Repair or Replace? How to Decide on an Ageing Computer in Canberra
A five-year-old computer is not automatically finished. Here is how we work out whether it is worth spending money on.
The rule of thumb we use
Spend money on a computer when the fix costs clearly less than the replacement, and the rest of the machine has life in it.
An SSD upgrade or a memory increase on an otherwise healthy five-year-old machine is usually excellent value — it is the single biggest speed difference available and costs a fraction of a new computer. A failing motherboard on the same machine is not.
We will tell you when something is not worth repairing. Charging you to fix a computer that will fail again in six months is not a good outcome for anyone.
Usually worth fixing
Slow but healthy
An SSD and more memory transform a machine that boots slowly and stalls under load.
Software rot
Startup clutter, failed updates and browser hijacks are labour, not hardware.
Failing battery
A swollen or dead laptop battery is a straightforward replacement.
Dead drive, good machine
Recover the data, fit a new drive, and it is effectively a new computer.
Common questions
Age matters less than what has failed. We look at the specific fault, what the machine is used for, and what a comparable replacement would cost.
Yes — including from a machine that will not start, provided the drive is readable.
Diagnosis is part of the $205 hourly rate, and if we cannot fix the problem you do not pay.
Book a Canberra technician
$205/hr on site, $125/hr remote, no call-out fee and no fix, no fee.
Book OnlineService scope: we diagnose hardware faults and handle batteries, software, data, networking and setup. Physical screen, keyboard, charging-port and hinge replacement we refer to a specialist. Pricing shown is our own published rate, current as at August 2026. Any parts are quoted separately for your approval.