5 Things You Need to Check Before Buying a Used Laptop

Although it's nice to have a shiny brand new laptop straight out of the box, but not everyone can afford to get one. And that's when going for a fairly used laptop is the only realistic option you have.

To reduce the risk of having a bad purchase, here are some tips that may serve as your guide on what to check for before purchasing a second-hand laptop.

1.    Know Your Needs

Before making any sort of purchase, it is important for you to know what you will be using the computer for and buy something that matches your needs. Think about the sort of applications you will need, how portable you need your laptop to be, battery life, RAM, and storage requirements.

When you spot a laptop that you want to buy, search for the make and model online and print out its specifications to find out if it matches with the product you're about to purchase. Another thing you need to take into consideration before buying one, check for reviews online and see what people are saying about the laptop and its performance over a long period of time.

2.    Inspect the Laptop Body

A thorough body check is non-negotiable. Make sure that the frame of the laptop you're eyeing to buy is free from cracks and any signs of impact. Also, check for any missing screws, loose hinges, and any other forms of irregularities.

3.    Check the Screen's Condition

The next important step is to make sure that the laptop's screen is in good working condition. Check for any dead pixel, flickering, discoloration, as well as the brightness controls if it's still working properly.

4.    Test the Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard and the trackpad are the most used parts of a laptop, so it's necessary for you to make a thorough checkup on these as well. Here are some additional tips:

·         Check for any broken keys, pay close attention to key travel, and see if you feel comfortable typing with the keyboard. If you're making too many mistakes, then you might want to check out other laptops.

·         Check what gestures are supported by the trackpad and then try them out (such as pinch-to-zoom, two-finger scroll, three-finger swipe, etc.). If mouse keys are present, make sure that they're easy to press.

5.    Check the Battery's Condition

In most cases, you may not be able to perform a thorough check when it comes to the battery's health. However, you can still get a rough idea of how long the battery lasts by going into the laptop's power management settings of the installed OS to see how much charge the battery can hold as well as the battery health status.

Another thing is, make sure the battery charges properly and doesn't drain too fast. Otherwise, you can ask for a discount so you can get a replacement for the battery in case it wears out soon.

What is the Most Effective Approach in Solving Difficult Computer Issues?

Before anything else, let’s break down what we deem as difficult. If difficult means your screen going blank, the computer won’t boot, or you know it’s a hardware problem, the only sensible advice we can give is that you call your subscribed technical support company. Really major and difficult problems of this level can only be solved by the professionals. Tinkering with your computer will only exacerbate the issue. This is the most effective approach and advice we can give.

Even for less difficult or even basic computer issues, if you’re not really sure what to do, then the best thing is not to do anything at all. Just pick up that phone instead.

But if you know what you’re doing, remember that many different things could cause a problem with your computer. No matter what's causing the issue, troubleshooting will always be a process of trial and error. With some cases, you may need to use several different approaches before you can find a solution, but there are definitely problems that may be easy to fix.

We recommend starting by using the following tips:

Write down the steps you’ve done

Once you start troubleshooting, you may want to write down each step you take. This way, you’ll be able to remember exactly what you’ve done and avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you end up asking your tech support company for help, it will be much easier if they know exactly what you’ve tried already.

Write down the exact error messages

If your computer gives you an error message, be sure to write down as much information as possible. You may be able to use this information later if you decide to call your tech support company.

Always check the cables

If you’re having trouble with a specific piece of computer hardware, such as your monitor or keyboard, an easy first step is to check all related cables to make sure they’re properly connected.

Restart the computer

When all else fails, restarting the computer is a good thing to try. This can solve a lot of basic issues you may experience with your computer.

Use the process of elimination

If you’re having an issue with your computer, you may be able to find out what’s wrong using the process of elimination. This means you’ll make a list of things that could be causing the problem and then test them out one by one to eliminate them. Once you’ve identified the source of your computer issue, it will be easier to find a solution or to properly inform your tech support if you decide to call them.

Remember that most computer problems have simple solutions, although it may take some time to find them. For difficult problems, a more drastic solution may be required, like reformatting your hard drive or reinstalling your operating system. If you think you might need a solution like this, we recommend consulting your professional tech support company.