Find out if there is a laptop. What you need to know when buying a used laptop

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What could be scary about a creaking laptop hinge? For the time beingthe author of this articlethe unpleasant sound was simply annoying. But over time, it was discovered that the serviceable hinges themselves were tightened so tightly that the plastic of the case at the attachment point simply could not stand it and burst. Dancing with a tambourine and epoxy resin helped restore the mount. But the habit of listening to all suspicious sounds in the building seems to have formed forever. However, you need to not only listen to the body, but also look carefully and also touch it.

First, try opening the laptop lid with one hand. If the other half quickly reaches for the lid, it means that the hinges are not adjusted. Firstly, it is not very convenient, and secondly, there is reason to worry about the integrity of the plastic. Unfortunately, this happens all the time, so be critical of this moment and the accompanying sounds.

Then check the housing cover for flex. After this, inspect the surface of the screen for traces of buttons. They will certainly be imprinted on the display if the matrix touches the keyboard under pressure. Even if there are no traces, still check how “walking” the outer side of the laptop cover is. Even if you carry your laptop in a bag or case, excessive pressure can damage the matrix.

Gently press down on the laptop lid. Ideally, it should not bend at all. If there is slight movement, most likely the screen will touch the buttons when closed. Pressure can cause the display to break.

Check the safety of all connectors externally and try connecting different devices to each: monitors in VGA, DVI, HDMI, USB flash drives, etc.

Traces of dried or poorly wiped liquid are a bad sign. It is unknown how much got inside the case and how it will affect the work. We also recommend checking each button by pressing for sticking or other defects.

Screen

In addition to the marks from the keyboard, which we wrote about above, the laptop screen should be checked for dead pixels. This is done using a pair of gradient fill images. It is recommended to carry out the inspection in a slightly darkened room. For special software, you will need the TFT Test or Nokia test program (see the “Useful programs” box).

One of the most important stages of testing is identifying non-working pixels that reproduce color incorrectly or do not reproduce it at all. A pixel consists of contacts of three colors: red, green and blue. If one of them fails, the output color is distorted. In general, there are three types of faulty pixels: dead, hot, and dependent. All of them can be checked by applying fill in different colors. Such fills are available in programs TFT Test and Nokia test.

A dead pixel shows no color at all and appears as a black dot, which is best seen in a single-color image. A hot pixel does not correctly recognize the set temperature and displays the wrong color, this can be seen by switching several different colors and revealing dots of a different color. Dependent pixels appear when multiple colors are displayed on the screen, visible when displaying a grid or “checkerboard” in the form of colored dots. They are immediately visible in such images, since they stand out from the geometry of the grid (about the permissible number of non-working pixels, see the box “How many non-working pixels can there be”).

Another common problem is burning of flowers. In this case, the colors are too contrasting and have almost no halftones. To check this possible defect, run gradient fills on the screen (a picture of the transition from one color to another). Take a quick look at the colors. Evaluate how smooth and even the transitions are. If there are obvious stripes, then the monitor has problems with color rendering.

Caption: In this image you can see hot pixels that appear due to the failure of one of the color contacts

Caption: This image reveals another type of dead pixels - dependent ones; the nature of their appearance is slightly different, but they look similar to hot pixels.

When burning colors, the transitions between different colors are sharp and may look like stripes

HDD

You can check your hard drive in several ways. If the laptop does not have an OS installed, enter the BIOS by pressing the function keys or . To make sure that the hard drive is present and working, open the list of installed equipment and find there the item with the manufacturer’s name and device type.

If the operating system is installed, then the actual loading of the OS itself is the first sign that the hard drive is most likely working. Next you will need a standard Windows utility CHKDSK or SCANDISK(hard disk properties - “Service” tab). On Linux, its equivalent is the badblocks utility. Such a utility will recognize and correct, if possible, system errors and disk sectors, that is, bad sectors.

The bad sector is a bad (unreadable or broken), unreliable sector of the disk, marked as such in the file system structure. To detect them, we recommend using the HDD-regenerator program, which can also identify and even fix bad sectors.

The HDD-regenerator program will help identify damaged disk sectors not only from the installed OS, but also from a bootable flash drive

Most often, bad sectors appear from mechanical damage, for example, due to a laptop falling. It is difficult to say about the maximum permissible number of bad sections of a disk, since it varies among different manufacturers. A critical amount manifests itself in a decrease in free space on the hard drive, since all backup clusters are used and the workspace is used.

Cooling

Another stumbling block for a work laptop is its cooler and cooling system. This point is very important, since poorly functioning cooling can lead to overheating and failure. Most often this occurs due to clogged ventilation.

