Most repairs don’t touch your files — but some do. Replacing a drive, reinstalling Windows or fixing a board-level fault can all put data at risk. A backup takes a few minutes and removes the worry.
1. Decide what matters
Make a quick list: documents, photos, WhatsApp/desktop app data, browser bookmarks, accounting files and anything saved on the Desktop or in Downloads.
2. Copy files to an external drive or cloud
- Windows: plug in a USB drive, open File Explorer, and copy your Documents, Pictures, Desktop and Downloads folders.
- Mac: connect a drive and use Time Machine, or copy folders manually.
- Cloud: OneDrive, Google Drive or iCloud work well for documents and photos.
3. Save passwords and licence keys
Make sure you can sign in to your email and important accounts on another device. Note down software licence keys you may need after a reinstall.
4. Sign out of sensitive accounts
You don’t need to share your password with us for most hardware repairs. If a repair needs a login to test the system, we’ll ask first.
If the laptop won’t turn on
Don’t worry — just tick “Important data must be preserved” when you book a repair. We’ll take that into account before any work that could affect your files.
