Suspect loose hinges on my notebook?

Hi,



So basically our college provided us IT students with HP Notebooks each in August of last year. Up until now I haven't noticed it, but recently I've started to suspect that the hinges are becoming loose, when I press the plastic them they seem to move, they move back until a certain point, which I suspect is the medal hinge. I'm just wondering if they are meant to move back like that, I don't know if I'm being paranoid. And if they are becoming loose, is it an easy fix, because I really would like to avoid the £250 cost for a new laptop that the college has said we must pay if we break the laptop. Currently, I do ride my mooed to college, it's not a very long distance, maybe a few miles. Anyway. I recently just bought a pouch for my laptop, which should hopefully protect it, the laptop he never been dropped and I take good care of it.



thanks for reading this long question, and any help would be much appreciated.

 

Take the notebook to have them inspect them now.

Make them note that it has not been dropped, scratched, etc.

Let them decide if you should continue using it as is or provide a new one to you (no cost, of course).

If they say to continue using it; get it in writing that the hinges are loose from normal wear and tear and that you are not responsible.

An £250 cost is not something to get opinions about on a public forum.

Good luck.

 

If new last August then the computer is still under warranty. Do this test: Open the display to 90 degrees (ie vertically) and gently shake the computer. If the display wobbles but stays vertical then the problem is loose screws. If the display moves away from the vertical then the hinge mechanism is loose and needs to be fixed.

It is, however, normal for the hinges to become slightly less stiff with use but it's many years since I last encountered a computer where the hinges needed to be replaced. How the computer is carried when it is closed (and no stress on the hinges) will not affect wear on the hinges.

John

 

You didn't list the model but I've had a couple of laptops with defective hinge designs. My original Area-51 m15x and my original M11X. In both cases the screw posts on the plastic LCD lid broke. So while the hinges themselves were fine, the points at which they were attached to the screen lid were made of plastic that was not strong enough and cracked easily. I fixed the former with epoxy and the latter was replaced under warranty with a new, reinforced hinge design.