when I close the lap top all the way it doesn't want to open back up it jams and I had to use a butter knife to open it scared I might break it any help would be great

Is there a button to push to open it?  Which laptop is it?

Yes Jimmie..as MQ said, there is more than likely a latch on it that needs to be slid or pushed in order for it to open....Using a butter knife on a computer is a no-no  ;)  lol  ... if you have any questions about it, do like (sober) Julie would recommend and  have one of your 12 year old students on the bus answer them for you...they were born with this knowledge....they didnt have to learn it...lol

 

Seriously......being new, it shouldn't ever need to be forced open...it has to have a catch on it somewhere......

it has a button on the front but when you push it the screen catches and wont release  mq its a dell latitude 6400 it has a metal catch on the screen  and it locks it has a metal part that hook the lid down and it wont come out when you push it my wife tried to open it while I pushed the button no go  hum

Maybe slide the button to release instead of pushing it.  Whatever you do, don't force it.

im goint to try wish me luck its back to working  don't know what it was oh well slow and steady   right