Knowledge base

DSL-TECH B.V. is a Dutch company based in Oud-Gastel. Laptops are our core business: we mainly sell refurbished business laptops from Dell, HP and Lenovo, plus docking stations and parts. The laptops come out of the corporate world and are inspected by us before we sell them again. We are a web shop and not a physical store; you order online and the laptop comes to you.

You get 2 years of warranty on the laptop. The battery has 6 months of warranty, because a battery is a wear part whose lifespan varies with use. If something goes wrong within that period, we repair or replace it.

Every laptop is tested on more than 30 points. Among other things we check the screen, the keyboard, the ports, the battery, the storage and the memory. Anything that is not right gets replaced. After that the laptop is cleaned and reinstalled with Windows 11 Pro.

The grade says something about the outside and nothing about how it works: every laptop works, whatever its grade. Grade A has barely visible signs of use, grade B slight ones, and grade C clearly visible signs of use such as scratches on the casing. So a lower grade mainly means a lower price.

We ship with DHL to 24 European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Italy. Shipping costs € 6.90 and is free from € 200. Because almost every laptop is above that amount, in practice you usually pay nothing for shipping.

Order before 12:00 and your laptop leaves the same day. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany you have it the next day; to France and Italy it takes 2 to 3 working days.

Yes. As a consumer you have 30 days to change your mind and sending it back is free: DSL-TECH pays the return costs. You do not have to give a reason. As soon as we have the laptop back and have checked it, you get your money back. Business customers have no statutory right of withdrawal; under our terms, business customers can exchange the laptop for another model or receive a coupon worth the value of the order.

Yes, with in3 you pay for orders from €100 to €3,000 in three instalments, interest-free. You pay a third when you order and the rest in two instalments after that. You can choose this at checkout; Klarna also offers payment in instalments.

Through customer service on the website. We also help after your purchase with questions about setting up or updating Windows; that costs nothing and is included with the laptop.

A refurbished laptop is a used, often business laptop that has been professionally inspected, cleaned and tested. Faulty parts are replaced and the laptop is delivered with a warranty, so it works like new again.

No. A second-hand laptop is resold without any inspection, while a refurbished laptop goes through an extensive quality check and overhaul and comes with a warranty.

At DSL-TECH you get a 2 year warranty on every refurbished laptop. The battery has a 6 month warranty, because a battery is a wear part. That way you buy with peace of mind, even with a second-hand model.

Yes. Every refurbished laptop is thoroughly tested, fitted with new parts where needed and reinstalled. That makes the laptop work like new again. With a 2 year warranty you also buy as safely as with a new laptop.

A refurbished laptop is usually 30 to 60% cheaper than a comparable new model. You often get a business laptop with strong specifications for the price of a simple entry-level model.

For everyday use such as browsing, email and word processing we recommend at least 8 GB of RAM and an SSD. For heavier tasks or gaming, choose more RAM and a more powerful processor.

Yes. At DSL-TECH you can pay for your laptop in 3 instalments with in3, interest-free. That spreads the cost so you do not have to pay the full amount at once.

Certainly. Every laptop is tested on more than 30 points and comes with 2 years of warranty. Orders from €200 are shipped free of charge as well.

A regular second-hand laptop is bought as is, usually without inspection or warranty. A refurbished laptop is first professionally tested, restored and reinstalled, and comes with a warranty. So with refurbished you get the certainty a regular second-hand laptop lacks.

For work, study and daily use an Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of memory and an SSD is more than enough. If you work with heavier programs, choose an Intel Core i7 and 16 GB. Our refurbished laptops come with Windows 11.

A second-hand laptop is resold without any inspection, while a refurbished laptop is professionally checked, cleaned and tested. With refurbished, faulty parts are replaced and you get a warranty.

The battery is a wear part that we always check; we replace it where needed. We state the battery condition so you know what you are buying beforehand.

Orders from €200 are shipped free of charge. You can also pay for your laptop in 3 instalments with in3, interest-free.

Check the processor generation, because that determines whether Windows 11 is supported. Also request the battery capacity with powercfg /batteryreport, check whether there is an SSD in it and whether the device has been unlinked from the previous owner's Microsoft account.

No. Consumer law governs the relationship between a consumer and a trader, so in a private sale you cannot demand repair or replacement. If you buy from a company, you are entitled to a product that does what you may reasonably expect of it.

Take the price of the same model at a refurbished seller as your upper limit and expect to pay thirty to fifty percent below that. That difference is roughly the room a trader needs for inspection, cleaning, warranty and return risk.

Open the command prompt and run powercfg /batteryreport. The report puts the design capacity next to the current capacity; the difference between the two is the wear on the battery.

No. Windows 11 requires a supported processor generation and a TPM 2.0 chip. Devices that fall outside that do not get a supported upgrade, and because Windows 10 no longer receives security updates such a laptop is not a bargain.

Yes, for work, study, working from home and everyday use 16 GB is plenty. It runs Office, a browser with many tabs and a video call at the same time. Only on heavy work such as video editing or 3D do you notice the difference with 32 GB.

Choose 32 GB if you edit video, work with large files in Photoshop or Lightroom, render 3D, or often run virtual machines. Anyone keeping dozens of programs and heavy browser tabs open benefits as well. For most people that step is not needed.

