Don't Buy a Used Windows Laptop Until You Run These Tests

Buying a used Windows PC can save you a lot of money, but it can also become an expensive mistake. The system you're considering might have a worn-out battery, a failing hard drive, faulty RAM, or other hidden issues you won't notice until it's too late. That's why you must run a few checks before handing over your money, so you don't regret the purchase later.

Test the Battery Health

If you plan to buy a used Windows laptop, one of the first things you should check is the battery's health. A worn-out battery may last only a few hours and require frequent charging. It could also be so degraded that the laptop won't turn on without being plugged in. That's why it's important to test the battery and factor in the replacement cost if needed.

Fortunately, Windows lets you generate a detailed battery report with a simple command. Open Command Prompt, type powercfg /batteryreport, and press Enter.

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This generates a report that shows the battery's original and current capacity, charge cycles, usage history, and more. Review this information to assess the battery's health.

Check Your Hard Drive's Health

You don't want to end up with a used PC that has a failing hard drive or SSD. A bad drive can struggle to read or write data, develop bad sectors, lose files, overheat, cause frequent crashes, slow file access, or even fail suddenly, preventing the system from booting altogether. To look for problems with your storage drive, open Command Prompt and run this command:

wmic diskdrive get status

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If the result shows anything other than "OK," that's a clear red flag. For a more detailed check, download a disk health tool like CrystalDiskInfo. Once opened, it will show detailed stats for each drive, including health status, temperature, and other key indicators. If anything looks concerning, be sure to raise it with the seller before proceeding with the purchase.

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Test System Memory (RAM)

Like the hard drive, RAM is another critical component you should check when buying a used computer. Faulty memory can cause random crashes, freezes, and blue-screen errors that may not appear during initial testing but become increasingly frustrating over time. You don't need any third-party tools, as Windows includes a built-in utility called Windows Memory Diagnostic.

To run it, press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter. Then select "Restart now and check for problems (recommended).

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Windows will restart and run the memory test. After it restarts again, the results may appear automatically. If they don't, open Event Viewer, go to Windows Logs > System. Here, click "Find," and search for "MemoryDiagnostic." Review the results carefully to see if there are any signs of faulty RAM.

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Validate Windows Activation Status

Before buying a used Windows PC, ensure Windows is properly activated. If the PC came from a workplace or school, it might be using a volume license or an organization account. In that case, the license may not transfer to you, and you may receive frequent activation prompts or be restricted from accessing certain features and settings.

To check, go to Settings > System > Activation. You should see a message like "Windows is activated with a digital license" or "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account." If it's linked to an organization or isn't activated, you'll likely need to purchase a personal Windows license, which can cost $100- $200.

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Stress-Test the CPU and GPU

Whether you're buying a laptop for work, school, gaming, or casual use, you must ensure the CPU and, if it has one, the GPU are healthy, stable, and powerful enough for the tasks you plan to run. You can verify this by stress-testing both components and evaluating their performance, while monitoring temperatures to ensure they remain within safe limits.

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There are many tools for stress-testing the CPU and GPU. I recommend using Prime95 for CPU stress testing and MSI Kombustor for GPU stress testing, as both are widely trusted tools for this purpose. During these tests, monitor temperatures with HWMonitor and ensure they remain below 85-90 ?C.

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Don't Overlook the Obvious Checks

While we often focus on testing the main components, it's easy to overlook the obvious ones, only to find out later that they're faulty. Start with the display: use any online display testing tool to check for dead pixels, discoloration, flickering, or other irregularities. Next, test the keyboard by pressing all keys to ensure they respond correctly.

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Also, inspect and test the trackpad, physical buttons, and gesture controls to ensure they work properly. Open the Camera app to check the webcam, play audio to test the speakers, and record your voice to test the microphone. Don't forget to check the USB ports, charging port, and other things before finalizing the purchase.

Buying a used device always carries some risk, and skipping any of the checks above can turn a "great deal" into an expensive headache. Running these tests helps uncover hidden issues that could affect performance and usability, helping you avoid unexpected repair or replacement costs later. If the device passes all tests, you can purchase it with confidence.