Laptop needs viagra
 

Hi computer gurus,

So I have a Toshiba Satellite, 2 years old... and the hinge on the screen is broken. The thing flops back and forth at will, unless it is held up against a wall or something behind it. There is no stiffness left in the hinge to keep it up.

Does anyone have a suggestion for fixing it? I called a repair place and it was $100 for parts, another $100 for labor... I am at the point of just getting a new laptop, since it would be probably $800 or so anyway. But since it's just the screen that is bothering me, I feel like it's a waste (since I paid $1200 for this 2 years ago).

Suggestions?

http://www.bozeman.jp/Images/masterpiece/ducktape.jpg

But seriously, how about a hard piece of angled plastic that you can place behind and under the laptop for the screen to lean on.

Tecra hinges can have loose screws but those Satellite hinges just go bad. Even the parts aren't cheap, and the job is a bit ugly. I hate that design. Which model is it?

i have a satellite thats about 3 years old and the hinge sux. it will only stay open by itselt at a certain angle. other that that it has to be propped up against a wall or something else.

my gf uses the laptop now because she doesn't do much on it.

It's the A45-S151. And yeah, as I said, the parts/job was quoted at around $200... not worth it, if I wanted to get another laptop under $1000.

And Dilbert... I tried duct tape!!! Got too gooey with the warm computer, and slipped off many times. Just didn't work. :(

Here's a guide.

Yes, it really is that much of a pain in the ass.

I like Dilbert's idea of a fixed ramp of some kind. Maybe a hinge extended and velcro'd to the laptop in some way. Basically a compass with adequate tension.

http://www.keysan.com/pictures/big/scsp4952.jpg

Some might call it gimpy but I'd call it character. :)

$200 for parts and labor is a better deal than buying a new one. And two years old ain't that old. I say get it fixed. And maybe breath some new life into it by upgrading the RAM (do it yourself). Go one step further and swipe the hard drive and start with a fresh Windows install. It'll feel like a new PC and you'll have save hundreds.

Pook, thanks for the tips. After looking at Cyrnel's website for fixing the hinge, I'm beginning to think you're right. I could probably even try to fix it myself. Even if it's *just* $500 more to get a new one... that's $500, right?!

How much would it cost, though, to upgrade the RAM and everything else you mentioned?

Assuming you can get to the RAM door on the underside of the computer, take a look at what you've got. If you Google "RAM UPGRADES" or "RAM FOR (your notebook model)" you'll get some idea of what the cost is. Labor, of course, is free. You could buy it on eBay or from an online RAM store.

If you really want to feel good about that old machine (it's really not that old) you could back up your important stuff, wipe the hard drive and do a fresh Windows install. After the screen fix and the RAM upgrade it'll feel fresh, clean and new!

hinges are not hard to replace, just search ebay or google for parts

Just wanted to say thanks to all...

I found a pair of used, good-shape hinges on ebay for $20, and am going to try and repair them myself using Cyrnel's linked website guide. :thumbsup: If that doesn't work, will probably take them to the repair shop I found ($110 flat fee for labor). Hope this works!!