· 3 min read
Repair or replace? How to decide what to do with an old computer
A slow or broken computer is not always a lost cause. Here is a simple way to decide whether a repair is worth the money.
Advice on new computers, and setting them up
Straight advice on whether to repair, replace or upgrade, help choosing the right equipment, and a new computer set up with everything moved across.
Buying a computer has become harder, not easier. Two laptops that look identical on the shelf can differ enormously in how they feel to use and how long they last, and the numbers on the label do not tell you which is which. A short conversation before you buy usually saves more than it costs.
Repair, replace or upgrade
We start with what you have. A slow computer with an old-style hard drive may need one inexpensive part, not a replacement. A computer that cannot run a supported operating system needs replacing, however well it appears to work. We will tell you which applies, and why.
Choosing the right equipment
- What you use the computer for, and what that really requires
- Where the money makes a difference: memory, the type of drive, the quality of the screen and the build
- Where it does not: most of the features in the advertisement
- New against business-grade refurbished, which is often the best value available
- For an office: standardizing on a small number of models, so that parts, chargers and knowledge are shared
Setting it up properly
A new computer is ready to use when we have finished with it, not merely switched on:
- Updates installed, and the trial software it came with removed
- Your files, email, bookmarks and passwords moved across
- Your programs installed, with their licences
- Printers, scanners and other equipment connected
- Backup turned on from the first day
- Drive encryption turned on, which matters most on a laptop
- Your accounts protected with two-step sign-in, while we are there
The old computer
We leave it untouched until you are certain nothing is missing, which normally takes a few weeks. After that we wipe it properly, not merely delete the files, so that it is safe to sell, to give away or to recycle.
For small businesses
- Planning replacements ahead of time, so that the cost is spread and nothing fails at the worst moment
- A review of what you have: what is still good, what is a risk, and what cannot receive security updates any longer
- New starters: a computer, email and access ready on their first morning
- A second opinion on a quote or a proposal from another supplier
What this covers
- Advice on what to buy, and what not to pay for
- New computers set up with your files, email and programs moved over
- Old equipment wiped securely before it is recycled or handed on
Common questions
Do you sell computers?
No, and that is deliberate. We earn nothing from what you buy, so the advice is about what suits you. We tell you what to look for and where the money is best spent, and you buy from whichever retailer you prefer.
My PC cannot run Windows 11. Do I have to replace it?
Not always. On some computers the requirement that fails is a setting that is simply turned off. Where the hardware really is too old, the options are a replacement, a second life on a different operating system, or keeping it offline for one particular job. Our guide to old PCs after Windows 10 support goes through them.
Can you move everything from my old computer to the new one?
Yes: files, email, browser bookmarks and passwords, printers, and your programs reinstalled with their licences. We keep the old computer untouched until you are sure nothing is missing.
What happens to my old computer?
Once everything has been moved and checked, we wipe it properly, so that nothing can be recovered from it. Then it can be sold, given away or recycled. Our guide to what to do with an old computer covers the choices.
Related advice
· 4 min read
How to move everything to a new computer without losing anything
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· 4 min read
Is your old PC still safe to use now that Windows 10 support has ended?
Windows 10 stopped receiving security updates in October 2025. Here is what that means in practice, how to check whether your PC can run Windows 11, and your options if it cannot.
· 4 min read
What to do with an old computer before you recycle, sell or give it away
An old computer holds years of passwords, tax returns and photos. Here is how to wipe it properly, and the sensible options for where it goes next.
Ready to talk?
Tell us what is going on, or what you would like to set up, and we will get back to you, usually within one business day.