We’ve all found ourselves attached to an old device at least once in our lives. If you have an old laptop, you can’t or don’t want to get rid of; there are many good ways to help keep that device running for a few more years. Here’s how you can go about extending the lifespan of your old laptop.
Step #1 – Consider drop protection
Being dropped can kill even brand-new laptops, and it will have an even more devastating impact on an old device. That’s because, on old devices, the joints and components that make up the chassis of the device are bound to be a lot less structurally sound than when the device was new.
This means that you should be extra careful about not dropping an old laptop. But accidents happen, and if you’d like to boost your device’s chances of surviving a fall, it’s a good idea to invest in a screen protector and a carry case for your device. Yes, screen protectors for laptops are a thing — the dell screen protector section of the ViaScreens website has a few good examples of those.
Step #2 – Swap some components
Some computer components age more gracefully than others. If your laptop is more than three years old, that’s about the time when the battery starts to give out. Your device’s SSD and RAM may also be significantly less powerful by then, depending on how you’ve been using the laptop.
The good news is that all three of those components are typically easy to replace. Especially if your device is old enough to be held together with screws instead of being glued together like many modern laptops.
Replacing these components is much cheaper than buying a new laptop. And it is an investment that might double the lifespan of your device.
Step #3 – Use peripherals
Using an external mouse, keyboard, and monitor can go a long way toward extending the lifespan of your laptop. If you often use your laptop from home or at an office where having such peripherals wouldn’t be a problem, consider making the investment.
A keyboard is a particularly good buy, as laptop keyboards tend to develop uses with constant use. If you avoid using the onboard keyboard when you don’t need it, you’ll increase your chances of having it in working order when you need it.
