Purchasing a Used Toughbook-What to Look For

When you find yourself in a need of a new laptop, don’t overlook refurbished versions. Buying refurbished allows you to purchase a computer with more features thanks to the reduced price. Once you have determined the laptop has the specifications you are looking for, there are certain items you need to check to guarantee the device will work as it should. Here are some areas to pay close attention to for the best results.

When you go to test a refurbished laptop, head over to the Windows desktop and hold down the right mouse button. When the drop down menu appears, select properties and choose the desktop tab when it appears. Inside the background window options, choose none to turn the desktop to a solid blue color. Now examine the screen carefully to see if there are any red or black pixels. If there are, you have dead spots on the screen. One or two dead spots are okay, but if you see more than that, you need to find another device to purchase.

Take the time to check the hard drive. Many are intimidated when it comes to doing this, but it’s not that hard. Once the laptop starts, you’ll want to make sure it boots. When it does, run the Scandisk utility to see if any errors are returned. If they aren’t, the hard disk is in good working order. Check the volume of the speakers to see if you can hear clearly and, if the device has a webcam, see if it is operating correctly. The same is true of your CD-Rom or DVD player. If the device doesn’t come with movie software, check the DVD files in Window Explorer.

Be sure the battery is in good working shape. Plug the device in and see if the battery shows 100 percent. If it does, unplug the cord and see if the laptop continues to run. Wait 15 minutes and see how much battery power is left. It should have a minimum of 75 percent or you may have to replace the battery in a short period of time.

Taking these steps ensures you get a laptop that is in good working condition. Be sure tovisit toughbookdepot.com to see the wide selection of devices available. You are sure to find one that meets your needs and your budget.