What Factors Contribute to Laptop Failures?

Laptops are indispensable tools in our daily lives, from work to entertainment. However, despite their utility, they are prone to failures. It hurts the most when the laptop fails to work when important things are going on, and we need a laptop to complete our job.

Although, just like human, computer hardware is also subject to failure and there are several factors that contribute to laptop failures; some of them can be eliminated.

Understanding the factors that contribute to laptop failures can help users prevent them and extend the lifespan of their devices. This blog article focuses into the common causes of laptop failures, offering detailed insights and with real-life examples.

Let’s face the common ones and learn ways to eliminate them, like an expert.

1. Physical damage.

Physical damage is the very common one and the reason why most laptop fails. Dropping, impacts, liquid spill, condensation, and mishandling can lead to physical damage.

1.1. Dropping and impact:

One of the most common causes of laptop failure is physical damage from dropping or impact. A single drop can lead to a cracked screen, damaged internal components, or a malfunctioning hard drive, system memory, or similar attached peripherals.

Many modern day laptops are equipped with latest SSD/NVMe, onboard soldered RAM minimizing the dropping or impact damage. But the screen is still a sensitive thing.

Example: Jane, a graphic designer, accidentally knocked her laptop off her desk. The fall resulted in a shattered screen and a damaged hard drive, causing her to lose several hours of work. Despite using a protective case, the impact was severe enough to cause more significant damage. If she has accidental insurance, she can apply for a free repair.

1.2. Liquid spills:

Spilling liquids on a laptop can cause short circuits, corrosion, and other damage to the internal components. Even small amounts of liquid can be detrimental.

Example: John, a college student, spilled coffee on his laptop while studying in a café. The liquid seeped into the keyboard and motherboard, rendering the laptop unusable. Despite immediate efforts to dry it out, the damage was irreversible, and he had to replace the laptop. Many accidental insurance plans cover liquid spill damage.

Laptop condensation is also considered in liquid damage, as it kills the motherboard due to moisture accumulation inside the laptop components. It happens the most when you move your laptop between moisture region to dry region often and vice versa.

You can overcome this issue in just few bucks by using 2-3 silica gel packets. If you do not want to buy it then simply store it from new buys like shoes, bags, etc. item.

I’ll recommend putting 2-3 silicon gel packets inside the laptop bag or case where you keep the laptop after use; it will absorb the moisture around the laptop when placed in bad or case. I, too, tried this and believe me it is working all the time.

2. Overheating.

Overheating is also a common issue, often resulting from blocked air vents, too much dust accumulation, or failing cooling systems. Prolonged overheating can damage the motherboard, battery, and other critical components.

Laptops run slow, it feels sluggish when need some performance; when it fails to cool down itself, and shut down automatically to prevent the system from killing itself.

Example: Sarah, a software developer, noticed her laptop frequently shutting down its own unexpectedly. After investigation, she found that the cooling fan was clogged with dust and ventilation was jammed with dust layers. Cleaning the fan and using a cooling pad helped reduce the overheating, but the repeated heat exposure had already caused some damage to the internal components and could have reduced the overall lifecycle.

Interesting reads on laptop overheating issues:

3. Hardware failures.

In laptop computers, there are much hardware failure cause, but the most common ones are traditional storage drive (HDD) and battery. Rest of the hardware like screen, keyboard, etc. are not that common and can be fixed with minimal fees.

3.1. Hard drive failure:

Hard drives, especially traditional HDDs, are prone to failure due to their moving parts. Failures can result from physical shocks, wear and tear, or manufacturing defects.

Example: Michael, a photographer, experienced a hard drive failure on his laptop, losing a significant portion of his portfolio. Regular backups to an external drive or cloud storage could have mitigated the impact of this failure. If your laptop contains very important data, then follow this article about the best strategies to backup your data.

3.2. Battery degradation:

Laptop batteries degrade over time, losing their ability to hold a charge. Factors such as high usage, extreme temperatures, and improper charging habits accelerate this process.

Example: Emily, a frequent traveler, noticed her laptop battery draining quickly after just a year of use. She often left her laptop plugged in for extended periods, which contributed to the battery’s rapid degradation. Replacing the battery and adopting better charging habits helped prolong the battery life of her new laptop.

Interesting reads on laptop’s battery life:

4. Software issues.

4.1. Malware, spyware, and viruses:

Malware, spyware, and viruses can corrupt files, steal data, and even cause hardware damage. Infected laptops often slow down, crash, or become completely unresponsive and the only solution to fix it by removing malware, spyware, and viruses.

For Windows users, I recommend Windows Defender as a free and working solution which is preinstalled but disabled due to another paid antivirus program is installed.

Example: Tom, a small business owner, clicked on a malicious email attachment that infected his laptop with ransomware. The malware encrypted his files, demanding payment for their release. Tom had to pay a significant amount to regain access to his data, highlighting the importance of robust antivirus software and regular backups.

4.2. Operating System (OS) corruption:

Corrupted operating system files can prevent a laptop from booting or cause frequent crashes. This corruption can result from improper shutdowns, software conflicts, or failed updates. If you have a backup, simply restore it to last working state, or reinstalled the system from scratch and then restore the important backup files.

Example: Laura, a journalist, experienced repeated crashes on her laptop after a failed operating system update. The corruption required a complete system reinstall, causing her to lose important files and settings.

I have often seen this issue more with Windows and almost none with Linux and macOS. So Windows users have a copy of fresh Windows installer handy with you for such time.

5. Manufacturing defects.

Sometimes, laptops have inherent defects due to manufacturing errors. Such defects can lead to premature failures of various components such as the motherboard, system memory, or display. If under warranty, then get it fixed immediately.

Example: David, an architect, bought a high-end laptop that started experiencing screen flickering and random shutdowns within a few months. After multiple visits to the service center, it was determined that the laptop had a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer eventually replaced the laptop or fix the defected components under warranty.

Preventive measures:

To mitigate the risk of laptop failures, users can take several preventive measures:

Use protective gear: Invest in sturdy cases, screen protectors, and keyboard covers.
Regular maintenance: Clean the cooling vents and fans regularly to stop overheating. If you cannot do this; get it done by service center, it doesn’t cost much.
Backup data: Regularly back up important data to external drives or cloud storage.
Use antivirus software: Install and update reliable antivirus software to protect against malware. By default, Windows has Windows Defender, it is more than we need.
Handle with care: Avoid exposing laptops to extreme temperatures, physical shocks, and liquids. Do not work under direct sunlight and avoid excessive heat.
Proper Charging Habits: Unplug the charger once the battery is fully charged, and avoid leaving the laptop plugged in for extended periods. If you ever need to keep the laptop plugged in, always limit the charge to 80% max for long better life. I personally use Lenovo laptops these days and Lenovo Vantage software have this feature.

Conclusion.

Understanding the factors that contribute to laptop failures can help users take proactive steps to prevent them. By being mindful of physical handling, maintaining the hardware, safeguarding against software threats, and adopting good usage habits, users can extend the lifespan of their laptops and ensure they remain reliable tools in their daily lives.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, these insights and examples underscore the importance of care and regular maintenance.

Simply, remember to handle your laptop with care, keep it clean, and perform regular maintenance to minimize the risk of failures! 😊👍