If it is not possible to disassemble the laptop case, then while the laptop is running in idle mode, listen to the volume of the fan. If the cooler hums too loudly, it means it is clogged. Confirmation of clogging may be dust in the ventilation cracks on the bottom of the laptop. It is better not to buy such a laptop, since it is not always possible to get to the fan and clean it. An increase in noise can only occur when a game is running on the laptop or the system is intensively processing some data.

Battery

The key point in laptops is their temporary independence from electricity. When purchasing a laptop, always check its battery life. The battery is one of the most expensive items to replace, so check the manufacturer's website for the stated operating hours. If the laptop lasts 10-15% less time than stated, this is acceptable. If the operating time is much less, then the battery is worn out and the laptop will turn into a desktop computer dependent on the outlet.

How many dead pixels can there be?

The standard for dead pixels is:There are four monitor quality classes, for each of which a certain number of non-working pixels per million is allowed. The number of pixels on the matrix is calculated by multiplying the digits of its resolution - width by height.

Class 1: 0 defective pixels per million.
Class 2: up to 2 defects of types 1 and 2 or up to 5 defects of type 3 per million.
Class 3: up to 5 type 1 defective pixels; up to 15 - type 2; up to 50 defective subpixels per million.
Class 4: Up to 150 dead pixels per million.

Among mass-produced LCD panels, there are practically no 4th class products. The standard defines four types of defective pixels:

Type 1: Constantly lit pixels.
Type 2: permanently off pixels.
Type 3: Pixels with other defects, including defects in subpixels (the RGB cells that make up a pixel), that is, red, green, or blue that are constantly on.
Type 4 (group of defective pixels): several defective pixels in a 5x5 square.

Useful programs :

TFTTest And Nokiatest- programs for checking the monitor matrix. They both have the necessary set of fills and gradients to check the operation of the pixels on the monitor matrix.

HDDRegenerator1.61 - the program identifies and corrects bad disk sectors not only from the installed OS, but also from a bootable flash drive.

AtriseLutcurve And AdobeGamma- programs for screen calibration.

EVEREST Ultimate Edition 5.50 - shows the installed hardware on the laptop: model of hard drive, RAM, processor, video adapter, etc.

HWMonitor 1.19 - displays the temperature at which the processor and video card are operating in real time. Also shows a list of installed equipment.

Dmitry Tabakov

In order to measure computer performance using tests, it is not necessary to download any third-party applications and utilities.

It is enough to use the resources already built into the operating system.

Although to obtain more detailed information the user will have to find a suitable program.

Based on the test results, you can draw conclusions about which part of your PC or laptop requires replacement sooner than others - and sometimes you can simply understand the need to buy a new computer.

The need to perform a check

Computer speed testing is available to any user. The test does not require any specialized knowledge or experience with specific versions of Windows OS. And the process itself is unlikely to require spending more than an hour.

Reasons why you should use the built-in utility or third-party application refers to:

Unreasonable slowdown of the computer. Moreover, not necessarily the old one - the check is needed to identify problems with new PCs. For example, the minimum results and indicators of a good video card indicate incorrectly installed drivers;
checking the device when selecting several similar configurations in a computer store. This is usually done before buying laptops - running a test on 2-3 devices with almost identical parameters helps to find out which one is better suited to the buyer;

the need to compare the capabilities of various components of a gradually modernized computer. So, if the HDD has the lowest performance value, then it should be replaced first (for example, with an SSD).

According to the results of testing, which revealed the speed at which the computer performs various tasks, you can detect problems with drivers and incompatibility of installed devices. And sometimes even poorly functioning and broken parts - for this, however, you will need more functional utilities than those built into Windows by default. Standardized tests reveal minimal information.

System check

You can check the performance of individual computer components using the built-in capabilities of the Windows operating system. Their operating principle and information content are approximately the same for all versions of the Microsoft platform. And the differences lie only in the method of launching and reading information.

Windows Vista, 7 and 8

For versions 7 and 8 of the platform, as well as Windows Vista, the performance counter of computer elements can be found in the list of basic information about the operating system. To display them on the screen, just right-click on the “My Computer” icon and select properties.

If testing has already been carried out, information about its results will be available immediately. If you are running the test for the first time, you will have to run it by going to the performance test menu.

The maximum score that Windows 7 and 8 can achieve is 7.9. You should think about the need to replace parts if at least one of the indicators is below 4. For a gamer, values above 6 are more suitable. For Windows Vista, the best indicator is 5.9, and the “critical” indicator is about 3.

Important: To speed up performance calculations, you should turn off almost all programs during the test. When testing a laptop, it is advisable to plug it into the network - the process significantly consumes battery power.

