Broken Laptops: Is It Time for a Technology Upgrade?

You’re hacking away at an assignment when your laptop decides to crash. You send an error report and cross your fingers as you reopen the app. Unfortunately, you’ve lost every bit of your work. 

The crashing could be an issue with the word processing software you’re using, or your laptop might be on its last legs. Crashing will only be the beginning of your issues. You’ll notice other problems like a noisy fan, hot chassis, hardware incompatibility, and hefty repair costs.

Those aren’t the only signs that you’re in desperate need of a technology upgrade. Check out this guide to learn more.

It Crashes

It happens to the best of us. You get so absorbed with work that you forget to save your progress. That’s not a problem until the app crashes and your computer turns off. 

Crashing isn’t always a sign that you should look for things to consider when recycling your laptop. It could be the app or a single part that you can take out and fix. 

Still, frequent crashing can be a nuisance. If you can’t find a root cause for the issue or replacing the problem part would be too expensive, you would be better off getting rid of your broken laptop. 

It Won’t Turn On

This is the nightmare of every computer owner out there. You push your power button, and the screen remains black. There are a couple of solutions you can try before you try to upgrade your laptop. 

Plug your computer into the wall and try to turn your device on again. If that doesn’t work, make sure all your cables are tightly in place. 

Try several power sockets in case there was something wrong with the first. Plug the computer into the wall instead of your extension cord. The problem could be the faulty cord instead of your laptop charger. 

If none of these solutions work, look up technology recycling centers in your area. It’s that or try to find out what part in your computer is causing it to not turn on. 

Hardware Compatibility Issues

There’s a new game coming out that you want to play. Sad enough, your laptop won’t run it without you making a few upgrades first. You need more RAM and a better graphics card. 

It’s hard to replace these parts in a laptop because everything is so crowded together. Still, it’s doable in many machines. The problem is that sometimes making upgrades can lead to compatibility issues. 

If your computer’s motherboard can’t take the extra strain, the machine will struggle to work. If you can’t take the back of the laptop off, you won’t be able to replace the parts at all. Both situations will lead to you needing an upgrade. 

It’s Slow to Load

When you’ve got a bunch of tabs or applications running at the same time, your computer is going to chug. The hardware inside the machine can only handle so much. 

The only time slow load speeds are an issue is when they’re constant. You can hardly type without the computer lagging behind let alone get any work done. 

You might be able to speed things up by closing a few background programs from your task manager. If that doesn’t work, however, save yourself some frustration and replace the laptop. 

It Runs Hot

After running for a few minutes, your laptop becomes so hot that it burns your legs. For real, you could cook food using your laptop’s chassis. 

While it’s natural for your laptop to get a little warm, it shouldn’t get so hot that it turns off. That can cause permanent damage to the other components inside the machine. 

This problem is notorious with cheaper machines. The cooling components aren’t the best, so the device can’t keep up with the workload. You shouldn’t have to worry about burned legs anymore after you upgrade. 

Noisy Fans

One of the leading signs of laptop aging is noisy fans. Your computer will sound like it’s taking off into outer space while trying to load the most basic of websites. 

If you’re not running the latest operating system, keeping a webpage open could put a lot on the machine. Of course, the solution is to download the OS update, but that’s not always an option. 

When your computer gets to be a certain age, there will come a time when the newest OS isn’t compatible with it. You’ll have no choice but to invest in a new device. 

Hefty Repair Costs 

Replacing basic computer parts is doable. Getting a new motherboard is a little more taxing as far as finances go. You would be better off replacing the machine instead.

The same goes if you feel like your laptop is in the shop more often than you use it. The technician might be able to fix it temporarily, but you’re only throwing a bandaid at an expensive wound. 

The Screen Is Wrecked 

The quality of your screen makes up almost 90 percent of your overall laptop experience. Flickering web pages can put a strain on your eyes, which will result in a killer migraine. 

Dropping your laptop could crack the screen to pieces. You won’t be able to use it at all if that happens. 

Are You Due for a Technology Upgrade 

If your current laptop won’t stop crashing or it runs so hot that you can cook on it, you might be due for a technology upgrade. If you continue trying to use the same laptop, it’s going to go out on you eventually. 

You shouldn’t put off the inevitable. Replacing your old machine will save you a ton of headache and frustration. For tips that will help you find the best new laptop for you, visit the Sci-Tech section of our blog.