Laptop faults we see, and how we handle them
Laptops take more knocks than desktops. They get carried, dropped, charged on the couch and used over coffee. Most problems fall into a few groups: a damaged display, a worn battery, a loose USB-C or barrel charging port, keys or a trackpad that stopped responding, a cracked hinge mount, or liquid that has reached the board. Because the parts are packed tightly, one fault can look like another, so a laptop that refuses to charge might need a port, a battery or just a new adapter.
We test before we replace anything. That means checking the adapter with a multimeter, reading battery wear and cycle count, and confirming a dim screen is the panel rather than the cable or backlight. You then get a written quote with the exact part. As an independent shop, we work on most makes, from student Chromebooks and work laptops to gaming machines with high-refresh screens. If the laptop won’t boot and your files matter, we can pull them off first through our data recovery service.
What we repair
- Laptop screen replacement Broken glass, dark or flickering displays and screens with lines, replaced with a new panel matched to your model’s resolution, refresh rate, connector and touch support.
- Worn or swollen batteries New batteries for short runtimes, sudden shutdowns or swelling that lifts the keyboard or trackpad.
- Charging ports and DC jacks USB-C and barrel-style ports repaired or replaced once we have ruled out the adapter and the battery.
- Keys and touchpads Dead or sticky keys and unresponsive trackpads fixed, including models where the keyboard is riveted into the palm rest.
- Hinge and lid damage Snapped hinge mounts, split lids and loose bezels repaired so the lid opens and closes without flexing the display.
- Spills and liquid exposure Boards opened, cleaned of residue and checked for corrosion, with an honest read on whether a repair will hold.
- Heat and noisy fans Dust cleared from fans and heatsinks, thermal paste renewed and temperatures checked under load.
- Speed upgrades NVMe or SATA SSD and memory upgrades where the board allows, with Windows and your files carried across.
Prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis and written quote | Free |
| New laptop screen fitted | From $99 + parts |
| Keyboard replacement | From $99 + parts |
| Laptop battery | From $49 + battery |
| Charging port or DC jack | From $59 |
| SSD upgrade with file transfer | From $89 + SSD |
| Liquid damage clean and assessment | $129 |
| Hinges, board faults and other repairs | Quoted after diagnostic |
Prices are in CAD and confirmed in your written quote before any work begins. 90-day workmanship warranty on every repair, with parts covered by their manufacturer’s warranty.
Common questions
Can a cracked laptop screen be replaced, or do I need a new laptop?
In most cases the screen can be replaced on its own. We read the panel’s part number so the replacement matches the resolution, refresh rate, connector and touch layer. We fit OEM-equivalent panels by default, or an original panel when you ask and one is available, and your quote names the exact panel. On some thin laptops the screen is bonded into the lid, so the whole lid assembly is replaced, and we tell you that upfront.
My laptop battery is swollen. Is it safe to keep using?
No. A swollen lithium-ion battery can split or overheat, and the pressure often cracks trackpads and lifts keyboards. Stop charging it, shut the laptop down and keep it on a hard surface away from anything flammable. Drop it off and we’ll remove the battery safely and fit a replacement matched to your model.
Should I turn my laptop back on after a spill to check it still works?
Please don’t. Power running through a wet board is what turns a cleanable spill into a dead motherboard. Unplug it, hold the power button until it switches off, tip out what you can and leave it open in a tent shape. Skip the hair dryer and the bag of rice. Bring it in quickly, because sugary or salty drinks start corroding the board soon after the spill.
My laptop says “plugged in, not charging”. What does that mean?
Windows shows that message when power is reaching the laptop but the battery isn’t accepting a charge. It can be a worn battery, a battery-care setting that caps charging, an underpowered USB-C adapter or a fault in the charging circuit. We check the settings and the battery health report first, then test the hardware, so you aren’t sold a battery you don’t need.
Can I add more memory or a bigger SSD to my laptop?
Often, yes, but the answer is model-specific. Many laptops have a swappable M.2 slot for an NVMe drive, while memory is increasingly soldered to the board, especially on thin models. Send us the model number and we’ll tell you what can be upgraded, and whether it’s worth it, before you book.