How to Tell When Your Laptop Needs a Clean Inside

A laptop doesn’t have to look dusty on the outside to be full of dust on the inside. In fact, most of the mess builds up where you can’t see it—around the fans, inside the vents, and across the heatsinks.

Over time, that hidden buildup causes problems. The laptop runs hotter, louder, and slower. You might not notice it straight away, but the signs start to creep in. The good news is, a clean doesn’t take long, and it can make a big difference.

Here’s how to tell if it’s time.

1. The fans are louder than usual

If your laptop used to be quiet and now sounds like it’s about to take off, chances are the fans are working harder than they should. That often means airflow is being blocked by dust.

You might hear it as soon as you open a few tabs or start watching a video. Fans that ramp up quickly and stay loud are usually trying to cool something that’s getting too hot, too fast.

2. The bottom gets hot (even when you’re not doing much)

A warm laptop isn’t always a problem, but if it’s getting hot while you’re just checking emails or browsing, that’s a red flag. Dust around the internal cooling system traps heat and prevents your CPU and GPU from staying within safe limits.

Over time, that heat can start to degrade internal components. Keeping things cool isn’t just about comfort—it’s about long-term performance.

3. It slows down under pressure

Most laptops can handle multitasking or a few heavy apps without falling apart. But if yours starts lagging, stuttering, or freezing under normal use, it might be heat-related.

Modern laptops throttle performance to keep temperatures in check. So if yours is running hot, it’s probably also running slower than it should.

4. It’s been a year (or more)

If your laptop has never been cleaned inside and it’s more than a year old, it probably needs it.

Dust buildup is gradual. You might not notice anything dramatic, but you’re almost certainly not getting peak performance or cooling anymore.

5. You hear odd noises (clicks, buzzes, scraping)

Not always related to dust—but worth mentioning. If your fans sound off, they might be hitting dust clumps or struggling to spin properly. Sometimes that’s a cleaning issue, sometimes it’s a failing fan. Either way, worth checking.

What a proper clean includes

When I clean a machine, it’s not just a quick air blast through the vents.

I:

• Open it up

• Clean the fans, heatsinks, and internal surfaces

• Replace thermal paste if it’s dried out

• Check for any signs of wear or early damage

It’s part clean, part inspection. And yes, it makes a difference.

Final thought

You don’t have to wait for your laptop to overheat before doing something about it. If it’s been noisy, hot, or acting up—or you just want to know where things stand—I offer free diagnostics and honest advice.

Sometimes all it needs is a clean. And sometimes, that’s enough to make it feel like a new machine again

Why Free Diagnostics Work (and What to Expect When You Book One)

There’s a reason we offer free diagnostics at LaunchLayer, and it’s not just a gimmick. It’s how we make tech support feel normal, approachable, and worth doing before your laptop reaches the point of no return.

Most people wait too long

If you’ve ever ignored a slow startup, a dodgy fan noise, or the screen flickering once and then never again, don’t worry—that’s normal. Most people wait until something breaks completely before asking for help. By then, it’s often more work (and more cost) than it needed to be.

That’s where the diagnostic comes in.

So what is a diagnostic?

It’s a simple checkup. You bring the machine in (or I collect it), and I run a full visual and hardware inspection. No commitments. No fixes done. No fees charged.

I’ll check:

• How hot it’s running

• Fan and airflow behaviour

• System updates and version compatibility

• Battery condition (for laptops)

• Any obvious physical wear or faults

• Any performance slowdowns or noise patterns you’re seeing

Then I’ll tell you what I’ve found and what your options are—from “this just needs a clean” to “time to consider a replacement” (and everything in between).

Why free?

Because I want you to know the facts before you commit to a fix. It’s that simple.

Some people worry they’ll be sold something they didn’t ask for. Others assume “free” means rushed or incomplete. But here’s the thing. When you know what the problem is, you’re more likely to make a smart decision and trust us again if something else goes wrong later.

Diagnostics take time, but they also build trust. And that’s what keeps local businesses like this running.

What happens after?

If the fix is simple (like a clean or a part swap), I’ll quote it up. If the fix isn’t worth it, I’ll say that too. There’s no pressure either way. You can walk away with your machine and a better understanding of what’s going on, or you can leave it with me to sort out.

