Introduction

Laptops have become essential for undertaking our daily duties. From work to entertainment, laptops can do it all. They can be our entertainment hub by helping us stream videos, play video games, browse the internet, and more.

The versatile nature of the laptops also means that it is often used in harsh environments and handled poorly. Such prolonged usage might lead to hardware failures. Such failures affect your daily routine and lead to unwanted stress as work is affected.

So, you could ask, “How do I know if my laptop has a hardware failure?” To answer that query, there are a few signs to understand whether your laptop will be having a hardware failure. We will be discussing these signs in this article to prevent failures before it happens.

Blue Screen of Death

The ‘Blue Screen of Death’ (BSOD) is given that name as it is often a precursor to hardware or software issues. It is the name given to the blue-background screen which is shown by the Windows operating system when it counters some major issues, such as hard disk failure or RAM errors, or driver failure.

While you may encounter one or two BSOD without any consequences, a repeated pop-up of this error is a warning of impending hardware failure. You should check the error message and note down the error code shown on the screen, which will help the troubleshooter to better understand the problem and resolve it quickly.

Unexpected Shutdown

Unexpected shutdowns might happen due to several reasons such as overheating, hardware failure, driver issues, and more. However, if it is happening multiple times, it is another definite sign of impending hardware failure. Since driver mismatch and overheating are often the main causes of unexpected shutdown, you should check whether the laptop is becoming unexpectedly hot under regular usage.

You can also check if the issue is happening after a recent update or hardware install and revert the changes to check whether the issue is resolved. If the issue keeps on repeating, you should get your laptop checked by an authorized hardware technician, preferably one appointed by the laptop manufacturer.

Battery Not Charging

If the battery is not charging, it could be due to various reasons. However, the main reason could be that the battery has simply died. An average laptop battery lasts for around two to four years, however, the mileage may vary depending on its usage. To check whether the issue is with the battery, simply remove it (if possible), attach the charging cable and try starting the laptop. If the laptop boots up normally, it is evident that the issue was with the battery and you should get it replaced.

Alternatively, if the laptop doesn’t boot up, it could be an issue with the charger. For further diagnosis, you will have to take your laptop to its service centre. They will be able to diagnose the system and its charger thoroughly and recommend the ideal solution.

Slow System

There are many causes for a slow system, however, a major issue is the lack of maintenance. While the latest Windows operating systems have multiple self-maintenance options available, there are still chances of hardware failure. Hence, if your laptop is running slow, you should try some common maintenance tasks.

The first step in undertaking maintenance is to optimize your hard disk. You should also keep all of your software updated including your operating system. Additionally, you should use a program like the Microsoft PC Manager to get rid of almost all junk and cache files. If your system is still slow after undertaking all these tasks, you should get it checked with an authorized technician.

Hot Laptop

Being electronic devices, laptops are bound to get warm during normal day-to-day usage. Hence, it is advisable to use your laptop on a hard surface, to ensure that there is adequate airflow around it. Using it on a soft surface like a bed or your lap could block its vents, making it very hot.

However, if the laptop is still running hot, you should stop all programs and put the laptop in ‘High Performance’ mode for a few minutes before switching to ‘Power Saver’ mode. The high-performance mode will switch on the fans and cool it down, while switching to a battery saver will remove all extra background processes, helping it cool down faster. If your laptop does not cool down after enabling these settings, you should get it checked.

Broken Display

Broken displays are a nightmare for the end user as there is no troubleshooting you can undertake by yourself. Handling broken displays requires the exact knowledge of the system’s internal organization and hence, it is best left to professionals. By opening their laptop, an inexperienced person would not only risk damaging their laptop further but also injuring themselves due to the sharp broken glass.

Since repairing the broken or cracked screen requires you to open the laptop, it is recommended that you take it to the official service centre who would have the required knowledge to handle the fragile parts of the laptop. They would also be able to salvage any remaining parts such as the hard disk to ensure that you at least get your data out of the laptop.

Keyboard Freeze

Unresponsive keyboards or keyboard freezes are another common issues found in laptops. It could be either due to small dust particles inside the laptop or due to a probable hardware failure. If you encounter this issue, check whether the keyboard is on as some older laptops had the option to disable the keyboard. You can also check whether the ‘Num Lock’ key is on if there is an issue specifically with the keys on the number pad.

You should also ensure that the laptop is dirt free by blowing a can of compressed air onto the keyboard gaps and blowing away the dust and dirt below the keyboard deck. If the issue persists, it could be another case of hardware failure, which will require the assistance of a professional.

Conclusion

Hardware failures are a part of owning a laptop. Hence, if you encounter any of the hardware issues mentioned in this article, try out the initial diagnosis and if the issue persists, get your laptop checked by a professional.