For light tasks such as browsing, email and word processing 8 GB still works fine. If you work with several programs at once, 16 GB is a more comfortable and more future-proof choice. Windows 11 needs at least 4 GB, but in practice you want more.

Most games run fine on 16 GB, certainly combined with a good graphics card. 32 GB mainly helps when streaming while gaming or with heavy simulations. For gaming the memory on the graphics card (VRAM) often counts for more than extra working memory.

On many business models from HP, Lenovo and Dell you can expand the memory later, but not on every model. Some laptops have the RAM soldered to the mainboard. So check the specifications in advance, or simply ask us.

No, for gaming 64 GB of RAM is unnecessary. Most games run fine on 16 GB, and heavy titles or streaming alongside are covered by 32 GB. For your frame rate the graphics card counts for far more than a jump to 64 GB.

In professional work with large files. Think 4K and 8K video editing, heavy 3D renders, many virtual machines at once or working with large datasets. For those tasks 64 GB keeps everything smoothly in memory.

For almost everyone it is. 16 GB covers daily work, 32 GB is the ceiling for heavy users such as video editors and photographers. Only when your program or workflow explicitly asks for more do you step up to 64 GB.

DDR5 is newer and faster, but for most work you notice little of that difference. The amount of memory counts for more than the generation. For a refurbished laptop 64 GB of DDR4 is still a fine and reliable basis.

For light home work with email, word processing and a few tabs 8 GB still works. As soon as you video call in Teams and work in several programs at the same time, 16 GB becomes the more comfortable choice.

For working from home 16 GB of RAM is the recommendation. It runs Office, a browser with many tabs and a video meeting smoothly side by side, and it keeps you going for a few years.

For ordinary office work no. 32 GB only makes sense if you also edit video at home, work with large photo files or run many virtual machines.

Both, but they do different things. RAM makes switching between programs smooth, an SSD makes your laptop and files start quickly. The combination of 16 GB and an SSD gives the nicest experience.

Adobe names 8 GB as the minimum for Photoshop but recommends 16 GB or more. With 8 GB you work on small files, while 16 GB is more comfortable for most photo editing.

For most photographers yes. With 16 GB you edit photos with several layers smoothly. If you work with very large files, many smart objects or high resolutions, 32 GB is more comfortable.

When the RAM fills up, Photoshop uses free space on your disk as temporary memory, the scratch disk. A fast SSD with enough free space then keeps Photoshop quick.

A dedicated graphics card speeds up certain filters and functions, but it is not a must for ordinary photo editing. RAM, a fast SSD and a good processor usually count for more in Photoshop.

For simple 2D drawing 8 GB is the minimum and sometimes just enough. Autodesk recommends 16 GB, and for 3D or large drawings you certainly do not want less.

Autodesk names 8 GB as the minimum and 16 GB as the recommended amount for AutoCAD 2026 and 2027. For heavy 3D work and large assemblies 32 GB is wiser.

For 2D work an integrated card can be enough, but for 3D a dedicated card with DirectX 12 is advisable. It gives fluid rotating and zooming in complex models.

Both count. AutoCAD leans heavily on a fast processor with a high clock speed, while RAM makes sure large drawings fit in memory. A fast SSD completes the picture.

For browsing, email and word processing you need at least 4 GB of RAM, but 8 GB or more is recommended so you can multitask smoothly.

For Microsoft Office and streaming video 4 GB is the minimum, but with 8 GB or more you work more smoothly with several programs and tabs at the same time.

For photo editing you need at least 8 GB of RAM; 16 GB or more is recommended for large files and heavier programs.

For gaming you need at least 16 GB of RAM, and 32 GB or more is recommended for the heaviest games and for streaming them.

1 TB (terabyte) of storage equals 1000 gigabytes or 1,000,000 megabytes of data. In the binary system 1 TB is sometimes defined as 1024 gigabytes (1 tebibyte).

A terabyte (TB) is a larger unit of storage than a gigabyte (GB): 1 TB is roughly 1000 GB. A 2 TB hard disk can therefore store far more data than a 256 GB SSD.

For most users 1 TB is more than enough. Windows 11 alone takes up around 64 GB and modern games often ask for 50 to 150 GB each. Gamers are therefore better off with 2 TB or more.

An SSD is much faster than an HDD and gives you quicker start-up and loading times. An HDD offers more storage for a lower price, but is slower. For a laptop a 1 TB SSD is the best choice.

No. For Office, email, browsing and watching video an integrated graphics card is plenty. A dedicated card adds nothing for this use and only costs extra power.

For gaming, video editing, 3D work, rendering and many AI tasks. For those graphically heavy tasks a dedicated card with its own memory gives fluid performance.

An integrated graphics card sits in the processor and shares the working memory. A dedicated graphics card is a separate chip with its own memory, the VRAM, and is therefore far more powerful for graphics work.

For lighter games and photo editing 4 to 6 GB of VRAM is a comfortable starting point. For modern games at high resolution, 4K video and 3D you want 8 GB or more.

The 14 inch is the screen diagonal, so the measurement from corner to corner, and it comes down to about 35.6 centimetres. On most models the casing measures around 32 by 22 centimetres, which makes a 14 inch laptop compact enough for a backpack.

A 15 inch gives you about 15 percent more screen space at the same aspect ratio, and costs you around 450 grams of extra weight for it. For working with two windows side by side that is worth it; if you are on the train every day, the compact 14 inch weighs more heavily in your choice.

