I both use Metabox laptops and they are solid, bought my wifes in 2019 and no signs of dying anytime soon and bought mine 3yrs ago (2022), still going as well as the day I bought it. If it's a simple issue, i'll always opt to repair, but if the laptop dies around that 10yr mark, it's time for a replacement anyway.

    • Bignudge on 17/06/2025 - 11:31
      +1

      Metabox for the win!

      • peteru on 17/06/2025 - 14:46

        Until you actually need repairs. Under or out of warranty. Then all of a sudden Metabox are as shit (or worse, given that they are on the other side of the country) as Samsung.

        And don't get me started how the cooling on their (rebadged Clevo) laptops is never sufficient.

  • beltdrive on 17/06/2025 - 11:30

    i have a laptop that's like 13 years old and i just use as a plex server. monitor doesn't work properly cos the ribbon cable keeps coming out and i can't figure out how to secure it properly, so i only use it with an external monitor. usually i access radarr etc from my phone anyway.

    i've replaced the fans and replaced the spinny hdd with a ssd. can't really justify replacing it with something newer/better until it dies completely

  • Cyphar on 17/06/2025 - 12:17
    +9

    I do IT repairs as a side gig. I actually love the fact that many people now are wanting to hold on to their older laptops and are willing to repair them. I generally charge as cheap as I can when doing so too because if I'm going to charge $250 to repair a $500 laptop, then obviously they'll just want to scrap the old laptop. If I charge you a low cost, say $50, and another $50 to replace the battery and upgrade some RAM that I have in stock, you'll be more inclined to keep it, and that's less wastage in the tip, plus I get your patronage. We both win!

    • JimB on 18/06/2025 - 09:11
      +3

      Where are you located?

      • Cyphar on 18/06/2025 - 21:11

        Out near Melton, VIC :)

        • JimB on 19/06/2025 - 07:25
          +1

          A bit far to drive there. But I’ll post it to you if I need a old laptop fixed in future!

    • Darayus on 18/06/2025 - 10:03
      +1

      Hi Cyphar are you based in Sydney?

      if Yes then happy to use your services to get my laptop sorted.

      • Cyphar on 18/06/2025 - 21:11

        Western Melb, sorry!

    • wombok2 on 19/06/2025 - 15:25

      I used to do this in brisbane, happy to help check any issues too.

    • Windows7forever on 19/06/2025 - 20:44

      Mate, you are doing a community service!

  • jv on 17/06/2025 - 12:28
    +4

    When Do OzBargainers Stop Repairing Their Laptops?

    when it's time to get lunch.

  • apsilon on 17/06/2025 - 13:28

    I've never repaired one of my own computers unless it was a part that died under warranty which usually means in the first few weeks. Otherwise I just replace them once they're past the 5 year mark AND not providing adequate performance that a reimage won't fix. My current one would be about 6 years old currently and it's possible I'll replace it later this year.

  • Gdsamp on 17/06/2025 - 14:12
    -2

    the narwhal bacons at midnight

  • peteru on 17/06/2025 - 14:41

    When the GPU needs re-balling - bloody nVidia / HP combo.

  • payless69 on 17/06/2025 - 17:39

    Just buy them at HN.
    Broken from start
    pay double
    no warranty…

  • outlander on 17/06/2025 - 22:34

    Same way I make all major life decisions: I consult the Oracle
    (The Oracle being the name I gave to my magic 8 ball)

  • lordezekiel on 18/06/2025 - 05:10

    Newer laptops, especially those from companies like Apple have become so increasingly unrepairable that for many probelms, it is a case of the cost of repair is so prohibitive that you may as well chuck it out.
    I am still holding onto my 2012 Macbook Pro as it is the final laptop they made that still has user upgradebale/replaceble hard drive, ram, optical drive, battery, wifi card, bluetooth card, etc.
    It still does the job, so no need to get rid of it yet, 13 years use and counting!

    • JimB on 18/06/2025 - 09:13
      -2

      Can't really blame Apple or other manufacturers.

      Buyers want the thinnest and lightest products which will mean they are harder to repair.

      At least the good thing with Apple is that they are generally very reliable.