Windows 8.1 and 10

For more modern operating systems, finding information about computer performance and starting to calculate it is no longer so easy. To run a utility that evaluates system parameters, you should do the following:

1Go to operating system command line(cmd via menu "Run" caused by pressing keys simultaneously Win + R);

2Enable evaluation process, leading the team winsat formal –restart clean;

3Wait for the job to complete;

4Go to folder Performance\WinSAT\DataStore located in the Windows system directory on the computer’s system drive;

5Find and open the file in a text editor "Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml".

Among the multitude of text, the user must find the WinSPR block, where approximately the same data is located that is displayed on the screen of Windows 7 and 8 systems - only in a different form.

Yes, under the name SystemScore the general index calculated from the minimum value is hidden, and MemoryScore, CpuScore And GraphicsScore indicate the memory, processor and graphics card indicators, respectively. GamingScore And DiskScore– performance for gaming and for reading/writing the hard drive.

The maximum value for Windows 10 and version 8.1 is 9.9. This means that the owner of an office computer can still afford to have a system with numbers less than 6, but for full operation of a PC and laptop it must reach at least 7. And for a gaming device - at least 8.

Universal method

There is a method that is the same for any operating system. It consists of launching the task manager after pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys. A similar effect can be achieved by right-clicking on the taskbar - there you can find an item that launches the same utility.

You will be able to see several graphs on the screen - for the processor (for each thread separately) and RAM. For more detailed information, go to the “Resource Monitor” menu.

Using this information, you can determine how heavily loaded individual PC components are. First of all, this can be done by the loading percentage, secondly - by the color of the line ( green means normal operation of the component, yellow– moderate, red– need to replace the component).

Third party programs

Using third-party applications, checking your computer's performance is even easier.

Some of them are paid or shareware (that is, they require payment after the trial period ends or to increase functionality).

However, these applications conduct more detailed testing - and often provide a lot of other information useful to the user.

1. AIDA64

AIDA64 includes tests for memory, cache, HDDs, SSDs and flash drives. And when testing a processor, 32 threads can be checked at once. Among all these advantages, there is also a small drawback - you can use the program for free only during the “trial period” of 30 days. And then you have to either switch to another application, or pay 2265 rubles. for a license.

2. SiSoftware Sandra Lite

3.3DMark

4.PCMark 10

The application allows you not only to test the operation of computer components, but also to save test results for future use. The only drawback of the application is the relatively high cost. You will have to pay $30 for it.

5. CINEBENCH

The test images consist of 300 thousand polygonal images that add up to more than 2000 objects. And the results are given in the form PTS indicator - the higher it is, the more powerful the computer. The program is distributed free of charge, which makes it easy to find and download it on the Internet.

6. ExperienceIndexOK

Information is displayed on the screen in points. The maximum number is 9.9, as for the latest versions of Windows. This is exactly what ExperienceIndexOK is designed for. It is much easier to use such a program than to enter commands and search for files with results in the system directory.

7.CrystalDiskMark

To test a disk, select the disk and set the test parameters. That is, the number of runs and file sizes that will be used for diagnostics. After a few minutes, information about the average read and write speed for the HDD will appear on the screen.

8. PC Benchmark

Having received the test results, the program offers to optimize the system. And after improving performance, a page opens in the browser where you can compare the performance of your PC with other systems. On the same page you can check whether your computer can run some modern games.

9. Metro Experience Index

10.PassMark PerformanceTest

conclusions

Using different methods to test your computer's performance allows you to check how your system is performing. And, if necessary, compare the speed of individual elements with the performance of other models. For a preliminary assessment, you can conduct such a test using built-in utilities. Although it is much more convenient to download special applications for this - especially since among them you can find several that are quite functional and free.

Video:

Dear friends, checking a laptop when purchasing is a must, otherwise you will simply buy a low-quality product. And quality in this context means that the device should suit you in every sense. That is, you can take the perfect laptop, but it turns out that it is very weak for you, and you only needed to add two or three thousand and take a better device. This means that you need to look not only at the condition of the device, but also its technical characteristics and operation in real conditions. So, how do you check a laptop when buying it in a store?

Appearance and kit

Ask the seller to show you the device. It often happens that the store does not show the device until it is received after payment. Of course, you can buy it and look at it at the merchandise stand, but why take on additional adventures for yourself? If you can't inspect the laptop you're about to buy, then what are we even talking about?
So, if you were given a product, then we check that there are no dents, scratches, or any other signs of a defect on it. This is only allowed if the store warns the buyer. How he does it? Surely you have seen discounted products that have some problems, due to which you receive a certain discount. That is, if a laptop is discounted due to external damage, then you cannot blame the seller for the fact that there are scratches or dents on the case. But you should understand that it is best not to take such devices.

