Hardware
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Buy an SSD.
It is worth it for performance.
2 people, independently
Upgrade RAM in an old laptop if it has expandable slots, checking motherboard and CPU limits first.
It is a cheap upgrade that improves performance.
- RAM may be soldered and non-expandable.
- Must confirm the laptop has two RAM slots.
one person who lived it
Get a PSU with more power capacity than you currently need.
It saves money in the long run if you need to upgrade later, and keeps the supply within its efficiency sweet spot.
- If the supply is too far above demand, it becomes less efficient.
one person who lived it
If your internal WiFi card fails, replace it with a cheap USB WiFi adapter or a new internal card.
WiFi cards are inexpensive and can revive an old laptop's connectivity.
one person who lived it
Remove the PSU dust filter before moving a computer case to prevent damage.
The filter slides off easily and can cause the case to slip and fall if supported by it.
one person who lived it
Avoid buying laptops with soldered RAM if you plan to upgrade them later.
Soldered RAM is non-expandable, rendering the laptop useless if more memory is needed.
one person who lived it
Open the laptop casing to clean fans and heatsinks rather than blowing compressed air into vents.
Blowing air into vents forces dirt into new, hard-to-reach areas.
one person who lived it
Focus on CPU power above SSDs and RAM when buying a budget laptop; avoid Celeron or Pentium processors in favor of Core i5 or higher.
A laptop with fast storage but a weak CPU remains frustrating to use.
one person who lived it
Consider Chrome OS Flex or CloudReady for a simpler experience on old PCs.
3 people, independently
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Replace a cheap or failing power supply unit (PSU) to resolve erratic hardware issues.
Cheap PSUs send stray voltages that cause hard-to-trace software errors and can potentially damage other hardware.
one person who lived it
Use PCPartPicker to compare parts lists and final costs.
It is considered the best tool for making these comparisons.
one person who lived it
Purchase used laptops with older Core i5 processors rather than new budget laptops with Celerons.
Older i5 models offer better performance and can be found cheaper than new budget options.
one person who lived it
Avoid eating or drinking near your laptop to prevent liquid damage and debris accumulation.
Spilling liquids can cause the device to stop working permanently.
2 people, independently
Buy multiple cheap backup devices (like Kindle Fires) when they are heavily discounted.
Having a backup ensures continuity if the primary device breaks down.
one person who lived it
Appreciate laptops with uniform screw sizes for easier disassembly and repair.
You only need to buy one kind of screw for servicing.
one person who lived it
Back up all data before installing Linux.
The installation process may overwrite existing Windows data.
one person who lived it
Perform hardware upgrades yourself by following iFixit guides if you possess basic tools and can follow instructions.
The task requires only the ability to use a screwdriver and follow directions, similar to charging a phone.
one person who lived it
Choose enterprise-grade ThinkPads (T, X, W, or P series) over consumer models for superior durability and repairability.
Consumer models are often made of plastic and are less durable or repairable.
one person who lived it
Verify whether your laptop supports SATA or NVMe SSDs before purchasing an upgrade.
There are two distinct types of SSDs, and compatibility varies by device.
one person who lived it
Use Revo Uninstaller to remove leftover files after uninstalling programs.
It helps remove crap left behind by standard uninstallers.
- CCleaner had a security breach resulting in malware-infected installers in August and September 2017.
one person who lived it
Use LibreOffice as a free alternative to Microsoft Office, saving files in compatible Office formats to skip proprietary software licenses.
You save money by skipping proprietary software licenses that way too.
one person who lived it
Be prepared for troubleshooting and research when using Linux.
You may encounter difficulties not present in other operating systems, such as driver issues or stability problems.
one person who lived it
Exercise caution when partitioning drives during Linux installation to avoid damaging boot sectors.
Inexperienced users can accidentally kill boot sectors through improper partitioning.
one person who lived it
Back up files from old laptops immediately before attempting upgrades or disposal.
Data loss risks are unpredictable during hardware changes or disposal processes.
one person who lived it
Be cautious about upgrading to Windows 10 if it breaks wireless card drivers and reverting is difficult.
- One user reported being unable to revert drivers back to the Windows 7 version after upgrading, forcing use of ethernet.
one person who lived it
Convert an old laptop into a dedicated kitchen computer or media center to avoid worrying about dirt or spills.
Using a separate device for cooking allows you to interact with technology without fear of damaging a primary machine.
one person who lived it
Double-click .deb files in the file browser on modern Linux distributions to install packages via the GUI package manager.
The GUI package manager automatically collects required dependencies.
one person who lived it
Use Ubuntu to access extensive forum posts and documentation when searching for solutions.
Searching for your problem alongside 'Ubuntu' yields a large volume of helpful community resources.
one person who lived it