Case Cracks

hi,
I'm wondering how to get cracks in the averatec case. I've had mine since September and I haven't gotten a single crack in my case.
-andrew

 

Most people are complaining about cracks located around the hinges. If you take care of your lap and you don't press the screen when it's closed, you should not have this problem.

This is one real bad crack on my past machine, a presario 700 - http://pages.infinit.net/thief/crack.jpg

 

wipeout,
that's one big crack.
-andrew

 

this post is cracked
BTW i have two prefect cracks on each end of the keyboard to the screen. Hmm. didnt notice them till now dam u guys

 

sorry. What if you were to apply epoxy glue to the cracks, would that fix them?
-andrew

 

I certainly hope this isn't something I get to look forward to in the future. Those with cracks, did you ever drop your laptop, or carry it around in a case often? Was it caused by any unordinary factors?

 

I've had mine since last sept, and i always transport it in a pack ment for a laptop, and my screen back has cracked quite nicelly. I have essentially babied the thing since its my first lappy, therefore i am not careless with it. It does seem to be that the hinges may be to tight or something as when i first noticed the crack, it keep bigger and bigger with use. Now it has reached one side of the back and, then split off into two and cracked a little triangle right out of the side of the monitor. I can also hear a little piece rattleing around in the monitor casing. And it does still seem to want to reach out some more. I talked to Future Shop about it, and they may to classify it as physical damage. Which would really suck.

 

I hate to say it, but I think that I may have a crack as well. Its right undernead the moniter, above the rightmost "hinge" connecting the moniter with the base. it's about half a centimeter long, and looks more like a scuff so to speak, however I can see (under the right light) a black line, perhaps signifying a break in the material. I hope this won't be a problem for me in the future.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jedisolo

 

The crack I had on my presario was just a flaw with these models, pretty much everyone had one, big or small, soon or later. Plastic was really thin in this area, and the hinges were really firm.


Can you guys post a picture of your cracks, if possible ? That would be appreciated.

 

I guess i shouldn't have brought up this topic. Sorry guys.
-andrew

 

Dont apologize. I have 2 days to return this laptop with no questions asked, so it was best it was brought to my attention now. The question I keep asking myself though is whether I should return the laptop because of it.

 

hi,
I was searching the net and trying to see how a person could reinforce the back of the laptop, this is what I found.

I have fixed several laptop cases the cheap - but - stronger - than - new way.

If you are referring to the bezel that runs along both sides of the LCD screen, then I have experience with this, as well.

See, you can use anything from headless nails to strips of steel or even steel scavenged from an old lockback knife to reinforce cracks in virtually any plastic part.

First, remove anything that's in the way so you can easily access the cracked part, then use some Medium grit sandpaper to roughen the inside aspect of the cracked parts.

Then prepare the 're-rods', and mix up some JB Weld.

Ensure the metal reinforcements are grease-free and somewhat roughened, then coat the cracked area with a thin layer of JB. Also coat the steel and apply it perpendicular to (across) the cracked area, so the length on both sides of the crack is the same.

The more strain that spot is going to be seeing when in use, the more metal you need to use.

Lastly, make sure the cracks aren't gaping, and set the laptop so that the parts will be in good alignment when the epoxy cures.

Let it cure overnight, and in the AM, your PC case will be BETTER than new. Reasssemble anything you needed to remove, and have fun with it!

-andrew

 

Ahhhh, good ole JB weld! Is there something that stuff WONT fix??

One thing I have done (but truthfully not with a lappy) with plastic cracks, CAREFULLY drill a small hole right at the end of the crack. this is a old metal fab trick that can work on plastic, and if you couple it with Jedisolo's "patch", then ya might be in business.

JS, I would ask you where does one get a replacement lappy case?

 

Damage D,
I found this one website called http://www.notebookparts.com. I found laptopparts.com. Also i found this other site http://www.laptoprepairparts.com.
-andrew

 

http://www.notebookparts.com has no averatec parts

http://www.laptoprepairparts.com only has 32xx ...

 

I found a crack on my case now

It's on the back, just above the left hinge. It's really small tho. Wonders if that's covered by averatec or staples warranty ...

http://pages.infinit.net/thief/crackaveratec.jpg

I have another problem, sometimes when I move the lcd panel up and down, the backlight flickers ... I don't want to send it under warranty, I'll just open it up and fix that myself ... looks like a loose cable ..

I'll post pics of that when I'll do that

 

wouldn't it be cool if all notebook shells were made out of titanium cases, then we wouldn't have to worry about them cracking.
-andrew

 

Wipeout- Thats basically how mine started, and through use, its going to get a lot bigger. Mines a couple of inches in a curiving fashion along the top, and goes down the side and has cracked a triangle out of the side of the monitor.
Jedi- That could be nice, and then they might even be lighter because the Ti is so much stronger.

 

According to the averatec site, the 6200 series has a case base magnesium alloy. I wonder why the 6130 series doesn't?
-andrew

 

I'll see if my warranty can cover this

Else I'll try to fix it myself before it gets worse

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by wipeout

 

Hi all,

I was just doing a search about averatec case cracks. I've got a hell of a crack on the seam just outside the hinge on the bottom left corner of the LCD case. This happened when I OPENED it (it's only about six months old). I called up averatec and I was told since it's physical damage, it isn't covered under warranty. This blows since I didn't CAUSE the damage except by opening it.

Any ideas about what to do?

