Hinges snapped from case

[Jimmyw566]

Two nights ago as I was putting the laptop, which is only 18 months old, away and as I tried to fold the lid down it was forcing the front plastic bezel  away from the back panel on the left hand side and I thought that if I applied any more force the left hinge was also going to snap from the keyboard panel too. At the time I thought/hoped it was just the metal hinge that needed replacing so ordered a new one which came today. I have removed the bottom cover and in doing so the bezel pulled off too.

What I found was the left hinge was still attached by the screws to the top of the screen cover and was just about hanging onto the bottom keyboard panel but the moulded plastic bits which the screws go into have totally shredded on the bottom of the screen panel, also they are pretty much gone on the keyboard panel too. On the right hand side the hinge is still attached fully to the screen panel but the screw plugs on the keyboard panel have shredded meaning I can’t get a fixing back into them. 

As as you can probably guess there is of small plastic chips dotted about that have come off but also there is a few of the small gold coloured washers loose as well and a sheared screw or two. I don’t think that I have been overly aggressive with it but I must admit I am surprised with the amount of damage caused especially to say I haven’t dropped it or anything, even the left hinge cover had snapped away from its screws on the screen.

So basically I am now with the dilemma of what to do now. I could spend £50 on a new keyboard panel and £30 on a new screen cover and another £10 on new hinge covers and screws but then I don’t know for certain I would get it all fitted right and so would have wasted that money on essentially two pieces of plastic. Plus if I fit them I am back to having those flimsy plastic screw plugs holding it together so could easily break again in the future.

i remember many years ago a friend had a similar problem and he drilled out the plastic bottom and fitted metal bolts through the hinges, crude but worked a treat. But his bolts came out of the bottom, if I was to do this then I would need the bolts to come out of the back of the screen panel and along side the keyboard which just isn’t practical but It got me thinking that I could try supergluing the hinges to the panels, I know I would probably not get them out again and it may not last very long but what do I have to lose?

Third option would be to buy a new laptop, which would be a shame beings as all of my components still function well and I have already spent almost £300 installing a SSD and addition RAM into this one. I could obviously strip the components from this one and put into the new but one thing I would look for in the new on is trying to get a solid metal body which generally only come which higher end laptops which already have equal or better spec’ed components to what I already have which seems a waste, it’s finding the balance between cost and build quality. If anyone has any suggestions then that would be appreciated.

I know it is hard to say especially without inspecting it in person but any advice would be appreciated.

[Arthur-c]

@Jimmyw566

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