Dear DDN,

I bough my computer in the summer of 2009, and it's had it's fair share of hardware issues. It's a lenovo Y450, 4GB RAM, 2.13GHz processor, windows 7 (64-bit). Back when I had a warranty, I managed to let it slide off a chair and it hit the ground pretty hard right where the power cord plugs in to the computer... I sent it off to lenovo because the power cord wasn't connecting to the computer, and they had to replace the motherboard... it was free then, because I was under warranty.

About a year later, the power cord wasn't making a connection with the computer, but with any other power cord, it was working, so I bought a new power cord, fixing the problem. Less than 6 months later, it's doing it again... but it's not working with any other power cord, either.

Should I send it somewhere to get it fixed? Where are some good places to get it fixed? I'm in the Southeast United States if it helps.

Or should I just get a new computer? I know computers these days aren't meant to last forever... this is just my baby and I spent a whole summer working in the hot sun for this thing and I'm having a hard time letting it go Also, I'm a poor college student and I really don't have the cash for a computer. :-/

Also, if I back up my computer can I just put all the "insides" of this one into the new computer? Is it an easy transition or could I select the files and programs I want to keep and leave the others off? or is it an all-or-nothing kind of thing?

Help my DDN!