Either way, it’s a win.

Summary

Free diagnostics make tech support less stressful. They remove the guesswork, help you plan ahead, and often catch issues before they get expensive. And if you do need work done, we’ll be ready to help—fairly, clearly, and without any fluff.

Windows 10 End of Support – What That Actually Means for You

You’ve probably seen the message by now: Windows 10 support is ending in October 2025. If you’re still running it, that might feel like a distant deadline. But depending on your machine and what you use it for, it's worth thinking about now.

Here’s what "end of support" actually means, and what you should do next.

It won’t break overnight

When support ends, your PC won’t suddenly stop working. You’ll still be able to turn it on, check emails, browse the internet, and use your apps. But you’ll be doing it on a system that’s no longer being maintained.

That means no new features. More importantly, no more security updates.

No security updates means more risk

Most security problems get fixed quietly in the background through automatic updates. Once support ends, those updates stop. If a new scam, exploit, or vulnerability is discovered, Windows 10 won’t be patched to protect you.

That creates a growing risk over time, especially if you’re using your PC for things like online banking, email, or shopping.

Software and apps will move on too

Over time, developers will stop supporting Windows 10. Certain apps will stop working properly or won’t install at all. That includes browsers, antivirus tools, business software, and even drivers for things like printers and webcams.

It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Usually within a year or so after official support ends.

So what are your options?

There are a few:

1. Upgrade to Windows 11
   If your PC meets the system requirements, I can help upgrade it and make sure everything moves over safely.

2. Replace your PC
   Some older machines won’t run Windows 11 smoothly. If that's the case, I can help you choose a solid replacement without the upsell or guesswork.

3. Do nothing, for now
   If you only use your PC offline or for very light tasks, you’ve got some time. But I’d still recommend planning ahead so you're not caught out when something stops working.

How I can help

I offer free diagnostics, upgrade support, and honest advice about whether your current setup is worth keeping. No pressure. No tech talk. Just a clear check and help if you need it.

You don’t need to do anything today. But if you want to know where you stand, I’m here.

Why Choose LaunchLayer for PC Repairs in Wickford?

When your computer starts acting up, you don’t need confusing jargon or surprise fees — just someone who’ll sort it, explain things clearly, and not waste your time.

That’s where LaunchLayer comes in.

I’ve been fixing and building PCs for years — first for mates and family, now properly as a local business in Wickford. Whether it’s a sluggish laptop, a dying hard drive, or a full custom build, I treat every job like it’s my own machine. Here’s how I work:

Free diagnostics, no-fix-no-fee

I’ll take a proper look at what’s going on — for free. If it’s fixable, I’ll explain the issue and give you a clear quote. If it isn’t worth doing? You won’t owe a penny.

Free collection and delivery

Don’t want the hassle of getting your PC somewhere? I’ll come to you — pickups and drop-offs in Wickford and surrounding areas are completely free. Or you’re welcome to drop it round if you’d prefer.

Quality parts and proper testing

I only use trusted parts from reliable suppliers, and every machine gets a full check before it goes back to you. If I wouldn’t put it in my own PC, I won’t put it in yours.

Straightforward updates, no waffle

You’ll always know what’s going on — no nonsense, no tech overload, just honest advice and clear next steps.

More than just repairs

Need a full upgrade? Want a custom gaming build? Or some help setting up your home or business tech? I offer consultancy too — from Google Workspace setups to GDPR basics.

Ready to get your PC sorted?

I’m local, easy to reach, and happy to help.
Contact me and let’s get it working again.

Introducing Rail Sign for Rail Shine

Introducing Rail Sign (formerly ShineCheck) for Rail Shine

In the world of rail maintenance, keeping a clear record of work is just as important as the work itself. What started out as ShineCheck evolved—after a bit of a naming epiphany—into what we now call Rail Sign: an app we built to streamline how Rail Shine’s operators document completed jobs on each asset. This post is a candid look at how we approached the problem: false starts, frustrations, breakthroughs and all. Think of it like a dev diary from the trenches.