 

same problem here, I will call Mwave.com and see if they can order me a cover like wipeout did. Definitly a problem with defective casing lots. Otherwise I may bend up a thin piece of brushed aluminum about 2 inches wide to fit around the edges too and glue over the crack, sort of look like a racing strip. Maybe two to match[8D].

 

I just emailed Averatec about this issue.

"Hello

I'm sure other 6100'ers have mentioned this to Averatec - the inevitable cracks near the hinges on the outside cover, despite extremely careful use and protection.


Does Averatec plan to make a stronger case or offer free replacements to them or anything of the sort?

Great thanks"

and the reply

"Brian,

My 6130HS20 has not developed any such cracks, nor have we noticed any other complaints regarding them. We are constantly working with developing the most robust, affordable case available, but we do not offer free replacements.

Brian Inboden
Averatec
Customer Care Level III Technician
Phone : 877.462.3462
Fax: 714.429.9961
eMail: [email protected]"

Seems like he's never heard of the problem. What BS.

Ugh.. how do we deal with this problem? I want a new case!

I guess I need to stop opening/closing my laptop, because that is how the crack worsens.

 

Since I'm the silly bugger that started this post, I might have this fix for case cracks. If you use the all purpose Amazing Goop, it'll put a protective layer over the crack and it's water proof. I bought some at Target for 1.50 American. What you could do is buy a few sheats of Titanium alloy and make your self a notebook case. Just a thought that I had.
-andrew

 

Too bad that i already have a peice chipped out of the side of my monitor. Goop won't work too well with that. And titanium is expensive, so no go there. I think when i go to try to get mine fixed, i will babble on about how there is excessive moment force about the hinge, and things like that.

 

I bought my 6100 from future shop, but didn't buy the 400 extended warranty. Theres probably no hope right?

How do I build my own case out of titanium?[8)]

 

i also got mine from future shop and did get the extended warranty, i can't really take it in yet as i need it for university, but come about may, i will go in and see what will happen. If they classify it as physical damage [} ], i will argue till they either fix it or kick me out [ ]. I will report back then on what happend, and in the mean time, i may try to post a pic of what mine looks like if anyone is interested.

 

I would be. I should also post a pic of mine, the crack is amazing. I can't open and close the stupid notebook unless the crack is held shut with the duct tape.

 

I have two cracks each near the hinge each about 1 inch big. Annoying.


Annoying. In the meantime, everyone please email [email protected] asking about this issue.. it seems that they don't know anything about it, which I think its total BS.

 

I would say that they dont want to know about it. it would cost them a fair bit to replace them all. and there will probably be more to come.
Thats pretty bad mackillian, mines not that bad considering it has chipped a piece out, i guess the lucky part is the peice came out of the side, not the top. but its still bad, a little peice of it rattles around inside the monitor too.

 

I'm gonna try and fix it with some JB weld.

http://jbweld.net/products/jbweld.php

 

Can you post how it turns out?

 

Sure. I'm having doubts though, as the cracking occurs on the cheap plastic casing.

I really want to start an online petition to get Averatec to fix our notebooks.[V]

 

Try asking your reseller. Staples ordered a new plastic cover for me, it's backorder tho. But they did order it.

 

Yeah the problem is, once you install it, you use it for a couple months, boom the cracks will appear again. It seems to be a design flaw when opening/closing the notebook, it causes a large force on that area.. doesn't help that the hinges are stiff too.

 

You might want to use some metal to help them once you get a new cover. I might do that once I can take a look inside.

 

how would you go about putting a piece of metal on the hindges?
-andrew

 

I have a crack on the front of the monitor, on the lower right hand side above the hinge. I noticed that doing some things can prevent the crack from getting larger.

When you open the laptop, make sure that after you push to the right the little slider that unlocks it, you lift up at that point only about an inch or so. From here on in, keep your left hand on the little slider that unlocks the laptop, and keep your right hand maybe 3 inches above the right hinge. Slowly apply pressure equally on both hands to open the laptop.

I noticed a crack 2 months ago, and after opening and closing my laptop in a safe manner (closing involves palming the back of the monitor and lowering it shut) I have yet to see it increase in size.

This is all ridiculous however, as we shouldn't need to do anything of this sort in the first place. I agree to get a petition going, just to at least spread awareness. Averatec is naive to the situation, plain and simple.

 

It got ridiculous enough for me that I went and got another laptop (thank god for educational discount). Now I'm trying to figure out what the hell to DO with this craptop I've got from Averatec.

 

I'm sure averatec will doe something about there cases.
-andrew

 

I suggest emailing [email protected] for now.

 

I did the other day and I haven't received a response yet. Would putting JBweld over the case make it stronger?
-andrew

 

I've even spoken with averatec about this and it's physical damage, so they claim it's out of warranty and they don't have to cover it.

 

I wonder if Dell, HP or Gateway would say the same thing, claiming its out of warranty. If you were to take a paint brush and use it to brush jbweld over the case would it make it stronger or would it make it to heavy and crush the LCD screen inside?
-andrew

 

thats what i am debating about at the moment, the effect of the JB weld.

This is retarded. New Notebook developing cracks on its cheapy plastic casing just from opening/closing gently.

 

I bought some wateweld by jbweld today and I'm thinking of using a paintbrush and brush a thin layer over the LCD part of the case and see if it makes it stronger.
-andrew

 

It certainly can't make it weaker.

 

True.. but could it stiffen the surrounding area so much, that other cracks in a nearby location would develop?, IE, the stress just transmits to a nearby weaker area of plastic.

Good Luck on the paintbrushing of JB weld. I don't want to be adventurous and try it first [ ]