      • haemolysis on 19/06/2025 - 09:22

        Apple "known for reliability" is… a total farce.

        The hardware itself have numerous recall programs and widespread issues.

        However, they're known as basically the only OEM that has a shop you can go to in most major malls. So that is reliable, I'll give you that. But you can then "rely" on the repair technician to quote you an entire motherboard replacement for any minor issue. You can "rely" on paying close to RRP for the entire device.

        They also offer no data recovery service, telling customers "no iCloud? Too bad, so sad."

        • JimB on 19/06/2025 - 11:59

          you make it seem like other manufacturers have bullet proof reliability.

          Plenty of users of 10yo working Macbooks out there (without repairs). 10yo window based laptops more than likely junk.

          Anyway, you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

    • mearkat7 on 18/06/2025 - 10:51

      It's true, the one helpful part at least with apple is their trade in program. I bought a macbook air in 2021 and traded in my 8 year old 2013 macbook pro and got almost $600 back. Meant my overall cost in the new laptop was a bit under $800.

    • mskeggs on 19/06/2025 - 07:20
      +1

      And with open core legacy patcher you can still run newer macOS.

  • spurf on 18/06/2025 - 07:47
    +4

    Unfortunately unless you gave the ability or interest in repairing it yourself, it is usually uneconomic to repair a laptop outside the warranty period. I once found a MacBook with its charger in someone's red bin when I was getting rid of some mandarin peels at school pickup. Turned on but gave an error that google said was caused by a faulty SSD. Found a $20 used one on eBay and the device was good as new.

    • BadBargain on 18/06/2025 - 10:12
      +7

      Well you traded a mandarin for an apple

  • kawinuyo on 18/06/2025 - 09:28
    +1

    My laptops usually last 8-10 years before I replace them, so by then it's not worth it

    • eddyah on 18/06/2025 - 12:26

      Yep pretty much this.

      Replaced my 2014 MBP with an M3 chip last year. Pretty sure this current MBP will last 20 years haha but who knows…

  • skillet on 18/06/2025 - 09:39

    When the part cost more than 50% of the laptop 2nd hand market value.

    Rubbed out markings on the keys and big scratch on screen.

    • Lastchancetosee on 18/06/2025 - 11:33

      I use a separate keyboard and monitor, as my laptop spends 99% of its time as a desktop, so neither of those problems.

      I usually get five years or so from my laptop (HPs used mainly as wordprocessor (now that dates me!) for WFH, so it's usually cheaper to change than fix.

      Also as they're mostly for work, they're tax deductible.

  • bazingaa on 18/06/2025 - 10:05

    I have a laptop just in case I need to take it for travel, but I hardly use it.

  • Rockets84 on 18/06/2025 - 12:48

    Really depends on the cost of the repair, how old the laptop is and the spec of the laptop. I will commonly replace batteries, keyboards, SSD's/NVMe's or add RAM in laptops. Keyboards can actually be a interesting one especially if the keyboard is backlit and replacements can be fairly expensive. Of with Windows 11 dropping support for alot of older CPU's and TPM 2 being a requirement some of the laptops that I would repair now I'm replacing as they won't support Windows 11. Great if you run Linux though as there's some older laptops hitting the used market that are perfectly fine, just can't run Windows 11 with out any workarounds to bypass the new hardware requirements.

    • Forfiet on 19/06/2025 - 05:34

      My old laptop will graduate to linux when October hits…. Will likely have only 1 windows device left and 6+ linux rigs…. lol

  • OzzyOzbourne on 18/06/2025 - 13:56
    +1

    Depends on what is broken, difficulty in repairing, age/performance of laptop, costs, whether I can be bothered, my mood, day of the week, weather, family matters, work matters, how much I've had to drink, if I'm hungry, current pains etc.

  • jrvb42 on 18/06/2025 - 14:09

    Personally, if a laptop (or other electronics) needs repair, I wait until my next trip to China, and the repair or maintenance is way cheaper and just as good as here. None of this $xxx dollars just to look at it - they look at it free, usually on the spot, quote a price, and the job is done either immediately or within a couple of days.

