Spots on UltraSharp LCD screen

Question

I have two 18' UltraSharp lcd flat panel monitors. I bought them both at the same time (March, 2003), and they have both been in service daily, sitting side by side. I use one, my wife uses the other, and we both are on about the same number of hours each day. One screen is just fine. The other has hundreds of dark spots on it that seem to be on the inside. The spots are opaque, and are more visible on certain color backgrounds, particularly light blues and grays. Some of the spots look as if they ran down some, leaving a dark vertical streak. At first I thought they were surface spots, but soap and water doesn't touch them. I even used a little household cleaner (409) on a small section just to be sure. (I was careful, and followed up with a damp cloth to get any residue cleaner off the screen.) I'm wondering if the inside of the screen might have mold, or something like that? Can I get this fixed, or fix it myself? Will Dell help me out at this late date? Thanks for your thoughts.

mike470 · Answer

Hi Vegas George

The 18inch monitor that has the spots, are from the inside of the LCD. There is no mold because there has to be moister from the inside of the monitor.

Dell monitors do come with a 3 year warranty. I think you should call their service and talk to them.

mike470

Vegas George · Answer

Thanks for the advice Mike470. I've now checked my other monitor very carefully, and I find that the spotting problem is starting to show up there too. I have at least two dozen of the spots in the lower right quadrant of the second monitor. It's nowhere near as bad as the first one, which has hundreds of them all over the screen. These are not dead pixels. The spots themselves are about 6 pixels each. I can't see them at all on the second monitor against a white background. It seems the white produces enough light to burn right through them. But they do show up nicely against a medium to pale blue background. I'm calling Dell about both monitors in the morning.

mike470 · Answer

Hi Vegas George

It is good they are sending you a new monitor to replace the 18inch Dell monitor. I hope you get a good monitor that works!

Are you sending the defective monitor back to Dell or keeping it? And Dell no longer make 18inch monitors. They make 19inch monitors (1905FP). So, do you know what kind of monitor they are sending?

If the monitor has no problems with it who get to use it you or your wife?

mike470

Message Edited by mike470 on 05-17-2005 12:26 AM

Vegas George · Answer

OK! I called Dell this AM, and they are sending me one new monitor. If that 'solves' the spot problem, they will send me the second new monitor. I don't see how it could help but 'solve' the spot problem with the monitor I replace, unless of course the one they send is also defective. I know it's not the PC video causing the problem because the spots follow the monitors from PC to PC, and they are (1) always in the same place, and (2) they are different on the two monitors. Oh well, I guess it's just Dell's way of being extra cautious. Message Edited by Vegas George on 05-17-2005 12:11 AM

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Spots on UltraSharp LCD screen

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