I REACHED OVER THE TOP OF COMPUTER AND GRABBED IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FLAT BAR AND PULLED IT HARD OUTWARD AND IT SNAPS INTO PLACE. AFTER THE STAND IS OUT, YOU CAN PULL OR PUSH AT THE TOP OR SIDES OF THE COMPUTER TO SET THE ANGLE THAT WORKS BEST FOR THE USER. MINE FELT THE SAME WAY AND DIDN'T BREAK.

You have to pull it hard, and it does creak, but have not had any problems with it.

I thought mine was going to break when I pulled it out to make it stand. The tech told me sometimes you have to make it "click" once and sometimes it "clicks" twice before it comes out enough to stand the computer up. Good luck.

It's pretty stiff, but if you yank on it hard, it will open up. I bought two of them and they both were stiff, but didn't break.

I thought the same thing, but I kept pulling an it snapped into place just fine.