Best Buy warranty on old laptop hard drives - do they cover failure?

best buy's geek squad protection plans typically cover hardware failures including hard drive issues, but the devil's in the details - you'll want to check your specific plan's terms since coverage varies by warranty type and age of the device. older laptops might fall outside their standard protection window or require a higher-tier plan. if the drive failed after purchase and you have an active plan, they usually replace it or the whole machine depending on repair costs. your best move is to call or visit best buy directly with your receipt and serial number to confirm what's actually covered on your particular laptop.

How old are we talking here - like five years, or pushing a decade?

The coverage really depends on which protection plan you bought and when. I had a friend whose old Dell died on him, and Geek Squad refused the claim because the drive failure happened outside the plan period, even though he thought he was covered. The basic plans often don't touch mechanical failures, only accidental damage. You'd need to dig into your actual receipt and policy document to see if your specific plan includes hardware defects - don't just assume it does.