[Solved] lcd has grey spots on it

[michael_t]

I have turned on my laptop today and it has grey pathes (not as bright as the rest of the lcd) around the lcd which are permanent, and on the right hand edge it has very bright pathes next to the grey. There are also some faint diagonal lines coming across the screen.

 

I can still see everything, although the patches are certainly unwanted. The laptop had been in a laptop bag and at university, where, I am assuming it has been knocked or squashed in some way?

 

Help me please! Can this be fixed by myself?

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

This could be one of two or three things:

 

1. Water Damage - Unlikely as you have horizontal lines too

 

2. The screen has experienced trauma ( knocked / dropped )

 

 

 

There is an outside possibility that this could be caused by the onboard video.

If you can connect up an external monitor and the screen shows up OK then it is due to one of the 3 options above.

 

If you press ( gently ) on one of the spots - does it move / change shape?

If it does then this confirms it is a screen problem ( not video ).

 

There is no easy fix I am afraid.

[michael_t]

I think it is water damage!

 

Thank you for your advice.

 

I have looked at some images of water damaged lcds, and it does indeed look more like that than anything else, and I have found dampness in the laptop bag.

 

I have opened the front cover of the laptop, but am scared to remove it completely as will need to open the whole thing due to the hinges.

 

This is a toshiba satallite pro, if that is of any use to know?

 

Can I fix this problem myself? A lot of items on the internet seem to state that is possible, and that it often gets better with time.

 

The lines on the lcd are very faint, and indeed a simila gray colour to the other marks, and are in a diagonal crossing arrangement, and certainly no like the lines i have seen before on a broken/smashed lcd.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[KenB]

Can I fix this problem myself?

I would be optomistic if it were mine.

 

I have opened the front cover

If you can open up the screen - even if you can't ( or don't feel confident enough ) to take it apart completely ...

You can get some air in there and hopefully get the water to evaporate.

You would need to leave the gap for some time for this to occur.

 

You could try putting a hair dryer on the lowest setting and blowing warm air over the inside of the screen.

[michael_t]

You are an absolute star!!!!

 

I have followed your advice, and the lcd is nearly good as new!!!

There is still a tiny bit near the bottom of the screen, but I am hoping that this will go away in time. If it doesn't I will open it up again and repeat the hair drying procedure. If by chance this is actually a water mark, would it be sensible to clean this with a solvent, and if so, what would you think is best?

Once again, thank you so much for your help, it has been invaluable, and I want you to be fully aware of what a great service you have provided to me. Thank you!

Kindest regards

Michael

[KenB]

Thank you!

Michael - you are very welcome.

 

would it be sensible to clean this with a solvent,

Definitely not.

Your screen is plastic - solvents and plastic don't mix.

 

I would be inclined to leave it - if it is water mark and is really annoying - you could try distilled water with a little white vinegar.