Ah!! i messed up my laptop screen! HELP!!

[CyberCowboy]

i just cleaned my laptop screen with windex, and now there is a dark spot in the lower edge of the screen.
It's a pretty big dark spot, (i.e. the colors aren't as bright there anymore).
I guess the windex somehow got inside.

Is there anyway to get rid of this? will it go away? or am I doomed??????

you think my warranty will fix this???

 

[apoppin]

Warranty? Maybe . . . I wouldn't mention the Windex.

 

[dakata24]

did ya spray it on the lcd or onto a cloth and then wipe?

 

[CyberCowboy]

i sprayed a whole bunch of windex on a cloth then wiped the screen.
the cloth was pretty much soaked with windex.

 

[apoppin]

Windex is NOT recommended for TFTs. That's why I suggested not mentioning it to repair.

 

[CyberCowboy]

crud!
what should I tell those repair people then?

 

[dakata24]

just tell them that your lcd on the fritzy..

what does the manual say to clean it with? for a $1000+ notebook, i would be extra careful and check before cleaning, but that's just me..

 

[CyberCowboy]

i don't know what the manual says.
It's a 3 year old laptop and the manual is missing.

hope I can get it repaired.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: CyberCowboy
i don't know what the manual says.
It's a 3 year old laptop and the manual is missing.

hope I can get it repaired.

For next time, do a "search" in GH - you'll find the best solution (pun) for cleaning your TFT.

3 years old? . . . better hope it is still under warranty . . . good luck!

PS: if the laptop was originally purchased with a premium credit card (e.g. Visa Gold) you may have an extra year of warranty.

 

[CyberCowboy]

I got a 4-year extended-warranty on this laptop when i got it from CC.
So I know for sure that I have one more year of service available.

and what does GH stand for?

 

[Murphyrulez]

Get a program called Powerstrip. Set up a resolution that stops your desktop just above the messed up spot. Cover the top and bottom black areas with something cool, like pictures of your dog.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: CyberCowboy
I got a 4-year extended-warranty on this laptop when i got it from CC.
So I know for sure that I have one more year of service available.

and what does GH stand for?

Clean the LCD thoroughly removing any trace of moisture (Windex), take it to CC with a very compelling story.

GH = General Hardware forum.

 

[Mday]

one thing, you're a moron. dont clean any computer screens or tv screens for that matter, with windex. frankly, i would not even use windex on some windows.

modern glass applications have glass that is coated with uv and antireflective coatings that will get destroyed by windex and other toxic cleaners.

did you actually damage the surface, or did the windex leave a residue? obviously any protective coatings on the LCD is gone.

you dont repair an LCD, you replace it. you cant really repair many semiconductor based components, you can only replace them.

I use this gel screen cleaner for my laptop, allsop branded. it doesnt run when sprayed =).

 

[CyberCowboy]

Argh! i know i'm an idiot. I don't even know why i cleaned it with windex today... i usually just clean it with water.

anyways, i think what happened was when i wiped the screen, some windex got in through the inner edge and got inside the lcd itself.

But there aren't any marks on the lcd surface itself. I can only see the damage when i turn the screen on.

Now all i need to do is wait a couple of days to see if the condition improves....

if it doesn't, i guess I'm gonna have to make up some story and call Circuit City's SErvice hotline.
Any suggestions on what i should tell them?

 

[fr]

I have only used water to clean any of my screens.


Except for this one time when I was watching a DVD in the dark and this fly landed right on my screen. I squashed it and made this nasty mess. I had some rubbing alcohol a few feet away from me so I wet a paper towel and wiped it. Then after I wiped the screen I though "oh fark!" and cleaned it all off with water.

 

[CyberCowboy]

Woo hoo!! the dark discolored portion on the screen went away.

one thing though.. there seems to be some windex residue inside the lcd. you can only see it when at a certain angle..

haha. but i'm happy that the discolored part went away.

 

[xirtam]

Don't get too smug... the problem may resurface. I've known technical problems caused by fluids to go away and come back worse later.

I recommend looking up your warranty information just in case. Perhaps get them to replace your laptop or the screen or whatever before the problem returns.

 

[thawolfman]

what are you supposed to clean laptop screens w/ anyways?

 

[Booster]

50/50 isopropyl or ethyl alcohol diluted with water. I don't know why, but the say 'never use pure water to clean an LCD screen'.