Whether you buy from a shop, an online store or a friend, a used laptop should be tested before you rely on it. This checklist uses free tools and takes about 20 minutes. Save it, and use it when your laptop arrives.
Before you start
Charge the laptop, connect to Wi-Fi and keep a USB pen drive and earphones ready. If it is a delivery, record an unboxing video.
1. Body, hinges and screws
Look for cracks near the hinges, missing screws and a loose or wobbly screen. Open and close the lid several times – it should hold its position.
2. Display: dead pixels and spots
Open full-screen solid colours (white, black, red, green, blue). Search “dead pixel test” in your browser for a free full-screen tester. Small white spots on a white background are common on older panels – decide whether it bothers you.
3. Battery health
On Windows, open Command Prompt and run:
powercfg /batteryreport
Open the generated battery-report.html file and compare Design Capacity with Full Charge Capacity. Above 80% is good, 60–80% is average, below 60% means you will want a battery replacement soon. At BudgetLappy you can choose a brand-new battery while ordering.
4. SSD / hard disk health
Install the free tool CrystalDiskInfo. Health should show “Good”. Note “Total Host Writes” – very high numbers mean heavy past use.
5. RAM and processor match the listing
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Performance tab. Check CPU model, RAM size and speed. They must match what you paid for.
6. Keyboard
Open Notepad and press every key, including Fn shortcuts for brightness and volume. Or use any online keyboard tester.
7. Touchpad
Test left/right click, two-finger scroll and pinch zoom.
8. Ports
Test every USB port with a pen drive, HDMI with a TV if possible, the headphone jack and the charging port (wiggle the charger gently – it should not disconnect).
9. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Connect to Wi-Fi and run a speed test; pair a Bluetooth device.
10. Webcam and microphone
Open the Camera app and record a short video with sound.
11. Speakers
Play music at full volume and listen for crackling.
12. Heating and fan noise
Play a 1080p YouTube video for 15 minutes. The laptop should get warm, not too hot to touch, and the fan should not make grinding sounds.
13. Windows activation
Settings → System → Activation should say “Windows is activated”.
14. BIOS password and company locks
Restart and enter BIOS (F2/F10/F1/Del depending on brand). There should be no BIOS password. Business laptops (ThinkPad, Latitude, EliteBook) sometimes carry old company management locks – make sure there are none.
15. Charger
Check the wattage printed on the charger matches the laptop’s requirement (e.g. 65W). An under-powered charger charges slowly and can throttle performance.
What if something fails?
Contact the seller immediately with your video. At BudgetLappy every laptop carries a 6-month warranty (extendable to 2 years) with free pick-up and drop for repairs.
Looking for a laptop that is already tested before dispatch? See refurbished laptops in stock.