    • THICKnSLOW on 18/06/2025 - 22:35

      that's going a bit far to be cheaper

  • Drakster on 18/06/2025 - 15:49

    I used to repair computers as a full time job, so I'm certainly on the far end of this.

    My primary laptop for home is an old Thinkpad. About six years ago, it stopped POSTing. It already being old, certainly felt I got the lifespan out of it. However, I couldn't resist attempting to fix it.

    I had heard of Coreboot, a free open souce BIOS, but never tried it. It was supported by my mainboard, though. Figured that I would try it, having nothing to lose.

    Managed to compile it on another machine, took it apart, and manually flash the two SPI BIOS chips using physical clips.

    This brought it back to life and it's been working ever since.

    • Forfiet on 19/06/2025 - 05:36

      Used a CH341a with clips?

      • Drakster on 19/06/2025 - 09:08
        +1

        That's right. Used flashrom for the software.

  • eek on 18/06/2025 - 16:01

    Unless you have paid access to schematic diagrams and tools for micro-soldering, I'm not sure one can easily repair laptops these days? If the device value is under $800 I'd guess it's no longer economical to repair.

    • Forfiet on 19/06/2025 - 05:40
      +1

      More like if enough eggheads own the device….. A community surrounding a product or line is great for diagnosing issues and locating parts or solutions…. I've seen replacements for proprietary parts when the demand is there(e.g. Apples storage)

  • kokita on 18/06/2025 - 16:20

    my laptops are about 8-10 year life.
    I have done some repairs and battery replacements.

    So far, I have only disposed 1 laptop from 2003 and 1 PC from 2005.
    The rest, I still keep holding all macbooks.

  • DemocracyManifest on 18/06/2025 - 16:22

    HPs just crumble when you open them lol

    • Hangryuman on 18/06/2025 - 17:19

      my old 2011 HP ProBook 4730s was solid as a rock - I travelled overseas with it for years with no problems until 2 years ago when they stopped supporting W10 - and I got a new one which is way faster - now it's 14yo the HP has a flaky letter key and odd annoyances so it's only kept for backups that need the software that only runs on W10.

    • Windows7forever on 19/06/2025 - 20:49

      I've had my HP Probook for 9 years. No major problems, still my daily workhorse.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 18/06/2025 - 16:40

    i usually buy the 200-300 refubished junk ones posted on here if they die i legit throw them out and get a new one

  • Drakesy on 18/06/2025 - 17:39
    +1

    When Windows stops supporting it…

    So like next year :(

  • IcySpicyStew on 18/06/2025 - 18:00

    or take the hdd/ssd and ram out

  • Nillionaire on 18/06/2025 - 21:44

    I've never repaired a laptop. It's always time to treat myself to a new one.

  • aj3000 on 19/06/2025 - 08:29

    Repurposed a 14 year old Dell XPS 17 with no functional battery as a Chromebook for kids use. Tried putting in a replacement battery but could not get it working. No original battery replacement available.

    ChromeOS Flex makes it really usable and I can also use the Google Family Link app to set access controls.

    Can still dual boot to windows if required as I have twin drives.

  • drezy on 19/06/2025 - 09:41
    -2

    The laptop repair vs. replace decision is a balancing act, weighing the cost of repair against the age and value of the device. Generally, laptops under 2 years old are worth repairing, while those over 5 years old might be better replaced, especially if the issue is significant or if multiple problems are occurring. For laptops between 2-5 years old, the decision depends on the specific repair needed and the likelihood of future issues.

    Here's a more detailed breakdown:

    Factors to Consider:

    Age of the Laptop:

    Under 2 years old:
    Repair is usually recommended, especially for minor issues.

    2-5 years old:
    Consider the cost of repair versus the remaining lifespan and performance of the device. A new battery might be worth it, but a major repair might not be.

    Over 5 years old:
    Replacement is often more cost-effective, especially for older models with limited software support.

    Cost of Repair:
    Compare the repair cost to the original price of the laptop and the price of a comparable new or refurbished model.
    Factor in potential future issues that might arise with an aging device.

    Severity of the Problem:
    Minor issues like a battery replacement or a keyboard fix might be worth it for older laptops.
    Major problems like a motherboard failure or a cracked screen on an older laptop may make replacement the better option.

