>according to an honest apple rep, this is a common >problem -- that is, one of the "first" thing that goes >wrong with the laptops > >my ancient laptop duo has the same problem -- it seems >that the screws inside has "deteriorated" -- the way >to completely solve the problem is to replace the >entire plastic top > >the honest apple rep recommended that i get a new >laptop cuz the cost of the repair may not be worth it > >hope this helps > >lela > >--- "Scott K. Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hello everyone: >> >> First, thanks for the prodding's to stay with the >> list. I will do so and >> see what develops over the next month or so. >> >> Now to my problem. I recently acquired a 2300c. Love >> the screen and the >> great size of the 'book, however, today I noticed a >> problem. The hinges >> on the back, where the lid attaches to the body of >> the machine, seem to >> be separating. When I open the book the seems along >> the top of the >> screen (where the latch is) separate a bit, then >> come back together when >> I finish opening the lid. >> My question is this: is this an easy fix? I just >> purchased a 2300c >> service manual, but it hasn't arrived yet. I don't >> plan on trying to >> remedy the hinge thing until I do get the manual; I >> just want to know > > what I might be in store for. Scott, Within the clamshell of the lid are metal screws and threaded seats which join the two halves. These screws pass through the hinge flange. Two things may have happened: the easiest is that the screws have loosened. If so, you can learn how to remove the bezel (that's the plastic frame) and other parts to gently tighten these screws back to snuff. The more likely scenario is less fun: the threaded seat is pressed into plastic molded sections of the back clamshell. When screws are over-tightened or from daily wear*, the seat works itself loose from the plastic. If one is very careful, some judicious use of superglue can re-attach the seat in its hole without filling the threaded bore. Let it set before you reattach to the hinge and use the mounting screw, or you may never get that screw back out. The reason these little mounts let go of the seat is often due to the age of the plastic -- a polymer effect called "creep" (y'all don't really want me to go into a lecture on many polymers really being liquids right now so I'll skip it -- just trust me that things are not what they always seem :) ) * with moderately rough use, something else happens to the plastic molding around these seats: it will crack. This usually occurs when a powerbook lid is flung open quickly or closed quickly. Polymers that can take a slow steady pressure without cracking often fair worse when something occurs to them quickly. Our rental machines get really beat up... and when the plastic begins to break, the seat is no longer seated -- creating the flexing as the metal has nothing to maintain a purchase against. This pries the two halves of the shell apart and generally gets ugly quick. Superglue has a limited effectiveness in this case -- it can buy you some time but not reliably. I've rebuilt plenty of these mounts, and it isn't much fun. Do know that this will only get worse in time, regardless of cause -- so fixing it is pretty much a requirement unless you elect to carefully open and close the lid for the remainder of the Duo's life, grabbing it as low on the case as possible to reduce strain on the plastic. I lived like this for 4 months once (yeah, techs often live with broken equipment without fixing it -- cobbler's children going barefoot and all). Fix it or get it fixed. BTW, what did you pay for your manual? I know that some Illinois group is selling a CD full of them on eBay for like $15. They are the same pdfs that some folks here have distributed in the past for less. Since you are new to the list, you wouldn't have known that -- but my advice is to ask here first as some of these people would love to help you save money. Me, on the other hand, do it for a living so I'm not free (but I'll fix your hinge issue if you want to hire me :) just let me know off-list). paul -- ---- Paul Vail [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- http://www.afterhoursconsulting.org/ After Hours Consulting: Macintosh Service, Support & Web Hosting ---- ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! 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