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Need help with replacing hinges please
I have replacement parts for the broken hinge on my Inspiron 7500. The instructions are not very helpful. How do I open up the top of the keyboard to take out the heat sink? Do I need to take the front of the screen off? Has anyone done this before that could help?
The hinges have had to be replaced about four times previously but my laptop was still under service contract. Now I have to do it myself. I am really unhappy that Dell put such a defective product out. Surely they know that laptops are open and closed many times. My little 11 year old IBM Thinkpad is still going strong and nothing has ever broken on it. For this reason alone, I will not be getting another Dell laptop.
Alcyonix
6 Posts
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April 30th, 2004 13:00
Hi,
I'm having similar problems with hinges. Two months ago I sent my computer to the technician's (not Dell because my warranty is over) with new hinges and saddles received from Dell. They didn't fit so the technician himself called and ordered new parts. They resent me the same set of hinges and saddles. Here's the problem: they just don't fit. I've just spent another 45 minutes on the phone with a Dell technician who tells me these are the only parts available. The parts sent to me are 2 cm longer than the ones removed. I just can't seem to get anyone to understand my problem. Any encouraging news would be appreciated.
Process
Alcyonix
6 Posts
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April 30th, 2004 15:00
Thanks Carol Sue. That sounds so easy but doesn't cutting the pieces risk breaking them? Is that what you had to do?
Alcyonix
TDunn
379 Posts
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April 30th, 2004 15:00
Alcyonix,
Cut 2cm off.
Carol Sue,
Click here for instructions.
...................TD
Message Edited by TDunn on 04-30-2004 11:18 AM
Carol Sue
14 Posts
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April 30th, 2004 18:00
Thanks TDunn, but that appears to be a service that cost quite a bit of money.
Alcyonix, it was TDunn that suggested cutting of the part, not me. I haven't even got my computer apart yet to know if the piece will fit or not.
Alcyonix
6 Posts
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April 30th, 2004 20:00
We compared the old parts to the new parts and it doesn't seem to be only the plastic casing that is too long but the actual metal hinge that isn't built the same. Carol Sue, let me know when you get your parts. If my problem still isn't solved I'll compare my parts numbers with yours. This remains a mystery and a pain in the neck.
Alcyonix,
Alcyonix
6 Posts
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May 17th, 2004 13:00
Hi Carol Sue,
How is repair work going on your computer? Have you received hinges that fit?
Alcyonix
Carol Sue
14 Posts
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June 16th, 2004 05:00
Sorry Alcyonix, I haven't been to this forum in a while. My hinges are still in the box waiting for my son to get time to attempt the repairs. Did you ever get yours fixed and how difficult was it to do? The instructions I printed don't look as if they will be much help.
I am so disapointed in Dell. Considering buying a new laptop from another company. I know my son is still using my 10 year old IBM laptop and it's hinges have never broken.
Alcyonix
6 Posts
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June 16th, 2004 11:00
My hinges are also still in the box and my computer still at the technician's. It's only been 4 months now?! The suggestion to cut the new hinges doesn't work. Even if I were to cut off the extra plastic without breaking the whole thing, the hinge itself doesn't attach the same way as the old ones. My solution is to take a digital photo of both the old and new hinges and send them to Dell. If they don't understand then...well let's just say that I'm disappointed too. Alcyonix
Alcyonix
6 Posts
0
July 14th, 2004 17:00
Guess what? My hinges are finally being repaired. It only took five months and a huge coincidence for me to find the correct part number from a retailer making a cold call. The Dell people kept telling me that no matter the size of the screen, the parts were the same and that there was no way they couldn't fit. Not so! It's a good thing I didn't follow the advice given me to cut the extra 2cm off the hinges I had.
Alcyonix