New school year, same old laptop that's been collecting dust all summer? A little prep now keeps devices reliable when assignments start piling up.

The Pre-Semester Checklist

  • Battery check. If a laptop or tablet won't hold a charge through a class day, replace the battery before it's a problem.
  • Screen and keyboard. Cracks and sticky keys only get worse — fix them now.
  • Storage and speed. A tune-up or SSD upgrade keeps things fast for research, video, and big downloads.
  • Backups. Make sure photos, projects, and documents are backed up to the cloud or an external drive.

Don't Forget the Phone

It's the device students use most. A fresh battery and a clean charging port go a long way toward a stress-free semester.