That depends on where the device sits. A 16 inch works as a replacement for a desktop PC with plenty of screen space for graphics work, while a 14 inch is made to be carried. In refurbished, the 16 inch is mainly mobile workstations with dedicated graphics.

A 13 inch is light and compact, a 14 inch gives you a little more screen and often a fuller keyboard. In the business series the 14 inch is also the most common size, which makes the range and the choice in processor and memory largest there.

For email, Office, video calls and most web applications a 14 inch with Full HD is more than enough. If you work with CAD, video editing or many windows side by side, connect a monitor or choose a larger screen.

Full HD (1920 by 1080) is the practical standard at this size. Business series also offer WUXGA with a 16:10 ratio, which gives you slightly more vertical screen space and works nicely in documents and spreadsheets.

Light games run on the integrated Intel graphics of a business model. For serious gaming you need dedicated graphics, and those are rare in this size; gamers are better off with a 15 or 17 inch.

The business top series dominate this size: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga, the ThinkPad T14s and T490s, and the HP ZBook Firefly 14. Those were built for large fleets, last for years and are therefore available as refurbished models.

At DSL-TECH you find 14 inch refurbished laptops from Dell, HP and Lenovo. Every device is tested on more than 30 points, gets a clean installation of Windows 11 Pro and is delivered with 2 years of warranty and 30 days to change your mind. Order before 12:00 and it leaves the same day.

Three things: the generation of the processor, the amount of memory and the condition. A ThinkPad T490s with an Intel Core i7 and 16 GB costs considerably less than an X1 Carbon Gen 12 with a Core Ultra 7 and 32 GB. The condition runs from as good as new to visibly used, and that choice makes a difference to the price too.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which weighs around a kilo. The T14s sits just above it and is somewhat cheaper. If you are looking for a 14 inch you also use as a tablet, the X1 Yoga with touchscreen and 360-degree hinge is the only one in this size that can do that.

Yes, 2 years on every device, plus 30 days to change your mind. The battery is a wear part; on delivery it always has at least 80% of its original capacity, and it comes with a 6-month warranty. The battery condition is stated per laptop, so you know in advance what you are buying.

A 17 inch laptop is ideal if you want a large screen for gaming, video editing, photos or films. The spacious screen gives you the comfort of a desktop, while the laptop stays mobile thanks to a sturdy bag. If you are on the road a lot, a smaller size is usually more practical.

Most 17 inch laptops have a Full HD resolution (1920x1080), which is sharp enough for most tasks. If you do a lot of photo or video editing, a higher resolution such as 4K is a welcome addition for extra detail and working space.

For internet, Netflix and office work an integrated graphics card is enough. If you game or edit video, we recommend a dedicated (separate) graphics card, combined with at least 32 GB of memory and an i7 or i9 processor for smooth performance.

Our 17 inch laptops are refurbished, tested on 30+ points and delivered with 2 years of warranty and Windows 11 Professional. You benefit from sharp prices, free shipping from €200 and the option to pay in 3 instalments with in3.

Yes. Notebook was once the term for the thinner, lighter version, but that distinction disappeared years ago. If you are looking for a 17 inch notebook, you mean the same device as a 17 inch laptop.

The HP ZBook Fury 17, in the G7 and G8 generations. These are mobile workstations with an Intel Core i7 or an Intel Xeon, a separate NVIDIA graphics card and room for plenty of memory. We do not carry a cheaper 17 inch HP.

The Dell Precision 5750, 5760, 5770, 7750 and 7770. All of them 17.3 inch workstations with an Intel Core i7, i9 or Xeon. The 5770 and 5760 are the slimmer versions; the 7770 and 7750 offer the most computing power.

That depends on what you want to do with it. For browsing, email and watching films, a laptop with an Intel Core i5 (or AMD Ryzen 5), 8 to 16 GB of RAM and an SSD is more than enough. For gaming, video editing or 3D work, choose a more powerful model with an i7 processor, at least 32 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card. Not sure? Our laptop advisor helps you on your way in a few steps.

For most users 8 GB of RAM is enough, but 16 GB is nicer if you use a lot of tabs or programs at the same time. If you work with heavy software, such as video or photo editing or gaming, we recommend at least 32 GB of RAM. More RAM keeps your laptop running smoothly while multitasking.

The processor largely determines how fast your laptop is. For everyday use an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 is enough. For heavier tasks such as gaming, editing or business multitasking, an Intel Core i7 (or i9) is the better choice. Pick a processor that matches your use, so you do not pay too much or too little.

Certainly. A refurbished laptop often offers the same specifications as a new model, but for a much lower price. At DSL-TECH all laptops are tested on more than 30 points and delivered with 2 years of warranty. That lets you choose deliberately on processor, RAM, SSD and graphics card while you save money and choose more sustainably. Shipping is free from €200 and you can spread payment with in3.

Technically none at all. They are two words for the same device: a portable computer with a screen, a keyboard and a battery in a housing that folds shut. Manufacturers and shops use them interchangeably, and whichever word is on the box says nothing about what is inside.

Because in the nineties notebook was a marketing term for the thinner and lighter class, roughly the size of an A4 pad. Laptops back then were considerably heavier. Since almost every portable computer is thin and light, that distinction has gone, but the word stuck.

