“I’ve had this laptop for three years, and honestly, I love everything about it,” Mark said. “I wasn’t planning on replacing it, but now it’s doing this thing where it goes into sleep mode and won’t wake up when I need it to.  What I want to know is if it is better to replace or repair a broken laptop?”

Consumer Reports, one of the most trusted publications on the planet, has found that 24% of laptops develop problems requiring repairs. This number has been trending downward over time, but at this point, it’s still pretty close to 1 in 4 computers having significant issues. Power management issues, such as entering sleep mode and not waking up, as well as battery, keyboard, touch pad and display issues are the most common; another common concern is when a laptop stops connecting to wifi networks.

The decision to repair or replace a laptop has several factors involved. The first is the cost of replacing your laptop. You know what you paid for your computer. A newer model of the same laptop will likely cost more, depending on the features you choose. Any reputable computer repair shop in Boston will provide you with an estimate of what needed repairs will cost. Use these numbers to help you decide what option makes sense for you.

Another factor to consider is the information you have on the laptop that’s not working. “I know you’re supposed to back up all of your files, but who does that?” Mark asked. “I have all of the pictures from the vacation trip we took with our granddaughter on there, and some of the research from a genealogy project that would take many hours to re-create from scratch. I’d love to get that all back.”  A skilled computer repair shop may be able to recover your data, whether or not you choose to have the laptop repair.

Still not sure if you’re better off having your laptop repaired or replaced? Give us a call. We’ll be happy to provide you with an estimate and other information you need to make an informed decision!