Can computer repair shops steal your data? If your hard drive is not encrypted (Bitlocker for Windows, Filevault for macOS), or if the drive is encrypted, and you have given the repair shop your password, then yes, they can access your data. Once accessed, it can be copied.

If a laptop repair costs half as much as a new laptop—or more—consider getting a replacement, especially if your machine is more than a few years old. If your computer is only 1 or 2 years old, it's probably worth fixing.

On average, computer repairs can range anywhere from a few hours to 2-3 weeks – factors such as scheduling or part availability can make repairs take longer. Thankfully, there are services you can consider that can speed up the process.

Liquid-damage repair. Spilling a drink on a laptop is surprisingly common. The repair cost doesn't necessarily depend on how much liquid was spilled, but on how much damage was caused when it got inside. Average cost: $100–250.