# Geek With Laptop Forum

> Geek With Laptop Forum is a question and answer community about laptop buying, troubleshooting, care and upgrades.

Threads open with a short, self-contained answer, then the discussion. Posts marked Staff are written by the forum team and cite primary sources. Dates on every post are machine-readable. Each thread is also available as Markdown: replace the trailing slash of its URL with `.md`.

## [Buying advice](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/buying-advice/)
Which laptop to buy for a budget and a job: processors, RAM, storage, screens and battery claims explained, with honest trade-offs instead of a sales pitch.

- [Which laptop specs matter for a programming student?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/which-laptop-specs-matter-for-a-programming-student/): I start a computer science degree next year and need to pick a laptop.
- [Gaming laptop, or a thin laptop plus a desktop at home? Which makes more sense?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/gaming-laptop-or-a-thin-laptop-plus-a-desktop-at-home-which-makes-more/): I am at the point where my old gaming laptop is not keeping up and I have to decide what shape the next setup takes.
- [Best laptop for a nursing student on a tight budget?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/best-laptop-for-a-nursing-student-on-a-tight-budget/): My cousin starts a nursing program in January and asked me to help her pick a laptop, since I am the nurse in the family who also lives with a Chromebook and a work Windows laptop.
- [What do laptop specs actually mean when you are buying one?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/what-do-laptop-specs-actually-mean-when-you-are-buying-one/): A spec sheet lists the processor, memory, storage, screen and battery, but none of them predicts experience alone.
- [How much RAM does a laptop need in 2026?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-much-ram-does-a-laptop-need-in-2026/): For everyday use, 16 GB is the comfortable target in 2026, and 8 GB is workable for light use on a lean system.

## [Battery and charging](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/battery-and-charging/)
Battery life that falls short, charging limits, swollen cells, USB-C chargers and power settings: what is normal wear, what is a fault and what to do next.

- [Should I keep my laptop at an 80 percent charge limit all the time?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/should-i-keep-my-laptop-at-an-80-percent-charge-limit-all-the-time/): I am writing up my thesis, and the laptop is plugged in at my desk for about twenty hours a day.
- [Battery is swollen and the trackpad is lifting, is it dangerous to keep using?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/battery-is-swollen-and-the-trackpad-is-lifting-is-it-dangerous-to-keep/): I hope someone here can help me, because I am a little frightened.
- [Can I use my phone's USB-C charger on my laptop?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/can-i-use-my-phones-usb-c-charger-on-my-laptop/): I am a student and I left my laptop charger at my sister's place two towns over.
- [My laptop battery drops from 100 to 20 percent in two hours, is it dying?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/my-laptop-battery-drops-from-100-to-20-percent-in-two-hours/): My Windows 11 laptop is about three years old and the battery has gotten noticeably worse over the last few months.
- [Is it bad to leave a laptop plugged in all the time?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/is-it-bad-to-leave-a-laptop-plugged-in-all-the-time/): Mostly no, with one caveat.
- [How long should a laptop battery last before it needs replacing?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-long-should-a-laptop-battery-last-before-it-needs-replacing/): A laptop battery is a wear item, and it is measured in charge cycles, not years.

## [Overheating and fans](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/overheating-and-fans/)
Hot laptops, loud fans and thermal throttling: how to check temperatures, clean vents, change power modes and tell a dust problem from a failing part.

- [My laptop throttles during long video exports, what can I change?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/my-laptop-throttles-during-long-video-exports-what-can-i-change/): My 16-inch MacBook Pro with a Max chip starts a 4K export at a good pace, and after roughly ten minutes the frame rate drops and does not recover until I pause and let it cool.
- [Fan runs loud even when the laptop is idle, nothing heavy open](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/fan-runs-loud-even-when-the-laptop-is-idle-nothing-heavy-open/): I do video editing on a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019 with the Intel processor and a discrete graphics chip.
- [Laptop gets hot on my lap but fine on a desk, is that normal?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/laptop-gets-hot-on-my-lap-but-fine-on-a-desk-is-that-normal/): Good morning.
- [How do I check my laptop's CPU temperature, and what is too hot?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-check-my-laptops-cpu-temperature-and-what-is-too-hot/): Use a monitoring tool or your laptop maker's app and watch it under load.
- [Why is my laptop fan so loud, and how do I fix it?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/why-is-my-laptop-fan-so-loud-and-how-do-i-fix-it/): A loud fan means the laptop is shedding heat, usually because something is working it hard or airflow is restricted.

