Extend the life of your laptop, and know when to upgrade

A laptop can serve well for many years with a little care. Knowing when to upgrade and when to replace saves money and avoids security risks.

Everyday care

Keep vents clear of dust, use the laptop on hard surfaces and avoid leaving it in heat. Update firmware and drivers, and avoid keeping the battery at full charge or fully drained for long periods.

Upgrade before replacing

• Add memory if the system is slow with many programs open
• Swap an old hard drive for a solid-state drive
• Replace a worn battery rather than the whole machine
• Reinstall the operating system to remove clutter

Know when to replace

Replace the device when the manufacturer no longer provides security updates, when it cannot run the software you need, or when repairs cost more than half the price of a new one. An unsupported laptop is a risk even if it still feels fast. Back up your data and securely erase the drive before recycling or selling.

Key takeaway: maintain and upgrade first, but retire any device that no longer receives security updates.