Renew or reconditioned laptops are pre owned computers. Whether you should or shouldn’t buy one is entirely up to your own taste; there are a few things to take into consideration before signing the deal. A laptop is a personal item. It means that it can be in good or bad condition, but it will bear the footprints of the previous owner.

1. Talk to the seller first. You should be able to tell in a few minutes if there is anything going on with the laptop. If everything is as it should be you can still make friends with someone.

2. Private owners sell used laptops as well as companies. These companies are probably better choices because they would have a hard time disappearing and skipping warranty after selling a problematic notebook. It’s not always true though. Feel free to use it as a guideline.

3. There are newer renew models. Some people buy a laptop and ditch it a few weeks or months later because their favorite manufacturer releases a new version. These people are your best friends, if you see such a notebook, you most probably hit the jackpot. It will be a bit more expensive, but still, you’re buying an almost new device for way less than its new price.

4. Make sure you check the laptop you are buying. This can be done in person only, but it’s not a sure-fire way of ensuring a great condition laptop either. Don’t worry if you’re buying over eBay or Amazon. If you choose a seller with a high rating, you’re at least going to get laptop in the described condition. Read everything that is on the page before bidding.

5. Don’t hesitate to return a broken unit. If there is any warranty left on the unit, or the seller provided some then send it back. You paid the money, they agreed the service, don’t make a moral dilemma out of this.

6. Check hard drive. The hard drive is one of the most vulnerable parts of a notebook. This is because apart from the fan and optical drive this is the only part that has moving components. By checking for bad sectors and other obvious signs of incoming disk failure you raise your chances of getting a proper computer that is not going to fail on you too soon. If it does though, you can still buy a new hard drive for $80, just back up all your data regularly. Every day at least, or after making modifications on your important files.

Pay some attention to the laptop you are about to buy. Examine all little details like you would on an used car or an expensive bike. If you don’t know much about computers and how one in a good condition should look like then ask your friends to help you out. They will be able to help you choose a good reconditioned laptop and save you from making some mistakes people usually make.