What is the machine doing?
Computer Repairs South Africa covers everything from a cracked screen to a machine that will not start, plus the upgrades that make an older computer usable again. Describe the fault once and compare repair prices and turnaround times.
Describe the fault and get repair quotes. Replies come from independent, LEADERR APPROVED providers.
Get the Best QuoteCommon Repairs
- Screen replacement. The single most common laptop repair, and priced by panel size and type.
- Battery replacement. A battery that lasts under an hour is at the end of its life, not faulty.
- Drive replacement. A failing hard drive is the usual cause of a machine that freezes.
- SSD upgrade. The cheapest change that makes an older machine feel new.
- Memory upgrade. Worthwhile where the machine is otherwise sound and runs out of room.
- Power and charging faults. Chargers, power jacks and desktop power supplies.
- Liquid damage. Quoted after inspection, because the outcome genuinely cannot be predicted.
Repair, Upgrade or Replace
- Under three years old. Nearly always worth repairing.
- Three to five years. Worth repairing if the fault is a part rather than the board.
- Over five years. A board or screen repair often approaches the price of a replacement.
- Board level faults. Specialist work, and not every workshop does it.
- The data comes first. Recover it before deciding, not after.
- Business machines. Often cheaper to repair because parts stay available longer.
Computer Repairs Prices
Ballpark figures before parts, which vary by model.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis and quotation | R350 - R650 |
| Laptop screen replacement, standard panel, fitted | R1,800 - R4,500 |
| Laptop battery replacement, fitted | R1,100 - R3,200 |
| SSD upgrade, 500GB, fitted with data transfer | R1,600 - R3,400 |
| Memory upgrade, 8GB added, fitted | R850 - R2,200 |
| Operating system reinstall with data preserved | R750 - R1,600 |
| Charging port or power jack repair | R950 - R2,800 |
| Data recovery, healthy drive | R950 - R3,500 |
| Data recovery, failed drive, specialist | R4,500 - R28,000 |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Ballpark figures, rounded, excluding VAT. They reflect typical South African IT support and technology rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no provider is bound by them. Confirm what each quotation includes, such as how many users or devices are covered, the response times, after-hours cover and licence fees.
Get a price for your own machine rather than a range.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- The model. Parts for common business models are cheaper and quicker to get.
- The part itself. A touch screen or a high resolution panel costs several times a basic one.
- Whether the board is involved. Board level work is specialist and priced accordingly.
- Turnaround. Same day work carries a premium where it is offered at all.
- Whether data must be preserved. It adds time, and sometimes a second drive.
- Warranty status. A machine under warranty should go to the authorised agent instead.
What to Include in Your Request
- The make and model. The exact model number is on the base or under the battery.
- What it does. Will not start, no display, shuts down, or is simply slow.
- When it started. And whether it was dropped or had liquid spilled on it.
- Whether the data matters. This changes the approach before anything is opened.
- How old it is. It decides whether repair is the right call at all.
- How quickly you need it. And whether you have another machine meanwhile.
Before You Hand the Machine Over
- Back up anything you can first. Even a copy of the important folders onto a memory stick.
- Ask whether diagnosis is charged. And whether it comes off the repair if you proceed.
- Ask for the quote before work starts. In writing, including parts.
- Ask what warranty the repair carries. Three to six months on parts and labour is typical.
- Remove or note your passwords. A technician will need access to test the machine.
- Ask what happens to the old part. You are entitled to it back if you want it.
Computer Repairs FAQs
Is it worth repairing an old laptop?
If the machine is under about five years old and the fault is a replaceable part, usually yes - a screen or a drive is a fraction of a new machine. If the fault is on the board, or the machine is older than that, the repair often costs more than a sound second hand replacement.
How long does a repair take?
A drive or memory upgrade is often same day. A screen or battery depends entirely on parts: common business models are usually one to three days, less common ones can be a week or more if the part has to be imported.
Will I lose my data?
Not for most repairs, but say up front that the data matters. A reinstall or a drive replacement puts it at risk, and a technician who knows that will clone the drive first. If the drive itself has failed, recovery is a separate specialist job and the first attempt is the one most likely to succeed.
My computer is just slow. Is that a repair?
Usually it is an upgrade rather than a repair. An SSD in place of a hard drive is the single biggest improvement on an older machine, and more memory helps where the machine runs out. Both are quick and far cheaper than replacing it.
Can a water damaged laptop be saved?
Sometimes, and the odds improve enormously if it is switched off immediately, not charged, and brought in quickly. Any technician who quotes a firm price before opening it is guessing.
Should I use the manufacturer or an independent repairer?
If it is under warranty, the authorised agent, because independent work can void it. Out of warranty, an independent workshop is usually faster and cheaper, and will often repair things the manufacturer would only replace.
Repairs and upgrades are quoted by many of the providers on IT Support South Africa alongside the support contracts and hardware supply they offer.
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