A few simple tasks once a year can extend your laptop’s life by years. We show you an exact checklist you can go through yourself in just a few minutes.
In short: Once a year, it’s worth checking three things: processor temperatures, hard drive condition, and hinge performance. All you need are two free programmes — AIDA64 and HD Tune — and a moment’s attention when opening and closing the lid.
Most common causes — from most to least likely
- Lack of regular dust cleaning
- Neglected hinges that aren’t lubricated
- Carelessly forcing the system on an increasingly old hard drive
What you can check yourself
- AIDA64 (free programme) — run a 2-minute test and watch the processor temperature. If thermal throttling appears, the laptop needs cleaning as soon as possible to avoid overheating the processor — replacing it is very expensive or simply not cost-effective
- HD Tune (free version) — check the hard drive condition. A minimum of 200 MB/s is a good result. If the result is 100 or 50 MB/s right from the start, the drive may need replacing — it’s worth backing up your data as soon as possible
- Hinges — check whether the lid opens and closes smoothly. If it feels stiff, this can lead to cracks in the casing, and consequently damage to the screen
What NOT to do
- Don’t close the laptop lid instead of shutting it down properly through the system — more on this in our guide to the most common mistakes
- Don’t ignore processor thermal throttling — over time it leads to permanent damage
- Don’t put off checking the hinges if you notice resistance
„If AIDA64 shows thermal throttling, you need to get your laptop cleaned 100%, as soon as possible, to avoid overheating the processor — replacing it is very expensive or simply not worth it.”
Apenfix technician
How we diagnose it
1. Free inspection
We repeat the temperature and drive tests on our equipment, 5–15 minutes.
2. Hinge assessment
We check the technical condition of the casing and opening mechanism.
3. Recommendation
We tell you straight what’s worth doing now and what can wait.
4. Carrying out the work
We clean, lubricate and replace components as agreed.
Test results may vary depending on the laptop’s age and usage history.
Laptop maintenance — we serve all of Warsaw
We accept laptops for inspection and maintenance from customers in every district of Warsaw — Śródmieście, Wola, Mokotów, Ochota, Żoliborz, Bemowo, Bielany, Ursynów, Praga-Południe, Praga-Północ, Targówek, Białołęka, Wawer, Włochy, Ursus, Wilanów, Rembertów and Wesoła — as well as from the surrounding areas.
We have more than one location in convenient parts of Warsaw, so getting to us is quick and easy wherever you live or work. Our current service point addresses are listed further down this page.
Why Apenfix
Frequently asked questions
Are AIDA64 and HD Tune safe to download?
Yes, they’re popular, free diagnostic tools — we recommend them as a suggestion, not an advert.
What if I notice CPU throttling myself?
It’s worth bringing the laptop in for cleaning as soon as possible, before permanent CPU damage occurs.
Can I lubricate the hinges myself?
This requires disassembling the casing, so we recommend entrusting this to a specialist to avoid damaging delicate components.
Is the inspection chargeable?
No, the initial 5–15 minute inspection is always free.
How often should I go through this checklist?
We recommend once a year, ideally together with a full inspection at our service.
Current rates can be found in the price list.
Two service points in Warsaw
Visit whichever of our two locations is more convenient for you.
Location 1 — Wolska
Wolska 50A/Lokal 26
01-187 Warszawa
Location 2 — al. Szucha
al. Jana Chrystiana Szucha 1
00-580 Warszawa
See also
- Annual laptop inspection
- How to check drive health
- What not to do with your laptop
- How long does a laptop last
