Why Are Laptop Repairs More Difficult?

By Jeremy A Keene

Anyone knowledgeable enough about computers would tell you that laptop repairs are much more challenging and time-consuming than the corresponding repair procedures for a desktop machine. Which can definitely sound discouraging if you've got a laptop that's suffered some damage and needs to be repaired. Why does it work like that though, and what is it that makes laptops so much more challenging to repair than desktops?

It's all about their architecture - as well as the way their devices work and are manufactured. The first problem is the dismantling process - taking apart a regular desktop computer is easy and straightforward, you just lift the cover of the box and the internals are exposed to you, ready to have you working on them. All the devices and components are conveniently laid out in front of you, making it easy to reach what you need and modify the parts that bother you. A laptop, on the other hand, has to be opened up in a very specific way - this is different for each manufacturer and model, so you can't simply know what you have to do to get yours opened up - you need to be familiar with all the unique models there are and their intricate differences in their designs.

Once you've managed to expose the laptop's internals, it gets even trickier - while a desktop computer is built pretty much like a LEGO toy, with each part coming in its own place and being detachable afterwards, a laptop is made in a more rigid way. Laptop repairs are dependent on what parts have broken down - sometimes it may turn out that it's not possible to simply replace them. For example, many laptops have their video cards not as a discrete separate device, but rather as part of the motherboard. This means that you can't simply take out the video card and replace it, you need to outright replace the motherboard itself - and with it you'll also find yourself taking out the sound card, network adapter and many other components. In the end, you may find that it costs less to buy a new laptop than to pay for a repair.

Laptop repairs are especially problematic when the display is concerned - to put it simply, having to replace that is a nightmare with most models, and you're going to get a serious sigh of frustration from any repair shop you take your machine to, no matter how much you're ready to pay. Because in most cases it won't be about the money for those people, it'll be about the hard labor involved in getting your job done.

Don't lose hope from all this though - laptop repairs are still possible given the right expertise and set of tools, so if you ever have a problem with your machine, don't be quick to start looking for a new one - instead, start looking around for the best deals on laptop repairs in your area, and comparing what different repair shops can offer you.
About this Author