Is it worth repairing an old laptop?

Often yes, if the problem is a battery, a drive, memory, a keyboard or a charging port, and often no if it is a failed motherboard or the quote is near the price of a new machine. The age of the laptop matters less than what is wrong with it and how well it does the job you need.

A quick way to decide

Get the diagnosis and a written price first, then ask three questions:

• Does it still do what you need? If web, email and documents run fine, a fresh battery or a faster drive can add years. If it struggles with the software you use every day, a repair only buys a slow machine.
• What is the repair against a comparable new laptop? A quote that is a small fraction of replacement is an easy yes. When it approaches the price of a replacement, lean to replacing.
• What else is wearing out? A new screen on a laptop with a dying battery and a failing drive is a poor bet. A repair that fixes the only fault is a good one.

Repairs that usually pay off

Battery. Apple says its notebook batteries are designed to retain up to 80% of their original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles,^[1] so short battery life on an old laptop is normal wear and not a reason to retire it. Apple offers a battery replacement service for all MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro notebooks with built-in batteries,^[1] and other makers and local shops replace batteries too.

Storage and memory. A slow laptop is often a slow drive. Where the drive and memory are not soldered in, replacing them is one of the better value upgrades. EPA suggests that for your computer or laptop, you consider upgrading the hardware or software instead of buying a brand-new product.^[3]

Keyboard, charging port, fan. Common failures with a clear fix. Ask the shop whether the part is new or used.

Repairs that rarely do

A failed motherboard, a dead graphics chip soldered to the board, or liquid damage that has corroded the inside are expensive and uncertain, because a shop may not be able to promise it found every fault. On an old laptop these are usually the point to replace. Warranties do not help here either: Apple's one-year limited warranty does not apply to defects caused by normal wear and tear or normal aging of the product.^[2]

Software support is the other limit. If the maker no longer provides security updates for your model, the repair may be sound but the laptop is not a safe one to keep using for banking and email.

If you decide to replace it

Do not just bin the old one. Start with the data: delete all personal information from your electronics,^[3] and back it up first. Then deal with the battery. Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins,^[4] and lithium-ion batteries should be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points.^[4] There is an environmental upside to doing it right: EPA says recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 U.S. homes in a year.^[3]

For what a quote is made of, see how much laptop repair costs in Virginia.

Stop and call a pro if

Do not open a laptop with a swollen or hot battery, liquid inside, or a cracked screen with loose glass, and do not keep charging one. Take it to a repair shop or back to the maker, and keep the battery taped and bagged on its own until it can be recycled.

See more electronics repair answers, including how much drone repair costs in Virginia.

Loclis lists local repair businesses. Browse electronics repair services, then describe the laptop problem once and repair shops can quote it.