Fix or replace
Fix it or replace it?
The question everyone asks first, answered symptom by symptom by an actual repair bench — with the real prices sitting right next to every answer. When we can't call it without seeing it, we say that too.
The five verdicts
Most repair content hedges forever because the writer doesn't fix anything. We do this every day, so we can afford to be blunt:
Fix itClear-cut. The repair is cheap next to the machine, or there's no "replace" option at all.
Probably fix itUsually the right call — with the one situation where it isn't, spelled out.
Only if the machine's worth itThe fix works, but the math against the machine's real value decides it. We show the math.
Can't call it without seeing itAnyone who names the fault or the price without opening it is guessing. Here's what we check first.
Replace itSaid when it's true. We'd rather be the shop that told you so than the one that sold you a repair.
Pick your symptom
Can't call it without seeing it
Laptop won't turn on
Could be a $0 charger fault or a dead board — here's what we check first, in order.
Probably fix it
Computer painfully slow
The one upgrade that changes everything, the cheaper fix behind it, and when replacing is honest.
Fix it
Virus or pop-ups everywhere
Never a reason to replace a machine. What cleanup actually includes and what it costs.
Fix it
Photos and files stuck on a dead drive
There is no "replace" for data. What's recoverable, what it costs, and what "case-by-case" really means.
Only if the machine's worth it
Is my old laptop worth upgrading?
The SSD/RAM math against what the machine is actually worth used — thresholds shown, not hidden.
Can't call it without seeing it — clock is running
Spilled coffee on your laptop
The first ten minutes decide everything: what to do, what NOT to do, and why rice is a lie.
Fix it
Laptop fan sounds like a jet engine
The fan is the alarm, not the problem. Usually a $99 tune-up — and why ignoring it costs more later.
Probably fix it
Wi-Fi keeps dropping
First we prove whose fault it is — yours or the router's. Free triage steps included.
Probably fix it
Blue screen of death
Three usual suspects: drivers, RAM, or a drive on its way out. One of them comes with a clock.
Probably fix it
Phone won't charge
The cheapest fix in the building: cable, lint, battery, or port — in that order. Stop jamming the cable.
How every verdict connects to a real price: Diagnose $49 (credited toward any repair you approve), tune-up $99, virus removal $79, data rescue $149, SSD upgrade $99 + parts. You approve the price before any work starts. If we can't find anything wrong, the $49 doesn't happen.
Want the full decision framework instead of one symptom at a time? Read The real math: is your device worth fixing?
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