Repair, upgrade or replace: a decision guide for business laptops.

Every faulty laptop raises the same question: is it worth fixing?

Factors

• Age. Beyond roughly four to five years, hardware, battery and security support start to run out.
• Fault type. Screens, keyboards, batteries and storage are usually economic to replace. Motherboard faults may be repairable at component level, but weigh the cost against a replacement.
• Repair cost versus value. If the repair costs more than about half the value of a comparable device, replacement is usually sensible.
• Performance needs. Slow machines often respond well to a solid-state drive and more memory.
• Software and security. The device must run supported operating systems and applications.
• Downtime. Consider a loan unit while repairs happen.

Common upgrades with big effect

A solid-state drive, extra memory, a fresh battery and a clean operating system install can give a machine another useful period.

Refurbished options

For roles with modest needs, tested refurbished business laptops with warranty can be a sound, lower-cost choice.

Fleet view

Track device age, faults and repairs in an asset register. Planning a rolling replacement cycle smooths budgets and avoids the emergency purchase.

Do not forget the data

Before any repair, confirm backups. If the drive may be failing, stop using it and get it assessed.