Question Dell Inspiron 3847 - loose media panel/cover

MotleyCrew

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Sep 16, 2013
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I'm helping a family member with their Dell Inspiron 3847. It has a loose media (USB, audio, memory card) flip panel/door on the front cover. I'm not sure if anything is broken, but would like to return the PC with this fixed, if possible. The door/cover easily slips into place and stays in its closed position when the front cover is laying flat (face up). When in its normal vertical position and/or when opening the door, it easily falls open / flops down where it doesn't belong. I noticed a small loose spring. See pics.
The problem seems to be similar/same as here, for a different Inspiron model.
I'm having no luck with re-attaching the door correctly. Any suggestions?

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Seems to be similar to the other model.

It appears to me that the small spring should be attached to the front cover.

On the right hand side hinge next to the SD/MM card slot.

Are there two small holes there? The 90 degree spring ends (pins) would fit into the holes and the spring compressed when the front cover is closed.

Check the left side as well. Might have originally had two springs.

Use long tweezers to connect the inside pin first, then the outer pin. You may need two sets of tweezers.

However if the holes are worn the spring ends may just slip out again.