5 tips to know when buying second hand laptop

Avoid buying laptops that have less than 50% charging capacity

Tech Desk - Jul 19, 2024

An undated image of a laptop. — Unsplash

Individuals, whether students or professionals, who need a laptop but cannot afford to buy a brand new one, often opt to buy a second-hand laptop from the market at an affordable price.

However, cases of people being scammed and wasting their money on faulty second-hand products are reported frequently. To avoid such scams, here are some essential tips to keep in mind before finalising your decision to buy a particular laptop.

5 tips to know when buying second hand laptop

Check battery health

The first thing you should check when buying a second-hand laptop is the battery health. Type C:\Users\[name]>powercfg \batteryreport and press enter. The battery report will appear; if the charge capacity is less than 50%, it is better to avoid buying such a laptop.

Check RAM and hard disk

Use Windows Memory Diagnostic to check whether the RAM and Hard Disk of the laptop are in good condition. Also, install and run CrystalDiskInfo to see if there are any issues with the hard disk.

Check laptop screen

Apply a green or white wallpaper to the laptop screen to check for any dead pixels.

Keys and ports

Ensure that all the keyboard keys and ports of the laptop are functioning properly.

Overheating test

Install HWMONITOR on the laptop and run a heavy game or software to check if the laptop overheats.

By following these tips, you can make a more informed decision and avoid common pitfalls when buying a second-hand laptop.