Let’s face it: in today’s day and age, accidents still happen. Some of them just happen to be more stressful than others, like accidentally dropping your laptop. While it may seem like the end of the world, don’t fret: in some cases, minor repairs will make things okay again!
Yes, you read that right: in some cases, you can even get it fixed yourself. Of course, there will be points where professional help is needed! Factors that affect a laptop post-drop include:
- The height from which it was dropped
- The laptop’s model
- The natural of the fall
Here’s what to do after you accidentally drop your laptop:
First Things First: Check the Exterior
When your laptop falls, pick it up and inspect the exterior, not the case you carry your laptop in. A cracked or broken exterior might indicate that the hard drive or other internal hardware has gotten seriously damaged. Sometimes, the exterior just has cosmetic issues; those can be left as is unless a dent or chip is really stressful.
Look out for breaks, bends and cracks as well!
Take A Close Look At the Laptop Screen
Sometimes, a laptop will work fine or need a whole new screen. If the screen incurred damage during the fall, that has to be addressed immediately. A broken or damaged laptop screen can come about in a number of ways:
- Black lines on the screen
- Black screen
- Black spots on the screen
- Blue screen
- Display problems
- Half white or black screen
A professional computer technician needs to be on hand for this kind of damage. When damage is particularly extensive, the whole screen may need replacement.
That said, some screen issues can be fixed at home, like a flickering screen. It can indicate a laptop screen not working properly. A good way to test it is through restarting your laptop; watch if the flickering starts right away. When the flickering is instant, a screen replacement is in order. When it starts after the appearance of your laptop’s logo, reinstalling and updating display drivers should do the trick. Check in on your refresh rate as well.
Boot Your System
When your computer boots, it boots through its solid-state drive (SSD) or hard drive. If your laptop is dropped and it lands on the hard drive area, the hard drive may be ejected or damaged and will then prevent the operating system from booting. If you have tried everything to get your computer to boot and it continues to do so, it is likely that the hard drive was ejected or damaged during the fall and should be replaced.
Keep an Ear Out for Unusual Noises
Manufacturers often have a troubleshooting section on their websites to help users with problems. If you hear strange beeping after booting your computer, check with your computer’s manufacturer as the beeping might have a specific meaning.
Buzzing and clicking will likely indicate the need for a full-on hard drive replacement.
Wrapping up: what to do after you Drop Your Laptop
Accidentally dropping a laptop can seem like the end, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Some repairs can be so minor they can be done at home; others will need a professional. The first step is to check the exterior, followed by taking a close look at the laptop screen and keeping an ear out for strange noises.
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