Many students, even teachers, find themselves in this type of situation. One day you’re happily typing away in class. The next, you’re kicking your foot against the computer screen because your Chromebook has become temperamental and now displays cryptic error messages. This happened to me recently when I tried to log onto my Gmail account.
Although it was a minor issue at first, it quickly escalated into a bigger problem when it became clear that my Chromebook wouldn’t be back up for a few hours, and I had left my mobile phone at home too.
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Things that happen if you accidentally break a school Computer or Chromebook
1. You will be the laughingstock of the school
Whether you accidentally break a school computer or your Chromebook, it’s not a good look. Everyone will know, and no one will ever let you forget it. You’ll have kids making fun of you on social media, labeling you an ‘idiot,’ and so on.
Even if the computer or Chromebook is only down for a couple of hours, this will likely be your school’s top “news story” for weeks until everyone has gotten tired of talking about it and moved on to other things.
2. The entire school will know what happened
The internet is a trendy and easy place to find out information. Often, the first people to find out what happened are the school IT team, who will probably spend most of their time trying to ensure you’re not doing anything dangerous with your computer.
They may still try to help you out because they’re human beings too, but most of the time, they won’t. They’ll have a job, and an important one at that. Like it or not, this will be a big part of your life for the next few weeks, and there’s no way around it.
3. Getting your Chromebook fixed might be easier than you think
Chromebooks are made by many companies like Acer and are economical compared to a standard laptop. Even though the hardware is less expensive than other brands, the people working there are friendly and helpful. I got an email out of the blue from them telling me exactly what was wrong with my Chromebook and even telling me how to fix it on my computer.
If its screen were broken, I’d try opening it up and cleaning out all the dust using a vacuum cleaner and compressed air. If its hard drive were broken, I’d buy a new one. You would probably do these things for any computer anyway (although not many people would have the skills to open up the casing and clean out all that dust).
If you accidentally break a school computer or Chromebook, the people at Acer might be willing to fix it.
4. You won’t get in trouble for breaking a school computer
This is probably the best part about the situation if it happens to you. Your stuff is your stuff and your responsibility. Depending on what type of contract you signed when you got your Chromebook, Google ensures that they’ll only give out your personal information to people who need it for school work, and that’s all.
No one can punish or expel you for breaking a school computer or Chromebook. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to live an easy life. You’ll still have to live with the fact that you broke your computer, and you’ll have to work hard to fix it.
5. You can lose all of your stuff
If the IT department manages school computers, Google might take away all of their files, and your Chromebook will be reset or wiped clean altogether. On the other hand, if the IT department does not manage school computers, you might also lose all of your documents and email accounts. This is not going to be fun.
Solutions if you accidentally break a school computer or Chromebook
1. Move on from the problem
The first thing you should do if you accidentally break a school computer or Chromebook is not to freak out. You’ll have to deal with it eventually, and you can’t let it distract you for the rest of your life. Breakdowns are common and will happen again, so try not to worry about anything too much.
Focus on the present instead and focus on getting back up again. Later on, when you have time, try thinking about ways to fix what’s happened in the future.
2. Learn how to fix it yourself
If you’re still breaking down or having problems with school computers, Google will probably replace them now. It could be your fault that they keep breaking down, and you might be able to help yourself in the future.
This is an excellent way to learn how to fix things, and you can even protect your computer from breaking! It’s perfect for people concerned about the environment because this might not have been an option without them.
3. Get a temporary computer
Get a temporary Chromebook or laptop if you don’t want a new school computer. They are usually pretty cheap, and various models are on the market, although I prefer ultra-portable laptops.
These run very long on battery and are usually lighter than regular laptops. They’re also quicker because of their processors, which feed off the energy from the storm. A portable laptop or Chromebook is a great way to save money on your old computer because you won’t have to pay for your internet and electricity bills as often.
This way, you can save money for something better when you buy it in the future!
4. Know how to fix your old computer
All of these schools buy pretty old computers, and most of them need fixing. All you must remember is how to fix it yourself when it breaks! The instructions will be either on the back or the side of the computer, and you’ll probably be able to understand them quite well. If you can’t fix it yourself, there might be a technician or technician-trained people around where you go that could help you out for a fee.