Only in model names and in language. HP calls a range of models literally HP Notebook, and in German Notebook is still the more common word. In Dutch, laptop and notebook are used interchangeably, with laptop the more frequent of the two.

At four things: the generation of the processor, the amount of RAM, the screen size and whether it is a consumer or a business series. That last one determines the build quality, and with it how long the device lasts. The word on the packaging determines nothing.

In shape yes, in the way it works not quite. A Chromebook runs ChromeOS instead of Windows, which means many Windows programs do not work on it. We do not sell Chromebooks; our laptops all run Windows 11 Pro.

A desktop sits fixed on a desk and has a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. It is usually easier to expand and cheaper per unit of computing power, but you do not take it anywhere. Laptops are our core business.

QWERTY is the standard layout in the Netherlands and the US, among others. AZERTY is used mainly in Belgium and France and has the A and Q (and Z and W) swapped around to suit French accents. QWERTZ is common in German-speaking countries and swaps the Z and Y, with separate keys for ä, ö and ü.

Our refurbished laptops come with a QWERTY layout as standard. For many models you can choose another layout, such as AZERTY or QWERTZ, on the product page. Not sure about the layout of a specific model? Get in touch with us before you order.

Yes. In Windows you set this under Settings > Time and language > Language and region, and on a Mac under System Preferences > Keyboard. In Windows you switch quickly between layouts by holding down the Windows key and pressing the space bar. The printing on the physical keys does not change.

For most Dutch users QWERTY is the logical choice, because it lets you type accents and special characters easily. If you type a lot in French or German, AZERTY or QWERTZ may be more comfortable.

Usually the keyboard layout was switched by accident, often with a shortcut while typing. Windows is then set to another layout (US for example), so your keyboard types wrong characters.

Press the Windows key + spacebar and choose your layout. Or go to Settings, Time and language, Language and region and set the correct layout under Keyboards.

Then your keyboard is set to the US layout instead of yours. Change the keyboard layout back and the characters return to their place.

QWERTY is the layout used in the Netherlands, AZERTY is Belgian or French. If your keyboard is on AZERTY it types other characters; select QWERTY with the right language.

Almost always the setting in Windows, not the keyboard itself. If it stays wrong after changing the layout, check a stuck key, dirt or dust and the drivers.

On a Dutch keyboard you hold AltGr and press 5. If that does not work, use the numeric keypad: hold Alt and type 0128, then release Alt.

AltGr and 5 is the standard shortcut in Windows on a Dutch layout. On a US keyboard the euro sign is often on AltGr and 4, and through Alt and 0128 on the numeric keypad it always works.

On a MacBook with a Dutch layout you use Option and 2, also called Alt and 2. If that does not work, your keyboard is on a different layout and you can insert the character through the emoji and symbols window.

In Dutch you put the sign before the amount with a space in between, so € 25,00. In running text you may also write it out in full as euro; do be consistent within a document.

Typing works with the same shortcuts. If you want amounts to show the sign automatically, use the currency format through Home, Number, and choose euro. Excel then puts the sign in front by itself without it being in the cell.

Your keyboard layout is then probably set to a different language than what is printed on the keys. Check at the bottom right of the taskbar which layout is active and switch with the Windows key and the space bar.

The European Commission presented the symbol in 1996, and it is inspired by the Greek letter epsilon with two horizontal lines meant to express stability. As a currency the euro came into circulation in 2002.

On some US and Asian layouts it is not on the keys. The combination Alt and 0128 on the numeric keypad still works then, and otherwise you insert it through Symbols in your word processor.

Windows 11 requires among other things TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, a compatible 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. All our refurbished laptops are tested on more than 30 points and meet these requirements, so Windows 11 runs smoothly.

Yes. You get the same powerful hardware (a fast processor, enough RAM and a roomy SSD) as with a new laptop, but for a fraction of the price. It is also more sustainable, because you give existing hardware a second life.

You get 2 years of warranty as standard on your refurbished Windows 11 laptop. We also help you free of charge with questions about installing and updating Windows, during and after the upgrade process.

Yes. Within 10 days of the upgrade to Windows 11 you can easily go back to Windows 10. We no longer supply laptops with Windows 10 ourselves: all our laptops are delivered with Windows 11 Pro.

A refurbished laptop is a used laptop that has been fully inspected, cleaned and reinstalled. Parts are tested and replaced where needed, so the laptop works reliably again. That is why a refurbished laptop usually comes with a warranty as well. So you get the performance of a good laptop, but for a lower price than a new one.

Yes, a refurbished laptop is reliable. The laptops are first tested extensively and checked for technical problems. Worn parts are replaced and the laptop is reinstalled with clean software. That is why a refurbished laptop also comes with a warranty. So you know the laptop works properly and that you can safely buy a laptop for a lower price.

Yes, you get a warranty on a refurbished laptop. With us you receive 2 years of warranty on the laptop. That way you know the device works properly and that you will be helped if something goes wrong. The battery has 6 months of warranty. Because a battery is a wear part, its lifespan varies with use.

Yes, you can keep using Windows 10 after 14 October 2025. Your pc still starts up and your programs keep working. Without the ESU program you simply no longer receive security updates from Microsoft. So the real question is not whether you keep using Windows 10, but how you do it safely.

