Before entering your accounts
Compare the model, serial number and visible configuration with the order. Inspect the lid, corners, hinge area and underside in good light. Photograph damage before it becomes difficult to distinguish from marks made during your own use.
Open the lid gently. It should move without obvious separation of the case or display surround. Check that the rubber feet are present and that the laptop sits securely on a flat surface. If the case is bulging, the touchpad has lifted or the battery appears swollen, stop using and charging the device and contact the seller.
The initial setup should not ask for a previous owner's password or an organization's enrollment credentials. A used computer may legitimately have been a business device, but it should be released for the sale. Ask the seller to resolve any lock rather than attempting a workaround.
Make every key earn its place
Open a plain text document and type through the keyboard, including punctuation and the number row. Test the arrow keys, Backspace, Delete and the function controls you will use. Check the keyboard layout against the listing; changing a software setting does not change the labels printed on the keys.
Use the touchpad to select text, scroll and drag a window. Try clicks in several areas. Repeated missed input, a sticking key or a pointer that moves without your touch is worth recording as a short video for the seller.
Display a few ordinary documents and images at comfortable brightness. Look for marks that remain in the same place, uneven areas that distract during reading and a screen that flickers when the lid moves. Do not press on the panel to investigate a mark.
Connect the equipment you own
Test the charger connection without forcing or wiggling it. The system should recognize a suitable adapter. If you need USB accessories, an external display or a memory card, try those ports with known-working equipment.
Join your usual Wi-Fi network and make a brief video call or local audio recording. This checks several everyday parts at once: camera, microphone, speakers and connection stability. Keep the test modest; it is intended to reveal ordinary faults, not to push an unfamiliar computer to its limits.
Check the advertised storage and memory in the operating system's information screens. Small differences in reported storage capacity can be normal, but a different drive class or substantially different memory amount deserves clarification. Save screenshots if the delivered specification does not match the order.
Use the battery on a normal task
After charging, unplug the adapter and work for a representative period. Note the starting and ending charge rather than relying on a single remaining-time estimate, which changes with workload. Watch for sudden shutdowns or large unexplained jumps in the percentage.
Initial updates and syncing can make the computer busier than usual, so repeat the test after setup settles. Compare the result with any battery guarantee the seller actually made. A worn battery may be expected in some sales, but it should still match the agreed condition.
Keep evidence before changing the machine
Write a short list of faults with the steps that reproduce them. Contact the seller within the relevant return period, attaching only the photographs or screenshots needed to show the issue. Hide account details and personal documents.
Avoid opening the chassis or replacing parts while you are deciding whether to return it. First establish the seller's process. Once you are satisfied the machine matches the purchase, use the manufacturer's supported reset or reinstall process as appropriate before making it your main computer, and bring its software up to date.