5. Tell your school
If you can’t fix it yourself, tell your school that your computer is broken and you have a repair bill. Does it matter how much they pay for the repairs? I don’t think so. Maybe they could get it cheaper if they did the repairs themselves or bought parts independently.
We pay 120 dollars annually for students to use a computer at school, which might be too much for most of us. Some schools already know about this and offer used computers or cheap Chromebooks instead of brand-new ones. If your school doesn’t do this, tell them what’s happening if you break another laptop!
6. Join the Right2repair movement to let them know what you need
If you’re tired of breaking down at school, this is a good idea. It’s pretty easy, and It will send an email describing what you need. If your school doesn’t have this, tell them they can join this group, and other schools could join.
7. Get a student discount
Some schools offer discounts if you’re a student. This is great if you’re broke and can’t afford to pay for your school computers. It’s no good getting something cheap if you can’t afford it in the first place, but this is an excellent idea! Find out what they offer around the area and ensure they’re not being ripped off because they don’t have many places to go.
8. Donate your old computer
Another thing you can do with your old computer is donated it to charity or sell it for parts on any market website. This is great for people who hate their computer or can’t fix it themselves.
People need computers for many reasons, and there are even more reasons people buy newer ones. You don’t always have to pay for things, and you could help someone who needs your help instead of spending $120 and your money on a new computer!
9. If you’ve completely lost faith in the school
If you’ve completely lost faith in the school and want to leave, leave the “computer room.” If they catch you trying to break down another computer, they’ll probably expel you, but if they find out that you’re just trying to fix it yourself, they might let you go with no problems.
This is the worst idea because some school districts have a terrible reputation when dealing with computer-related problems. If you have lost faith in the school, don’t give up and do something about it!
10. Use less of your computer
This is one of the best things you can do because you don’t have to use more than 10% of it. If you’re browsing the internet or reading PDFs, you don’t need to use it for over an hour a day. This protects your computer from breaking down, and you’ll see how fast it will last much longer if you use it properly.
The best approach to the problem without panicking
1. Remove all add-ins
If you can’t fix it yourself, try removing all the add-ins and drivers you can find. Try to keep your computer clean and junk-free because this will help the computer run better. A clean computer is going to last a lot longer! Make sure that your school doesn’t have anything on there, either.
2. Tell your teacher that you need to work on a group project
If you’ve broken down a computer again (or any school equipment), tell your teacher immediately! Tell them you need some time to research or do something else with the equipment in school while they fix it. They might not like you, but most will understand that you want to get something done, and they won’t give you much of a problem.
3. Seek alternatives
If your school doesn’t allow you to work on group projects or use computers for research, your best bet is to go out and find somewhere with these facilities. Even if you have to pay a little, it’ll be worth the money in the long run because it’s just $120, not including your Internet and electricity bills!
You can use these places after school hours or during lunchtime, so this will help save time if the school gets slow. If you’re still broke after finding these places, you can always ask your parents to pay for them!
4. Find a technician or technician-trained people
If your computer breaks down a lot, ensure there’s someone with the qualifications to fix it. There are many people out there who can do repairs, and most of them are willing to help. Some groups of people also have different computers, and they could let you use one for free.
They might be willing to let someone take it home and fix it for an hour or two if they fix theirs at school. These people are helpful because they know what to look for and how to fix things.
5. Tell your school
If you can’t fix it yourself, tell your school that your computer is broken and you have a repair bill. Does it matter how much they pay for the repairs? I don’t think so. Maybe they could get it cheaper if they did the repairs themselves or bought parts independently.
We pay 120 dollars per year for students to use a computer at school, which might be too much for most of us. Some schools already know about this and offer used computers or cheap Chromebooks instead of brand-new ones. If your school doesn’t do this, tell them what’s happening if you break another laptop!
Conclusion
You can get rid of your computer faster than you think. This is because most schools don’t have the right equipment to do repairs and end up paying a lot of money. If your school doesn’t have the right tools or experience, they might pay more than they should to fix the problem with no results.
If you happen to break a Chromebook or school computer and break it, the technical support at school may be able to repair it. If you accidentally damage a school computer or Chromebook, the first thing to do is not panic.
If you’ve lost all confidence in your school and are looking to leave, go to your computer repairer shop in your area. They may most likely be able to recover the laptop or Chromebook from damage.