## [Upgrades and performance](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/upgrades-and-performance/)
Adding RAM or an SSD, which laptops can still be upgraded, and how to make a slow machine faster with settings and cleanups before spending money.

- [Can I add more RAM to a laptop with soldered memory?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/can-i-add-more-ram-to-a-laptop-with-soldered-memory/): I refurbish used laptops, and buyers keep asking me whether soldered RAM can be upgraded.
- [My laptop takes about five minutes to boot, what can I check before giving up on it?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/my-laptop-takes-about-five-minutes-to-boot-what-can-i-check-before/): Thank you to everyone who helped me last week with the other problem on this forum.
- [How do I replace my laptop SSD and move Windows and my games over?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-replace-my-laptop-ssd-and-move-windows-and-my-games-over/): My gaming laptop's SSD is nearly full.
- [Is 8GB of RAM still enough for Windows 11?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/is-8gb-of-ram-still-enough-for-windows-11/): I am looking at a second hand Windows laptop for my older kid, who is starting secondary school.
- [Why is my laptop suddenly so slow?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/why-is-my-laptop-suddenly-so-slow/): A sudden slowdown is usually something specific: a nearly full drive, too many programs starting with Windows, a heavy background task like an update or sync, or too little free memory.
- [Can I upgrade the RAM or SSD in my laptop?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/can-i-upgrade-the-ram-or-ssd-in-my-laptop/): Sometimes.

## [Windows laptops](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/windows-laptops/)
Windows 11 updates, drivers, sleep and wake problems, recovery and reinstalls on laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus and Acer, answered step by step.

- [How do I turn off the Copilot button on Windows 11 Home?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-turn-off-the-copilot-button-on-windows-11-home/): I have an HP laptop on Windows 11 Home, version 24H2.
- [Blue screen after a driver update, how do I roll back?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/blue-screen-after-a-driver-update-how-do-i-roll-back/): I fix this kind of thing for other people all day, and now I am stuck on my own laptop.
- [Laptop won't wake from sleep with the lid closed on a dock, what should I check?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/laptop-wont-wake-from-sleep-with-the-lid-closed-on-a-dock-what-should/): One of our staff works with her Windows laptop closed on a docking station, driving two monitors and a keyboard and mouse.
- [Windows 11 update keeps failing at the same percentage, then rolls back](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/windows-11-update-keeps-failing-at-the-same-percentage-then-rolls-back/): I do helpdesk for a living and this one is beating me, which is embarrassing.
- [Why won't my Windows laptop wake up from sleep?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/why-wont-my-windows-laptop-wake-up-from-sleep/): Usually one of three things: a device or driver that fails to resume, a setting such as Fast Startup or a wake permission interfering, or a pending update or firmware issue.

## [MacBooks](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/macbooks/)
MacBook Air and Pro questions: Apple silicon, battery health, macOS updates, storage, repairs and whether an older Mac is still worth keeping.

- [Should I upgrade macOS on an older MacBook?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/should-i-upgrade-macos-on-an-older-macbook/): My son keeps telling me I should update my MacBook Air to the newest macOS.
- [My MacBook Pro battery says Service Recommended. Is it still safe to use?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/my-macbook-pro-battery-says-service-recommended-is-it-still-safe/): I edit video on a MacBook Pro, and last week System Settings, Battery started showing Service Recommended under Battery Health.
- [MacBook Air M1 in 2026, still worth buying used?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/macbook-air-m1-in-2026-still-worth-buying-used/): I keep seeing used 2020 MacBook Air M1 laptops come up as the "sensible student laptop" and I am tempted.
- [How do I check MacBook battery health and cycle count?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-check-macbook-battery-health-and-cycle-count/): Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click Battery and read the Battery Health line: Normal or Service Recommended.

## [Chromebooks and Linux](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/chromebooks-and-linux/)
ChromeOS update expiry, Linux on Chromebooks, installing Linux on an old laptop, and which distributions and drivers behave on common hardware.