Often in stores there is a sample of the product on display. That is, this model is intended for the user to see how the device works. And then at the checkout they will give you a completely new device that has never even been opened. Now we are back to the issue of you not being able to look at the laptop that they actually give you at the end. But it’s worth remembering that most products come with a warranty, which we’ll talk about separately at the end. That is, I would like to say that you should be wary only if there is no display sample.
A display sample allows you to demonstrate the operation of the device. And since you receive a brand new laptop at delivery, you don’t have to worry about its safety. But it is highly recommended to check its appearance and kit on site together with the seller. If you come home and find that there is no charger included (after unpacking, of course), then no one will believe you and you will be left with nothing.
What should be included? Undoubtedly, the laptop itself, the user manual, the charger. It is worth noting that there may be additional attributes there, but if the main ones are not there, then you can safely return the product right on the spot. There are no legal grounds for the store not to take your device back.

Laptop working

Testing a laptop before purchasing means seeing it in action. Again, the display sample we talked about earlier will come to your aid. If this is not the case, then they will not bring it to you from the warehouse for testing. You will get a “pig in a poke”. It is also worth noting a very important point: all these checks should definitely be done with the final product that will be handed out to you when you pick up the goods.
It is advisable to watch the process of turning the device on and off. Salespeople at good stores will be happy to help you complete the check.
To test the operation of the keyboard, go to any text editor (preferably Microsoft Office Word) and press absolutely all the keys one by one. It often happens that there is a certain defect in a particular model, so you should not detract from any of the verification stages. For example, X-series laptops from XYZ manufacturer have the X key not working because the factory forgot to do something. We hope the meaning is clear.

Next, without any doubt, it's worth checking the touchpad. This is the touchpad located below the keyboard. It should simulate pressing the left and right mouse buttons and move the cursor around the work area. Some laptops may also have a number of features, such as multi-touch. That is, you can change the scale of images, quickly switch between tabs, and so on.
Look carefully at the laptop screen: there should be normal color reproduction, there should be no dead pixels. But even if there are broken pixels on the display sample, this does not mean that the same product will be waiting for you at the delivery counter.
If possible, check the ports and inputs on the laptop to ensure they are all working. You can take flash drives or other devices with you for testing.

Laptops without OS

So, how to check a laptop without an OS when purchasing? This is much more difficult to do than with the OS (operating system) installed, since you won't be able to test the keyboard, camera, and other services. But what to do then? It is recommended to simply run it and look at the following:

At startup, at least some image should appear.
Let's look at the operation of the light bulbs on the laptop case.
If, when you start, instead of a picture or command line, you see a set of cubes, stripes, symbols of different colors, then most likely the end of the video card has come.

This, of course, does not guarantee you a full-fledged high-quality check of a laptop without an OS, but for the first stage it will be enough for you. You can only buy a laptop without an OS and check everything carefully at home after installing the OS. If there is something wrong with it, then you can turn to the consumer protection law. Next, we will look at the main points that a user can claim after purchasing a laptop with a manufacturing defect.

What to do after purchase?

So, if for some reason you still bought a laptop with a defect or you just want to return the product, then let’s find out what the Russian Federation Law of 02/07/1992 N 2300-1 “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” can offer us in this case. But, first of all, it is worth noting that the kit should include: a receipt, a box, a laptop, a warranty card (not always) and a complete set.

You can return the product if you do not like the color, size or other attributes within 14 days from the date of purchase in accordance with Article 25, paragraph 1. The device must not have traces of use, that is, it cannot be activated, installed programs, or used for ten days , and then say: “Oh, I want white.” Factory seals and packaging must be preserved.
According to the same point, you do not necessarily have to have a cash receipt: any document confirming the fact that you purchased the laptop from this particular seller will do.
When returning an item, you can exchange it for a new one or get your money back. You can also purchase a similar laptop with or without additional payment.
It is worth remembering that laptops belong to the category of technically complex products, so some defects are forgivable. For example, the same dead pixels are allowed in a certain ratio. Therefore, we recommended that you watch this directly in the store before activating the product, so that you can return it immediately. At the same time, don’t talk about pixels, but say that you still want a different model or a different color. In any case, you have every right to a replacement.

The manufacturer is obliged to repair the laptop within a certain time and offer another product for use during the repair period. Why should you lose your job because of a manufacturer or store error, for example, if you are working on a laptop? This applies to the warranty period that follows after the 14 days. It is worth noting that the repair period cannot exceed 45 working days, which is a violation of the consumer protection law.
All claims must be submitted in writing and take a second copy for yourself, which contains both your signature and the seller’s signature. This is necessary so that if something happens you can press charges.
It is highly recommended that you study your rights yourself at the purchase stage, so that there are no problems later.

