How long should my Win7 laptop last?

Thanks everyone with your comments re: my laptop. It has finally stopped working and so tomorrow, I will be purchasing another one. I found instructions on how to remove the hard drive, which I've done and I had already backed up my files. 32-bit lps seem to be less expensive, do I really need a 64-bit? Also, a youtube video I found on lp's overheating suggested that with new l.p.'s, if you vacuum the vents once a month, it can prevent dust build-up and overheating in the future. The same video suggested downloading speccy which will monitor the heat level. Will check into that later. I will also purchase a ssd suggested by Thrashzone. Any other suggestions so that I can get more than three years out of the next one? I've learned something new from this experience on laptops and increased my knowledge base, and that's a good thing. Thanks, from Jane's (kindle) Fire

Janesdf said:

Now, after three years, my laptop keyboard types the wrong characters, the online keyboard worked a week before it started doing the same thing, the Start menu flashes on and off, the scroll bar rolls to the bottom and is stuck there. Fortunately, I back up regularly.

My laptop is a Lenovo N580 64-bit with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Thanks. Jane

Laptops require periodic blowing out of the inside. If there is cat hair about it will have to be disassembled, because just blowing air in can make it worse. Sometimes a repaste of the CPU is in order, and the fan should be oiled at the same time. I refurb laptops and I do this all the time. A BIOS flash may help too, and after three years a Factory Reset or a fresh install is in order.

If you want to do this yourself, do the reinstall and get a can of compressed air to blow it out. Blow out the keyboard too. Unless the video chip is going, most three year old laptops should have a LOT of life left in them.

Thanks. Being that this was an unexpected expense, my budget is under $200 which is why I am looking at refurbished lps. I'm also looking at small form factor desktops for the smaller size. Jane

Thanks for the suggestion, however, I should have mentioned it must be Win7. I was among those who had horrible problems with Win 8 and 8.1 so I downgraded to Win 7. I'm staying away from all versions of Win 8. For work, I will need 4GB of memory. I am open to more suggestions.

Thanks, again. I took a look and see it is only 160gb. With all of my software, business and personal, files, etc., I had surpassed 300gb on my laptop which was 500GB. I have a refurbished desktop and laptop in mind, what do you think of these?

HewlettPackard HPDC7900BC20404 - Best Buy

HewlettPackard HPDC7900BC20394 - Best Buy

HP 15.4" Notebook 4 GB Memory 500 GB Hard Drive Black HP 6715BBC5-0509 - Best Buy