Why you should always back up before a repair
Short answer: Even the most careful repair technician can inadvertently wipe data — a necessary OS reinstall, a BIOS flash gone wrong, or an SSD replacement all erase the drive. We do not browse customer files, but accidental data loss during a legitimate repair is a real risk. A backup takes 20 minutes and costs nothing up to 15 GB. It is the one step that removes all anxiety from handing over your laptop.
How to back up your laptop before repair
Step 1: Choose your backup method by data size
The right method depends on how much data you have and how fast your internet connection is. Open File Explorer on Windows (or Finder on Mac) and check how much space your user folder is using. That number determines your fastest path.
Under 15 GB — Google Drive free tier is enough. Open drive.google.com in a browser, create a folder called “Backup — before repair”, and drag in your Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders. This works from any browser with no software installation.
15 GB to 100 GB — Google One 100 GB costs ₹130 per month in India. That is less than a cup of coffee. Alternatively, OneDrive 100 GB is ₹170/month and integrates directly into Windows 11 via Settings > Accounts > Backup. Enable “Back up my folders” and let it run overnight if your internet is slow.
Over 100 GB, or you want a full system image — An external USB-C SSD (solid-state portable drive) is the most reliable option. Prices in India have dropped significantly — a 500 GB portable SSD can be found for ₹2,500–₹3,500; a 1 TB model runs ₹5,500–₹7,000. This gives you a local copy you control, with no dependency on internet speed.
Step 2: Windows — use File History or Settings Backup
Windows 11 has built-in backup under Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Backup options. Plug in an external drive, enable “Automatically back up my files,” and Windows will copy your user libraries (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Desktop). For a full system image — which captures the OS, installed apps, and all settings — search for “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” in the Start menu (yes, Microsoft still ships this tool) and choose “Create a system image.” The image can be restored to a blank drive if your SSD is replaced during repair.
Step 3: Mac — use Time Machine
Plug an external drive (HDD or SSD) into your MacBook. macOS will ask if you want to use it as a Time Machine (automatic backup) volume — click “Use as Backup Disk.” The first backup takes longer; subsequent ones are incremental (only new or changed files). For MacBook M-series (M1, M2, M3, M4 chip) users: Time Machine in macOS Sonoma and Ventura supports APFS (Apple’s file system) backups, which are faster and more reliable than the older HFS+ format. Do not interrupt the first backup run.
Step 4: The India angle — cloud plans are now genuinely affordable
For most of the last decade, paying for cloud storage felt unnecessary to Indian users because local options were limited and international pricing felt steep. That has changed. Google One 100 GB at ₹130/month, iCloud+ 50 GB at ₹75/month, and OneDrive 100 GB at ₹170/month are all well within reach. More importantly, affordable external SSDs now make doorstep-pickup workflows much simpler — you hand over the laptop with a full backup sitting on a small drive that you keep. This is the single-best habit change that prevents data loss anxiety across Indian repair workflows.
If you do not have a backup drive and your laptop is already malfunctioning, our data recovery service can extract files from most non-physically-damaged drives before the repair starts. See also the Lenovo data recovery service for brand-specific guidance.
When to call a repair service (and what it costs)
When DIY ends
If the laptop is not booting and you cannot access your files to back them up, stop. Do not attempt a force-boot or recovery mode without guidance — you can inadvertently overwrite recoverable data. Call us first; our engineer will assess whether data can be extracted before any repair work begins.
Typical cost in India
Cloud backup: ₹0–₹130/month depending on plan. External SSD: ₹2,500 for 500 GB, ₹6,500 for 1 TB. If we need to assist with pre-repair data extraction from a non-booting drive, our data recovery service starts from ₹1,500 for logical recovery (software-level issues) and ₹4,000+ for physical recovery.
A note from the LRW Engineer Team
The requests that are hardest to handle are from customers who say “there was nothing important on it” at drop-off — and then remember a work presentation or years of family photos at pick-up. Back up everything, every time. Storage is cheap. Regret is not. Read our pre-repair checklist for the full list of things to do before your service appointment.