5 Warning Signs That It Could Be Time to Replace Your Laptop

Funny noises coming from your laptop? Or does it crash regularly? The GHI explains why this may be a warning sign the device is dying...

21 March, 2018
5 Warning Signs That It Could Be Time to Replace Your Laptop

Laptops are the modern day tech workhorse: they're used several times a day, usually for hours at a time, and we rely on them not only to access information but also to store our files, photos and videos. If the battery dies, you can risk losing files. But how do you know when you need to replace yours? The GHI shares five signs that indicate your laptop is on the way out:

Loud noises

Is your laptop making a clicking or grinding sound when you're trying to save or open files, photos or music, or launch a program? This is usually an indication that the mechanical parts of the hard drive are wearing out. Eventually the hard drive will crash, meaning you will lose all the data stored on it, so make sure it's backed up to some online storage.

It is possible to replace the hard drive in a laptop but it's a fiddly job and if you don't feel confident about doing this, then it's time to invest in a new machine. 

Overheating

Does your laptop feel very hot when you use it? The laptop fan may be clogged up with dust and dirt, which is preventing it from cooling your laptop. Try using a can of compressed air to blow dust and dirt out of the vents on the laptop. If this doesn't fix the problem, you may want to invest in a new device as overheating can result in regular crashes and freezing.


Corrupted data

If you've saved documents on to your laptop only to discover that when you try to open them at a later date you get an error saying the file is corrupt, your laptop could be on its last legs. It's a fault usually caused because the hard drive is failing, so think about replacing the hard drive if you can, or purchasing a new laptop.

Poor battery life

Are you frustrated that the battery life of your laptop isn't as long as it used to be? Your battery may be on the way out. The higher the number of charges you give it, the shorter the time it lasts. In some cases, you may be able to purchase a new battery direct from the laptop manufacturer, but depending on its age you may find that new batteries for that model are no longer available - time to replace your laptop.


Randomly freezing or crashing

This may be down to the laptop overheating so, if you haven't already done so, try using a can of compressed air to blow any dust away that's clogging up the vents. However, if you've done this and the regular freezing and crashing continues, you'll need to bite the bullet and buy a new machine as it could be down to problems with the motherboard or the hard drive.

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