Quick essentials
Short on time at the seller's? This is the fastest sensible way to check a whole laptop. It's split into Technical checks (commands, tools & websites) and General checks (look & feel) — each step timed for someone doing it for the first time.
About these times: they assume you're a normal (non-techie) person doing this for the first time — reading each step, running it, and figuring out if the result is good or bad. You'll be much faster the second time. The numbers do not include downloading the tools (see prep below) or doing a full Windows reset.
One-time prep (~15 min, at home): download CrystalDiskInfo and BatteryInfoView (optionally HWiNFO & CPU-Z) onto a USB stick before you go. Do this once — it's not part of the on-site time. Also bring the charger and a phone hotspot.
Smart order on the day: start the General eyeball checks while the laptop boots, then run the Technical ones. Keep the charger plugged in.
The ~3-minute deal-breaker scan (if you truly have no time). Any "no" = walk away or renegotiate hard:
1) Battery not swollen, laptop sits flat · 2) Screen not cracked, no obvious damage · 3) Boots to a usable desktop (not locked to someone's account) · 4) BIOS / Windows not password-locked · 5) CrystalDiskInfo says "Good" · 6) Battery health above ~70% · 7) Not company-managed (Settings → Access work or school is empty).
Technical essentials
Commands & free tools · ≈ 12 min first time
Battery health
Open Command Prompt (Admin), paste the command, then open the report and compare Full Charge vs Design Capacity. You want ≳ 70%. Full guide →
powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery-report.html"Storage health
Open CrystalDiskInfo from your USB stick. Health Status must say "Good"; Reallocated/Pending sectors = 0. Full guide →
Full system config — msinfo32
One window confirms CPU, RAM, BIOS mode (UEFI), model & Windows version — your master cross-check against the listing. Full guide →
msinfo32Device Manager — no errors
Look for any yellow ⚠️ or "Unknown device". Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, display & camera should all be present and clean. Full guide →
devmgmt.mscWindows activated
The pop-up confirms a permanent licence (or check Settings → System → Activation). Full guide →
slmgr /xprThermals: open HWiNFO/HWMonitor, load the CPU a few minutes, watch temps don't peg at 100 °C with clocks collapsing. Full guide →
General essentials
Look, listen & feel · ≈ 14 min · do these while it boots
Body, liquid & battery swelling
Scan for cracks, dents, corrosion in ports, and a chemical smell. Make sure the laptop sits flat (a bulge = swollen battery = walk away). Full guide →
Screen — pixels & cracks
Open a fullscreen pixel test (or a black then white image) and look for dead pixels, lines, cracks and big backlight bleed. Full guide →
Keyboard sweep
Open Notepad and press every key (or use an online tester) — no dead or sticky keys. Full guide →
Ports, trackpad & A/V
Plug your USB stick into each port; test the trackpad; quick webcam (Camera app) + speaker volume check. Full guide →
Hinge & clean boot
Lid holds any angle without wobble; the laptop boots to a usable desktop you control (no account lock). Full guide →
⚡ Quick checklist
0 / 0 checks · 0%The timer starts automatically when you tick your first item. Progress & time save on this device.
Something looked off? Open the matching full stage for the deep-dive — each checklist item above has a Guide ↗ link. The full checklist covers everything plus the price-negotiation playbook.