ESU stands for Extended Security Updates. It is a program that gives you one extra year of security updates for Windows 10, until 13 October 2026. You enrol for free by syncing your settings with a Microsoft account, with 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time payment of around 30 euro.

No, not in the long run. Without security updates new vulnerabilities stay open and the risk grows every month. With ESU you stay protected until 13 October 2026. To really keep your pc safe after that, you need a supported version of Windows, such as Windows 11.

Yes, the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free if your pc meets the Windows 11 system requirements. You check this with the Microsoft PC Health Check app. If your pc does not qualify, a new pc with Windows 11 or a refurbished laptop with Windows 11 is an affordable alternative.

Windows 11 has a redesigned interface, better performance and extra features such as Snap Layouts, Auto HDR and DirectStorage for gamers. Windows 11 also sets stricter security requirements, such as TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

Yes, if you have an official version of Windows 10 and your pc meets the system requirements (such as TPM 2.0), the upgrade is free. If your device does not qualify, a refurbished laptop with Windows 11 is an affordable alternative.

Our refurbished laptops come with Windows 11 Pro as standard, fully updated and ready to use. Every laptop is tested on more than 30 points and has 2 years of warranty.

Microsoft supported Windows 10 until October 2025. After that no more security updates are released, which is why upgrading to Windows 11 or buying a laptop with Windows 11 is advisable.

A Chromebook is a laptop that runs ChromeOS, the operating system from Google, instead of Windows or macOS. The hardware resembles that of an ordinary laptop; the difference is in the software and in the fact that much of the work happens in the browser and in the cloud.

Programs made for Windows do not run on it. Think of the desktop versions of Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, many accounting packages and most PC games. Specialist business software and peripherals with their own Windows drivers are out too.

The advantages are the low price, the quick start-up, the long battery life and updates that happen automatically in the background. The disadvantages are the limited software, little local storage and the dependence on an internet connection for part of the work.

Yes. Online banking happens in the browser, and that is exactly what a Chromebook is made for. Bank apps from the Google Play Store usually work on it as well.

Partly. Google Docs, Gmail and a number of apps have an offline mode that you switch on in advance. Without an internet connection a fair part of the possibilities falls away, so for work on the train or on location that is something to consider.

ChromeOS has security built in and works with separated processes, which means a separate antivirus program such as Norton is rarely needed. On Windows, Windows Defender or an alternative remains sensible.

Often 32 or 64 GB, against 256 GB or more on a business Windows laptop. That is deliberate, because files are meant to live in Google Drive. If you work with large videos or a photo archive, that storage quickly becomes too tight.

For primary and secondary education often yes, certainly if the school works with Google Workspace. In further education software comes into view that only runs on Windows, and then an ordinary laptop is the safer choice.

Press the Windows key and R, type winver and press Enter. A window opens with your Windows version, the edition and the build number. That works in every Windows version from Windows 7 onwards and you do not have to install anything.

The winver window states it on the first line: Windows 10 or Windows 11. If you are unsure without that check, look at your taskbar: if the start menu sits in the middle it is Windows 11, if it sits on the left it is Windows 10.

For the operating system you use winver. For Office you open a program such as Word and go to File, Account, where the version of Microsoft 365 or Office is shown. Those are two different things that are updated independently.

Windows 11 is the current version of Microsoft Windows, with updates that get a new version number twice a year such as 23H2 or 24H2. Which version is the newest at any moment is on the Microsoft support page.

Microsoft offered the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 free of charge for devices that meet the system requirements. Whether that offer still applies and on what conditions is on the Microsoft page itself; through Windows Update you see straight away whether your laptop qualifies.

Go to Settings, System, About and look at System type. There it says whether you have a 64-bit operating system and whether your processor supports 64-bit. Windows 11 only exists as 64-bit, so a 32-bit installation means you are still on an older version.

The build number states exactly which updates have been applied, more finely than the version number. With a support question or a known problem, that number is what a helpdesk needs to see whether your system already has the update in question.

Regular support for Windows 10 stopped on 14 October 2025, so no ordinary security updates arrive any more. Microsoft has also offered a paid arrangement for extended updates; the current conditions and end date are with Microsoft.

That depends on how you use it. For business work the rugged Lenovo ThinkPad is the favourite, the Yoga series is ideal if you want a flexible 2-in-1, and the IdeaPad offers a lot of value for home use. With every model, look at the processor, the RAM and the SSD storage that suit your tasks.

Yes. Our refurbished Lenovo laptops are tested on more than 30 points and repaired where needed before they are sold. They combine the quality of a business laptop with a sharp price and come with 2 years of warranty.

For home use, films and office work, 16 GB of RAM with an Intel Core i5 processor is often enough. For heavier tasks such as gaming, video editing or 3D work we recommend at least 32 GB of memory, an i7 or i9 processor and a fast SSD.

Our Lenovo offers are considerably cheaper than new. You can pay in 3 instalments and you get free shipping from €200. That way you buy a powerful Lenovo laptop with a warranty without paying the full new price.

That depends on how you use it. For home and study a Dell Inspiron with an Intel Core i5 is a logical choice. For business work you pick a Dell Latitude, for premium an XPS and for gaming an Alienware with discrete graphics. First decide what you use the laptop for, then the choice between the series becomes easy.

An Intel Core i5 or i7 is fine for daily work such as Office, browsing and video calls. The Intel Core Ultra is newer, more efficient and has a separate NPU for AI tasks. If you want to run AI features like Copilot locally, an Intel Core Ultra is the better choice.

