How to Repair a Broken Dell Laptop Hinge

Dell computers are among the most popular available. However, they are still prone to experience a few problems. With a laptop you may find that the hinge breaks, leaving the screen unable to stand up on its own. If this happens, you will need to find a way to repair the broken hinge. This is fairly easy to do, as long as you have the right tools on hand. Read more to learn how.

Things You'll Need

• Lid support
• Thumbnail screws
• Epoxy/extra strength glue

Instructions

1. Check the local hardware store. Flip your laptop open, hold the top in place and measure the size of the lid support. (Six to seven inches is normal.) Purchase a small set of thumb screws. You’ll need two of these to hold the lid support in place.

2. Lift the lid of your laptop as you hold the lid support against the side. Mark the area where you’ll put the support. Scratch the surface of your computer with a piece of sandpaper to help the glue stay in place and hold better.

3. Place a small amount of epoxy or extra strength glue on the edge of the laptop. Gently lay the lid support in place. Apply a small amount of pressure and allow the area to completely dry. Once dry, repeat this step on the screen portion of the laptop.

4. Install the rest of the lid support in place. This includes the slider (or longer portion of the support). The thumbnail screw goes right into the middle of the slider and then connects directly into the pieces you glued onto the computer to create the hinge effect.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the edge of the lid support to go over the sides of the laptop. This allows the computer to close fully when not in use.

• If the warranty is valid, send the computer back to Dell or have it repaired at a local service center.