- [Which Linux distro should I put on a ten year old laptop?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/which-linux-distro-should-i-put-on-a-ten-year-old-laptop/): I have a laptop from about 2016: dual core i5, 4 GB of RAM, and an SSD I swapped in for the original spinning disk.
- [Chromebook says it will stop getting updates next year, what happens then?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/chromebook-says-it-will-stop-getting-updates-next-year-what-happens/): I use my personal Chromebook for everything outside work: banking, shift swaps with my team, recipes, streaming, and my nursing continuing education modules.
- [What happens when a Chromebook reaches its auto update expiration date?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/what-happens-when-a-chromebook-reaches-its-auto-update-expiration-date/): The Chromebook keeps working, but it stops getting new ChromeOS and security updates, and some management features and app support gradually stop working as expected.

## [Screens, keyboards and trackpads](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/screens-keyboards-trackpads/)
Dead pixels, flicker, dim or cracked screens, sticky keys, failing trackpads and loose hinges: diagnosing what broke and whether it is worth fixing.

- [Dead pixel on a brand new laptop, will the store replace it?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/dead-pixel-on-a-brand-new-laptop-will-the-store-replace-it/): I bought a laptop four days ago for classes and noticed a tiny dot near the lower left of the screen that stays black when the background is white.
- [Trackpad randomly stops working until I restart the laptop](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/trackpad-randomly-stops-working-until-i-restart-the-laptop/): I use accessibility features every day, so when the pointing device misbehaves it affects everything I do.

## [Ports, Wi-Fi and docks](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/ports-wifi-and-docks/)
Wi-Fi drops, Bluetooth pairing, USB-C and Thunderbolt docks, external monitors and HDMI: getting a laptop to talk to everything else on the desk.

- [Wi-Fi is fast on my phone but slow on my laptop in the same room](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/wi-fi-is-fast-on-my-phone-but-slow-on-my-laptop-in-the-same-room/): We have two kids doing schoolwork on laptops and the living room Wi-Fi is a mess.
- [External monitor not detected when I plug it into the USB-C port, what should I check?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/external-monitor-not-detected-when-i-plug-it-into-the-usb-c-port-what/): I look after six laptops in a small office and one of them has stopped playing nicely with a monitor.
- [How do I connect a laptop to a TV or an external monitor?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-connect-a-laptop-to-a-tv-or-an-external-monitor/): Match the video port on your laptop to a port on the screen, using one cable or an adapter.
- [Why does my laptop keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/why-does-my-laptop-keep-disconnecting-from-wi-fi/): The cause is usually one of three things: the router, the laptop's Wi-Fi driver or power settings, or interference and distance.

## [Repairs and care](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/repairs-and-care/)
Cleaning, spills, drops, warranty claims and repair shops: what you can safely do yourself, what needs a technician, and how to keep a laptop going for years.

- [Is it worth paying for an extended laptop warranty for a small office?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/is-it-worth-paying-for-an-extended-laptop-warranty-for-a-small-office/): I buy and look after the laptops for a six person office.
- [Spilled coffee on my keyboard an hour ago, what do I do now?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/spilled-coffee-on-my-keyboard-an-hour-ago-what-do-i-do-now/): I am writing this on my phone because I do not trust the laptop right now.
- [What should I do right after spilling liquid on a laptop?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/what-should-i-do-right-after-spilling-liquid-on-a-laptop/): Unplug the charger and switch the laptop off immediately, by holding the power button if you have to, then keep it off.
- [How do I clean a laptop screen and keyboard safely?](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/how-do-i-clean-a-laptop-screen-and-keyboard-safely/): Shut the laptop down, unplug it, and use a soft, lint-free cloth that is only slightly damp.

## [Setups and show and tell](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/section/setups-and-show-and-tell/)
Desk setups, travel kits, long-term reviews of laptops people actually own, and projects that bring old machines back into daily use. Photos welcome.

- [My 2015 ThinkPad setup is still going strong, show me yours](https://geekwithlaptop.com/forum/thread/my-2015-thinkpad-setup-is-still-going-strong-show-me-yours/): Thought I would start a show and tell, since this forum is mostly people with problems, and I would like to hear about the machines that quietly refuse to die.

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