Yes. A refurbished Dell laptop is thoroughly tested, fitted with new parts where needed and reinstalled with Windows 11. Dell's well known build quality and reliability are exactly what make these notebooks suitable for a second life. At DSL-TECH you also get a 2 year warranty.

Yes, but then watch the graphics. For games you need discrete graphics, for example a separate NVIDIA card in an Alienware or a model from the gaming series. These combine a powerful Intel Core processor with a fast graphics card and a smooth display.

A new gaming laptop quickly costs between €1200 for entry-level models and €3000+ for high-end models with an RTX 4090. A refurbished gaming laptop is considerably cheaper, is delivered as new after a strict inspection and comes with a warranty.

A good gaming laptop has a powerful processor, enough RAM and a strong graphics card. Models such as the HP ZBook Power G7, DELL Precision 3530 and DELL Precision 7730 are excellent choices.

Refurbished models such as the HP ZBook Power G7, DELL Precision 3530 and DELL Precision 7730 are affordable choices for playing modern games. The prices are sharp and the performance is good.

With a gaming laptop, pay attention above all to the processor, the RAM and the graphics card. Together they determine how smoothly modern games run. Do not forget to look at the storage (SSD) and the screen size in inches either.

For smooth video editing, choose a laptop with at least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16 GB of RAM (32 GB for 4K), a dedicated graphics card such as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX and a fast NVMe SSD. At DSL-TECH these models are tested on more than 30 points and delivered with 2 years of warranty.

For light projects 16 GB of RAM is enough, but for editing and rendering 4K video 32 GB is the minimum. If you work on heavy projects in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, 64 GB is advisable for the best performance.

Yes. A dedicated graphics card, such as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX, speeds up playback, editing and exporting of video considerably. For photo editing an integrated graphics card is often enough, but for video a dedicated card is essential.

Definitely. Our refurbished laptops with a powerful processor, enough RAM and a fast SSD deliver performance comparable to new models, but at a lower price. They are tested on 30+ points, you can pay in 3 instalments if you wish and you get free shipping from €200.

For school and study we recommend at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor, an SSD and 8 GB of RAM, although we advise 16 GB for smooth multitasking. An SSD gives you fast start-up times, and also look for a battery that lasts a full school day.

For browsing, email and word processing 8 GB of RAM is enough. If you work with several programs at once or do light video editing, 16 GB is more comfortable. For heavy editing or gaming we recommend 32 GB or more.

Yes. A refurbished laptop often offers the same performance as a new model for a much lower price. At DSL-TECH all laptops are tested on more than 30 points, you get 2 years of warranty and you can pay in 3 instalments with in3, ideal for a student budget.

At DSL-TECH shipping is free from €200. Most student laptops fall within that amount, so your laptop is delivered to your door without extra shipping costs.

First update Windows, sign in with your Microsoft account and then transfer your files. Only install your programs after that, so you start with a clean and current base. Keep your old laptop until you are sure everything has come across.

An external hard drive is the most reliable route for large amounts. Copy your folders to it, connect the drive to the new laptop and copy them back. Programs do not come along; you reinstall those.

Through cloud storage or over the network. With OneDrive or Google Drive you synchronise on the old PC and sign in on the new one, after which the files appear by themselves. Over the network you share a folder on the old PC and reach it from the new one.

That works fine for documents and photos. A USB stick is just slow and limited in storage, so for tens of gigabytes of video or a complete photo library an external drive is more practical.

No. Software sits spread through the system and the registry, so you have to reinstall it. Make sure you have your licence keys and login details to hand before you empty the old laptop.

Some of them. If you sign in on the new laptop with the same Microsoft account, certain settings come along. Browser bookmarks and passwords move if you are signed in to your browser with the same profile.

Look in File Explorer under This PC at how much is in use on your old drive. Usually the largest part of that is Windows itself; your personal folders are often a fraction of the total.

First check that everything really is on the new laptop and works. Then reset the old one to factory settings with the option to clean the drive, and decide whether you keep it as a spare, trade it in or have it recycled.

A blue screen or BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is an automatic safety measure in Windows. As soon as a serious hardware or software fault occurs, Windows halts the system to prevent damage to your files. So it is more a protection mechanism than a real crash.

First restart your computer; a BSOD is often a one-off hiccup. If that does not help, remove recently connected hardware, start in safe mode, update your drivers, check Device Manager, make sure there is enough free disk space and install the latest Windows updates. System restore is the last resort.

Common causes are faulty RAM, a failing hard disk or SSD, and outdated or corrupt drivers. Error codes such as MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA often point to memory problems, while KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR can indicate a failing disk.

Yes. If the blue screen keeps coming back, there may be faulty RAM or a worn-out SSD. Our refurbished laptops are tested on more than 30 points and delivered with 2 years of warranty, so such parts have been checked in advance and replaced where needed.

The fastest way is the Print Screen key, often shortened to PrtScn. It copies your whole screen to the clipboard, after which you paste the image with Ctrl + V. If you want to select part of your screen, use Windows key + Shift + S to open the Windows Snipping Tool.

That depends on the method. If you press Windows key + Print Screen, the screenshot is saved automatically in the Screenshots folder inside Pictures. If you only use Print Screen, the capture sits on the clipboard and you paste and save it yourself.

