charging
Phone not charging? Work through this before you buy a port
A phone that will not charge is often a cable, lint, or a setting — and sometimes a port or board.
Advice
Practical notes from the bench.
batteries
Battery problems that are not “just old”
Sudden shutdowns, heat and a lifting back panel are different battery faults. One of them is a safety issue.
screens
Broken phone screen: what actually needs replacing
Cracked glass is not always a full display job. Here is how we tell the difference in the workshop.
laptops
Laptop overheating: dust, fans and when to stop using it
A hot palm rest and a fan that never rests usually means dust or a failing fan, not a mystery virus.
data
Back up your phone before a repair
iCloud, Google or a computer copy is the safest thing you can do while the device still switches on.
screens
How to protect a phone screen
A case with a raised lip and a screen protector you actually leave on will prevent more repairs than any setting.
screens
What to do after dropping your phone
Power it on, check the picture and touch, and stop pressing cracked glass back into place.