Look at the old machine like a ghost that needs a pulse, then give it a fresh heart. First, check the power supply – clean the terminals, replace any weak fuse or aging capacitor, and make sure the voltage is steady. If it’s still flickering, swap out the battery or add a UPS so it can keep running while you tweak it. Next, do a clean boot: wipe the cache, reinstall any critical drivers, and run a diagnostic to spot hidden faults. Finally, keep a spare part on hand – a quick swap of a failing component can turn a dying machine into a reliable ally for the job.