The Windows Snipping Tool is a built-in tool to capture part of your screen. You open it with Windows key + Shift + S, hold the left mouse button and drag over the area you want to capture. That gives you full control over your screenshots.

On a MacBook you press Shift + Command + 3 for your whole screen. For part of the screen you use Shift + Command + 4 and drag the mouse over the area. The screenshot then appears automatically on your desktop.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. That opens Task Manager, which often still responds while the rest is frozen. Find the program marked Not responding, click it and choose End task. If that does not help, hold the power button for ten seconds until the laptop switches off.

Occasionally, no. The SSD can take it and Windows repairs itself on the next start. What you can lose is unsaved work, and with bad luck a file that was being written at that moment. So only do it once Task Manager gets you nowhere.

In most cases because of too little RAM or because of overheating. With too little memory Windows starts writing to the SSD and everything feels sluggish; with overheating the processor throttles itself to cool down. Both are recognisable: the first in Task Manager, the second by a loud fan and a warm underside.

Hold Shift while you click Restart in the start menu. Then choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, and press 4. Windows then starts with only the essential drivers. If it does not freeze there, the problem is in software and not in the hardware.

Yes. Malware and cryptominers run in the background and eat processor time, which makes everything slow and sometimes freezes it. Check in Task Manager whether there is a process you do not recognise that constantly causes high load, and run a scan with Windows Security.

When it freezes in safe mode as well, or when it freezes while nothing heavy is running. Then you look at the SSD and the RAM. An SSD that is starting to fail causes freezes when opening files; faulty RAM causes random crashes with no pattern.

Go to Settings, System, Recovery and choose Reset this PC. Select Remove everything and then switch on the option to clean the drive. Windows then overwrites the drive, which makes personal files much harder to recover.

That depends on your choice. With Keep my files your documents stay and only programs and settings disappear. With Remove everything the whole drive is emptied, including your personal files.

The route through Windows works the same on every brand, so on an HP laptop too. Manufacturers also supply their own recovery software that you reach during start-up with a function key; which key that is is in the manual for the model.

With Reset this PC and Remove everything, Windows does both in one go: emptying and putting the operating system back. If you choose Cloud download, Windows fetches a fresh installation instead of using the local copy.

Allow twenty minutes to well over an hour. A laptop with an SSD is done considerably faster than one with a hard disk, and the option to clean the drive makes the process considerably longer.

Always, even if you choose Keep my files. A reset can get stuck, and then there is no way back. Put your important files on an external hard drive or in the cloud before you start.

Often yes, because all installed programs, background processes and startup items disappear. If the laptop was slower because of a full or old hard disk, fitting an SSD is a more lasting solution than resetting.

Sign out of your Microsoft account, switch off BitLocker if it is on, and then choose Remove everything with the drive cleaning. That way no personal data and no account link is left behind on the device.

A dry microfibre cloth is enough for almost everything. For stubborn dirt you dampen it lightly with water, and for the casing a little mild soap may be added. Do not use glass cleaner, alcohol or ammonia-based products on the screen, because those attack the coating.

A clean microfibre glasses cloth works fine, as long as it is dry and contains no sand or dust. Pre-moistened glasses wipes with alcohol are better left alone; those are made for glass and not for the anti-reflective layer of a laptop screen.

Briefly blow the vents clean with compressed air, in short bursts and with the can upright. Hold the fan still while doing so or blow at an angle, so it does not spin along. If the dust sits deeper, opening the laptop is work for a technician.

The screen and the keyboard every few weeks, the vents two to four times a year. If you work in a dusty environment or have pets, more often is fine. Cleaning regularly prevents overheating and extends the life of the device.

Tilt the laptop carefully upside down and tap gently on the casing, so the crumbs fall out. What stays behind you remove with compressed air or a soft brush. Do not pull keys off, because the clips underneath break easily.

No. Switch the device off, pull out the plug and wait until it has cooled down before you start. That prevents short circuits from moisture and you also see much better where the marks and fingerprints are.

Opening your laptop counts as maintenance you should only do if you know what you are doing, and it can affect your warranty. On business top series the bottom plate comes off with a few screws, but if in doubt leave it to a technician.

Physical cleaning helps against overheating, and a laptop that gets less hot holds its speed for longer. If the device feels slow without getting warm, the problem is in the software and not in the dust.

On many business laptops, yes. You then need a free slot or you replace an existing memory module with a bigger one. On thin ultrabooks the memory is often soldered onto the motherboard, and then it cannot be done.

For office work, video calls and dozens of browser tabs, 16 GB is more than enough. If you work with video editing, virtual machines or large CAD files, you do notice the difference with 32 GB.

With 8 GB, Windows together with a browser and Office already fills up quite a bit, after which the system writes memory to the disk and becomes noticeably slower. With 16 GB you keep room for multitasking and everything stays responsive.

In daily use you notice little of it; the gain is in heavy applications. Video editing, 3D work, virtual machines and dozens of large files at once benefit from 32 GB, and for the rest it is spare capacity.

Open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab and click Memory. There you find the speed, the number of slots used and the form factor. For the exact type, look at the specifications of your model with the manufacturer.

No. DDR4 and DDR5 have a different notch and physically do not fit in the same slot, and the motherboard supports only one of them. So you have to buy memory of the same type your laptop already uses.

