Laptop coming apart - fix or replace?

lr1277

My 10 year old HP laptop is coming apart; that is on the rear left hand side, the top part of the case has come away from the bottom part of the case. There is a 1cm gap between the two. I found this today when I powered off and closed the case. There were weird creaking sounds as I closed the case. At the time of turning off, the laptop was working fine. The socket for the power supply is at the rear right hand side. The USB ports are at the front of the case on the left hand side.
Should I fix it or get a new laptop? Do you need further details before advising?

I suppose I should add, over a year ago, I noticed the left hand hinge was sitting lower than the right hand hinge, but I did nothing at the time because the screen was working.

Ayr_Rage

If it has an internal battery that could be failing and expanding causing the case to come apart and if so, that could mean a catastrophic failure and possible fire.

Does the battery still hold a charge or are you running on mains power all the time?

lr1277

I did replace the battery possibly 5 years ago. Yes running on mains power. 
Not sure about the battery holding a charge. I would have said no it isn’t. But in the last few weeks, one night I took the power cable out of the computer (can’t remember why). The next morning the laptop would not properly start up till the power cable had been plugged in for a while. There is a light next to the power socket on the laptop which normally shines white. Until the power cable had been re-inserted for some time, the light shone orange. Since then with the power cable always inserted, the light now shines white.
By finding the gap in the case, I took the power cable out. Won’t plug it back in till I decide on next steps.

flaneurs_lobster

I'd take @Ayr_Rage 's warning about a failing battery being dangerous very seriously. 

Can we assume that the laptop's important contents are backed up?

XzavierWalnut

The longest any of my laptops have ever lasted is 5 years. I just get a new one.

Mark_d

XzavierWalnut said:

The longest any of my laptops have ever lasted is 5 years. I just get a new one.

@lr1277 Your laptop is falling apart and it doesn't sound like a repair is quick, cheap and simple.   Even if your found a fix for some of your problems, it's at the age where many of the components are dying.  I would agree that it would be a waste to spend time/money attempting to fix your old laptop - just get a new one.

You needs may well have changed over the last 10 years.  A new laptop could be better suited to your needs, perform more efficiently and will have a guarantee.  Perhaps all you need is a chromebook rather than a full laptop.

Cisco001

New or refurb laptop. I can't see the point of fixing 10 years old laptop.

3 years old used laptop would cost you £200.
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=slaplene14gen269b&categoryName=laptops-windows&superCatName=computing&title=&queryID=aa66f1f881e26f126161025a72e37561&position=5

lr1277

Thanks for all your replies. Yes it is backed up. Off to find some money…

Neil_Jones

You may be able to get a replacement battery on its own, though the trend is internal batteries (it used to be that they just clipped out) now.

But the cost of the battery on its own may be more than the ultimate worth of the laptop after 10 years.

But of course if the expanding battery has pushed the casing apart, they rarely if ever stay closed at that point as most laptops are only held together by clips and screws, the former of which will break first.

Rodders53

HP laptops of that age could well have a clip-in, user replaceable battery rather than one 'built into' the case.

He says tryping on a seven year old (2017) HP laptop that has just been upgraded to Win 11 despite its processor being unsupported and has such a replaceable battery (down to 67% of its initial capacity).

Exact model could help for more accurate advice though.
As would pictures of the case and gap.

It may just need careful removal of a pile of fixing screws and then re-assembly.  Although some plastics clips are likely to have failed?
However, running Win10 it'll be due for replacement in October anyway? Earlier OS are already unsupported.

lr1277

Thanks for the additional advice. Also some of the keys don’t work, so I use the on-screen keyboard. This has happened with other keys in the past, but after some weeks they start working again.
i shall have to overcome my miserly ways and buy new I think.