Conclusion

Friends, we hope that you were able to test a new laptop in a store without an OS or with it. Now you know what to do, and the chances of buying a low-quality product have decreased. Don't forget to share your opinion, impressions and personal experience in the comments!

Details Updated 04/02/2017 09:53 Published 06/10/2013 14:22 Author: nout-911

Laptop users often wonder “ How to check laptop status" Typically, such questions arise when purchasing a new laptop or when it is not possible to install programs and applications on a computer that has been in use for a long time.

When purchasing a new laptop, you need to check it in the store (unless, of course, you place an order in an online store). In specialized shopping centers, there are always specialists who are required to test the computer using special software from removable media.

How to check the condition of a laptop at home

If a malfunction occurs, the laptop owner can either take it to a service center or try to solve the problem himself. At home, the laptop owner can check the status of the RAM, check the computer's hard drive, and scan the computer for viruses using anti-virus programs and utilities.
The main signs of problems with RAM are spontaneous, constant rebooting of the device and the presence of a blue screen when starting the operating system.
Checking the hard drive can be done using numerous special software, most of which have a free license and are publicly available on the Internet; in addition, most operating systems have built-in software that will help check the hard drive. You need to choose the appropriate programs carefully, since installing programs from an unknown source can harm your device. When performing a check, you can identify errors that have occurred, damaged sectors, and find out the operating temperature of the hard drive.
Most anti-virus programs scan your computer automatically, but if you have problems with the system, it would be a good idea to run a full check of the laptop’s status manually.
Service maintenance.
Laptop users are not always able to check it and troubleshoot problems. After all, a laptop is a complex device, and attempts to solve problems with its condition and performance often lead to irreversible consequences. If the user does not have enough experience, knowledge or time to independently solve a problem with a laptop, then the most correct solution would be to take it to a service center, where competent specialists will always come to the rescue. For example, here you can get comprehensive advice from a specialist, diagnose your device, identify and fix the problem with your computer not working correctly.

When the laptop model has been selected, you need to check the device. It is advisable to do this before paying at the store’s cash register and filling out the warranty card. The probability is small, but you can always stumble upon a manufacturing defect in a product, since not all stores pass a performance test.

First of all, a visual inspection is carried out:

Carefully inspect the laptop for scratches, cracks, chips, or impacts. This is quite possible during transportation of the product, or when it is checked by store representatives. If you do not notice these defects, in the future a small crack may be the reason for denial of warranty service.
The bolts must be in new condition, the paint must be uniform and undamaged. Licked bolts and peeling paint are signs that the laptop was disassembled for repair.
Sometimes the covers are not made particularly rigid, and when pressed, the screen touches the keyboard, or the buttons on the keyboard itself are not recessed enough. If this problem is present, you will see keyboard keyprints on the screen.
When opening the laptop there should be no squeaks, crunches or any other extraneous sounds.

As a more detailed check of the laptop's performance, you need to test the main components of the device: processor, RAM, hard drive, video card, disk drive, monitor, battery. To do this, special programs are used that can be downloaded from the Internet to a USB flash drive in advance. They are used in devices with an already installed OS.

When checking the processor, one of the programs is used - LinX, OCCT. Their purpose is to fully load the processor and check its performance in all respects. Any error during testing in the future may cause unstable operation of the device. During tests, you need to monitor the processor temperature using the Everest or Aida64 program to check the health of the processor cooling. The permissible temperature limit is in the description of a specific processor on the manufacturer’s website. RAM is checked by the Memtest program or its analogues. As with the processor, there should be no errors at the end of the test. Using Victoria, Crystal disk info or their analogues, the hard drive is checked using two indicators:

SMART is a table of hard drive “health” indicators. For a new device, the operating time and the number of on/off switches should be minimal. A high value indicates that this device is a display case or someone has already used it. There must be no remapped sectors, unstable sectors, uncorrectable errors, or bad surface on the hard drive.
The surface test should not reveal slow-reading or unreadable sectors.

Checking the video card, disk drive, monitor, microphone and video camera:

the report of the MSI Kombustor program or its analogues, which is used to check the video card, should not contain any identified errors or excessive temperature readings;
to check the drive, you need to write some information to a CD on the device and read it;
using the Paint program, you can check your monitor for dead pixels by filling the page with each color separately, and the colors of all points on the monitor should be the same;
You can easily check the microphone and video camera by connecting your laptop to the network and making a video call with another user.