On many business models adding memory is foreseen by the manufacturer and the warranty stays intact, as long as you damage nothing. Check your own terms before you open the bottom plate, because it differs per brand and per model.

If you are still on a hard disk, moving to an SSD is by far the biggest jump. If you already have an SSD and your memory fills up while you work, expanding RAM is the next step.

A laptop docking station connects your laptop with a single cable to monitors, keyboard, mouse, network and other peripherals. That turns your laptop into a full workstation without plugging in separate cables every time. Most docks use USB-C or Thunderbolt for this.

That depends on your laptop's main connection. If the USB C port supports video and power, almost any USB-C docking station works. If your laptop does not have that, choose a DisplayLink dock that works through software and is compatible with almost any laptop.

Yes. Many docking stations drive two displays at once, often in sharp 4K. Do check whether your laptop supports that through the dock. If you definitely want to drive multiple monitors, choose Thunderbolt 4 or a DisplayLink dock.

Yes, a MacBook works with most USB-C and Thunderbolt docks. To drive extra monitors on a MacBook, a DisplayLink dock is often the safest choice. Always check compatibility per model.

Yes, through a leasing company or a build-to-order supplier you enter into a lease contract with a fixed amount per month, usually with terms of 24 to 48 months. You then pay for the use of the hardware instead of buying it.

Per month yes, over the whole term almost never. Interest, service and the leasing company margin sit in the monthly amount, so the total comes out higher than the purchase price. Leasing buys you cash flow and convenience, and that costs money.

From a business point of view, the moment you need it, because delay costs you productivity. If you want to watch the price, the periods around Black Friday and the end of a quarter are favourable, and with refurbished the supply is mainly tied to the moments companies replace their fleet.

A laptop you use for business is a business expense. Small amounts you book against your profit in one go, larger investments you depreciate over several years. The threshold and the depreciation period are set by your national tax authority; if in doubt, have your accountant confirm it.

If you are a VAT-registered business, you reclaim the VAT on a business laptop in your return. With leasing the VAT sits in the monthly amount and you reclaim it per instalment. In both cases, keep the invoice in the name of your business.

With an operating lease the leasing company stays the owner and maintenance is often in the contract, after which the hardware goes back at the end of the term. Renting you usually do for a shorter period, for example for a project or a temporary worker.

The laptops go back to the leasing company, which has them cleaned up and resells them. Precisely those devices come back onto the market as refurbished models, and that is why business top series are so widely available.

Below ten workstations the convenience of leasing rarely outweighs the cost. With larger numbers lifecycle management starts to count: rollout, management, replacement and collection in a fixed process, and a leasing company charges for that.

Yes. At DSL-TECH you pay for your laptop in three instalments with in3, from an order amount of 100 euro and up to 3,000 euro. You pay a third at the order and the two remaining instalments over the two months after that, without interest and without extra charges.

That is possible in two ways. With paying later through Klarna you push the whole amount back, with instalments through in3 you divide it over three payments. In both cases your laptop is shipped straight away once the payment request is approved.

In our checkout you find Klarna with the options pay now, pay later and pay in instalments. For spreading without interest, in3 is the cheapest choice, because no charges are added as long as you pay on time.

The three instalments of in3 are not registered with BKR, the Dutch credit register; in3 states that on its own site. BKR registers loans and credit from 250 euro with a term longer than a month, such as a personal loan or a purchase on credit over 36 months.

With in3 you pay 0 per cent interest and no extra charges. You therefore pay exactly the purchase amount, divided over three instalments. Late payment can lead to reminder charges, and that holds for every form of paying after the fact.

The minimum order amount for in3 is 100 euro, the maximum 3,000 euro. Virtually every refurbished laptop in our range falls within those limits, including the heavier mobile workstations.

in3 runs a quick data check before the payment is approved. If your request is not approved, you can contact in3 or choose another payment method in the checkout, such as iDEAL or a bank transfer. Your order then simply stays in place.

If you buy in the name of your business, a bank transfer or a business arrangement is usually more practical, not least because you then take the VAT into your return. With a business order, ask in advance whether paying in instalments applies to your request.

Yes, as long as the device still works and is not too old. Business top series with an SSD and enough memory hold their value longest. With a fault or a very old model it is usually no longer about money but about handing it in responsibly.

That depends on the model, the processor generation, the memory, the storage and the condition of the battery and the casing. A business laptop a few years old with 16 GB and an SSD clearly brings in more than a consumer model of the same age.

Large chains run trade-in promotions periodically, often in the form of a voucher when you buy something new. The conditions and the amounts differ per promotion, so compare that with what selling separately would bring you.

Financially little to nothing, because that generation of processors does not support Windows 11. The value is then in the parts and in the raw materials, so handing it in at a recycling point makes more sense than selling.

Make a backup of your files, sign out of your Microsoft account, switch off BitLocker and then reset the device to factory settings with the option to clean the drive. That way no personal data is left behind.

For recycling, always. A broken laptop contains metals and parts that get reused, and you can hand it in free at a municipal recycling centre or at a shop that sells electronics.

Usually yes, because there is no middleman. Against that stands the fact that you have to advertise, answer questions and ship the device yourself. Trading in is less money for less work.

Working devices are inspected, cleaned and given a second life as a refurbished laptop. What is no longer usable goes to dismantling, where the parts and raw materials are separated.