    Future Use:
    Consider how long you plan to use the laptop. If you're upgrading soon, a temporary repair might be sufficient.

    Performance Needs:
    If the laptop is slow or struggling to run current software, it might be time for an upgrade.

    Software Support:
    Older laptops may not receive software updates, making them vulnerable to security risks.

    General Rule of Thumb:
    A common guideline is to replace laptops every 3-5 years, but this can vary based on individual needs and usage patterns.
    If the repair cost is more than 50% of the cost of a new or refurbished model, replacement is often recommended

  • Jaspa7 on 19/06/2025 - 11:25

    really simple for anything: (current value + repairs) vs value after repairs

    eg. currently scrap ($200 for HD and RAM) + $500 repair… on a laptop that you could sell for $800 after -> worth it
    vs. currently scrap ($200 for HD and RAM) + $700 repair… on a laptop that you could sell for $800 after -> not worth it

    what's not so simple: evaluating what those numbers actually are

  • jikijiki on 19/06/2025 - 11:32

    Im running a 2017 Dell with a 960M that I purchased during a refurb sale for ~$1300 all those years ago.

    Battery swelled up 2 years ago on a 40 degree+ day so it's just permanently attached to the charging cable, without a battery

    The keyboard barely works, it's gummy and I have to mash it hard to register certain keys.

    The onboard sound died years ago, I think I accidentally plugged in a socket that was wet and it's never worked since i.e. wireless headset only.

    I'm left with a laptop that barely does what I expect a laptop to do but I keep repairing it and not upgrading because I know if I bought the latest and greatest I'd become addicted to gaming again which would affect all aspects of my life

    • wombok2 on 19/06/2025 - 15:13

      Why dont you just buy an subpar office laptop and save your self the headache of having laptop that doesnt work as laptop?

      Heck if gaming is your problem, just dont install the games. But Self control is key and take small steps. At least you know your problem

    • Windows7forever on 19/06/2025 - 20:51
      +1

      Buy a crappy chrome book with onboard graphics. You might get addicted to Solitaire though lol.

  • kabammi on 19/06/2025 - 13:06

    I recently bought a Framework 13 laptop, for this very reason. You can replace everything, and the provide the one screwdriver thingy that will unscrew every part in the entire laptop. screens, bezels, keyboards, finger print readers, screens, motherboards, etc.etc.etc. are all parts you can replace (and upgrade).

  • hongas on 19/06/2025 - 13:19
    +2

    I still have 2012 apple MacBook. many upgrade and fix. still going strong. but when it dies. I must let go…

    • snivy on 19/06/2025 - 21:21

      My 2012 died last year, it just beeped and died. I was so sad. Hope you get more time with yours.

  • FireRunner on 19/06/2025 - 13:26

    I'll repair if I'm able to do it myself and the replacement parts are affordable (which I would assess on a case-by-case basis)
    This will generally limit me to parts that can be swapped out relatively easily like fans, keyboard, trackpad, display (the whole top assembly, I wouldn't be comfortable with trying to replace just the LCD).
    Anything dead or damaged on the motherboard which would require micro-soldering is beyond me.
    I could swap out the entire motherboard but generally this would not be cost effective and I'm better off buying a new laptop and selling the broken laptop for parts.

  • wombok2 on 19/06/2025 - 15:06

    What kind of cpu does the laptops have that you’re getting?

    Anything older than 8th gen intel or ryzen 2000 that doesnt really support windows 11 isnt worth repairing(talking about motherboard related issues), let alone adding an in SSD.

    Its pita that windows 11 hardware requirements are strict but unless theyre going to run linux, its probably not worth the effort. 2nd hand Windows 11 capable machines can be easily bought less than $300 anyways

    • FireRunner on 19/06/2025 - 18:59

      Not sure what you mean about the SSD part, they’re cheap as anything and a huge upgrade from HDD.

      As for Windows 11, the hardware requirement is very easy to bypass. I know you’ll be running on “unsupported” hardware but there’s nothing actually incompatible, just some requirements set by Microsoft. It also seems unlikely that they’d start clamping down on unsupported systems after all this time.

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