Laptop repair FAQ
The questions we are asked most often at the bench, answered honestly — including the ones about money, where the honest answer is often “it depends, and here is how to tell”.
Questions we get asked every week
Are laptops worth repairing?
Usually, yes — and the older the laptop relative to its original price, the more so. Screens, batteries, keyboards and storage are the faults that make a laptop worth fixing rather than replacing. A high-end machine that has developed a failed battery is usually a straightforward repair, not a write-off. Where a repair genuinely is not worth doing, we tell you that instead of taking the job.
How much should a laptop repair cost?
It depends entirely on the fault, the part and the machine, which is why we do not publish a price list — a number on a website would either be wrong for your laptop or useless. What we do instead is diagnose first, then give you a written quote before anything is booked in. You see the figure and decide before we start.
Can laptops be repaired after warranty?
Yes. Warranty is about who is responsible for a fault, not about whether the machine is fixable. We repair out-of-warranty machines as a matter of course, and all of our own work carries a 6-month warranty regardless of how old the device is.
Where can I get my laptop repaired in Paarl?
Galvitech is at 62 Bosch, Northern Paarl. It is a workshop rather than a call-out service, which is why the same fault generally costs less here than it would from someone charging you for a visit before they open anything. Book a drop-off slot so the bench is free when you arrive.
How do I repair a laptop keyboard?
Often you do not need us to. If it is a software or mapping problem, a reset or a key remap fixes it for nothing. If keys are physically unresponsive, sticky, or the laptop has been to water, it is a part job — and on many laptops the whole top case is one assembly rather than a separate keyboard, which changes both the price and whether it is sensible.
Can laptop screens be repaired?
Often yes. Laptop screens are replaced in-house at our workshop, which covers most panels and common backlit and digitiser faults. MacBooks are the exception: board-level work goes to our Apple-approved service partners, while batteries, screens, updates, servicing and cleaning are done here.
Should I repair my laptop or get a new one?
A reasonable rule is if the machine is under about four years old and the fault is a screen, battery, keyboard or drive, repair is usually the better financial decision. If the mainboard has failed on a budget machine, or the machine has already had one expensive repair, a replacement may genuinely be cheaper. We will give you an honest assessment either way.
How long does a laptop repair take?
A battery, keyboard or drive swap on a laptop we have in stock for is usually done the same day. Anything involving a screen we need to order, or a liquid-damaged mainboard, takes longer — and we will give you a realistic timeframe at the quote stage rather than an optimistic one.
Still not sure whether it is worth fixing?
That is a fair question and the honest answer needs the machine in front of us. Bring it in or describe the fault on the phone and we will tell you what we think before you commit to anything.