The Problem: Documenting Work Done (Without the Hassle)

Rail Shine’s field operators needed a straightforward way to record each job they finished on a given asset. That sounds simple, but the requirements quickly piled up:

• Attach photos of the completed work (often multiple photos per job)

• Capture the customer’s signature as proof of completion

• Automatically generate a PDF summary of the job’s details (including those photos and signature)

• Email that PDF report to the customer, with their boss CC’d

• Organise everything in Google Drive: all photos and the PDF needed to live in a folder named after the specific asset and job number

In short, we needed to go from an operator finishing a job to a polished PDF report landing in a customer's inbox, with all files archived in a structured way. And we needed to do it without manual effort.

Early Attempts: Over-Engineering an Automation Rube Goldberg

I started where any reasonable person might: AppSheet for form logic, and Google Sheets as the backend. But to automate the rest, I assumed we’d need a Google Workspace upgrade at £20 per user/month just to send emails outside our domain.

To avoid that cost, I duct-taped a system using Zapier and Make. AppSheet fed form data into Google Sheets. Zapier would pick that up to create and email a PDF, and Make would try to relocate the images into a Shared Drive folder. In theory: elegant. In reality: an automated disaster.

It quickly got out of hand. I had:

• Zaps triggering Makes

• Makes looping Drive API calls

• Credentials and webhooks like spaghetti in a drawer

Photos would go somewhere in Drive, but rarely where I actually wanted them. And email? Half the time it failed silently.

One low point was looping multiple image uploads in Zapier. I built five identical steps in case the operator added five photos. If they only added three? The rest just failed. It worked, badly.

Trial and Error: Dead Ends That Taught Me Something

1. Zapier Loop Hack
Chaining five image steps in Zapier got the job done, but it was brittle and ugly. If the job needed six photos (don’t even ask about seven), I'd have to rebuild the whole chain and maybe even split the automation due to step limits. It was a “win” I regretted immediately.

2. The Glide Detour
Thinking AppSheet might be the wrong horse, I rebuilt the app in Glide over a weekend. The UI looked great and PDF generation was simpler, but Glide’s Drive control and automation logic were too limited. We bailed.

These misfires weren’t wasted. They gave me a clear view of what we needed, and just how far I’d been trying to over-solve a problem that already had a native solution.

The Breakthrough: AppSheet Was Enough All Along

The real "aha" moment came when I realised AppSheet could handle all of it natively. I’d already got it generating the PDF and consistently sending emails. My mistake was assuming it had to land in my personal Drive folder.

Here’s what unlocked it:

• PDF Generation: AppSheet was already creating PDFs from templates. The issue wasn’t generation—it was where the file ended up.

• Shared Drive Foldering: I discovered I could set the default AppSheet storage path to a Shared Drive and dynamically generate folder names using formulas like Asset123-Job456. AppSheet would create the folder if it didn’t exist and save everything there: photos and PDFs included.

• Emailing External Users: Despite my assumptions, AppSheet can email external parties, so long as the app is trusted in Google Admin. No Workspace Enterprise upgrade needed.

Once those clicked, the complexity evaporated:

1. Operator fills out the Rail Sign form in AppSheet

2. Submission triggers a bot: generates the PDF, emails it to the customer, and CCs the boss

3. All files are saved directly into a Google Shared Drive in a dynamically created folder

Done. No external services. No duct tape. Just clean automation.

Outcome: From Frankenstein to One-Stop Solution

Rail Sign now runs daily for Rail Shine’s team. Operators hit submit, customers get a polished report, and the office gets clean records in Drive.

Even better? No Zapier subscription. No Make flow management. No Workspace upgrade. Just one AppSheet app doing its job well.

It’s not glamorous, but it works. It’s maintainable. And it's much easier to debug or extend now that everything happens in one place.

Lessons Learned

• Don’t assume your primary platform can’t do something—check first

• Every workaround comes with a tax: money, time, or hair loss

• Shipping small failures is how great products learn and evolve. What matters is that we learn fast and improve faster

Rail Sign now does exactly what ShineCheck set out to do: just cleaner, leaner, and entirely native. And yes, the founders loved the new name.

Job done.