Does this sound familiar?
- It won't turn on, or the lights come on but the screen stays dark
- It only stays on while plugged in, or it has to be held at an angle to charge
- The hinge has cracked, and the lid wobbles or won't close
- The fan roars, and the laptop gets too hot to keep on your lap
- It takes ten minutes to start up, and everything takes forever
What we see most
Power problems. The charging jack on a laptop takes a beating, particularly when someone trips over the cord. If it only charges when you hold it a certain way, the jack or the charger may need replacing, and both are simple to test.
Slow machines. Some of the best work we do is on laptops that seem hopeless. An old hard drive, a nearly full disk and years of startup programs will make a good computer feel terrible. Fixing those is quick, and it's a lot less expensive than a new laptop.
Heat. Laptop fans pull in dust and pet hair year after year. Once the cooling system clogs up, the laptop runs hot and slows itself down. A proper cleaning can make it quieter and faster.
Broken hinges and screens. See our page on laptop screen replacement if the display is the problem.
Before you bring it in
Back up what you can if it still works. Bring your charger, and write down your password if you're comfortable sharing it, because it lets us test the laptop properly afterward. If not, tell us and we'll work it out together.
Laptops vary widely inside. Some are built with parts you can easily replace, and others have everything soldered on. Once we've looked at yours, we'll tell you which kind you have and what makes sense.
Fast, friendly great service. Pleasant to work with, knowledgeable and efficient.
Questions we get a lot
Do you repair gaming laptops?
Yes. They often run hot, and they benefit from a good cleaning and fresh thermal paste. Hinges and power jacks are common repairs on them as well.
Can you make my slow laptop faster?
Very often. If it still has an old spinning hard drive, a solid-state drive can make it feel like a new computer. More memory helps on some models. We'll tell you what's worth doing on yours.
What about Chromebooks?
Bring it by. Chromebooks are simple machines with limited parts, so we'll tell you honestly if it's worth repairing. If it belongs to your child's school, check with the school first.
The hinge broke. Can that be fixed?
Usually. Hinges often tear out of their mounts inside the case, and the longer you keep opening and closing it, the more damage they do. Try to leave it open or closed until we've seen it.