Bug in my LCD...

[Janak Parekh]

Literally. :(

I have a 20" LCD at home (Viewsonic VP201m) that I love. It's been flawless, until I turned it on tonight, and discovered a bug. That is, an insect. Tiny, around 2mm, but large enough to be noticeable as it walks under the screen. Looks like he got between the backlight and the LCD by crawling through the vents. I've never had this happen to me before.

Anyone have suggestions as to what I should do? Possibilities I can think of include:

1. Wait and hope it dies and "falls off" the edge of the screen;
2. Wait and hope it crawls out;
3. Air can applied to vents;
4. Disassemble LCD. 8O

Suggestions would be appreciated! Humorous comments are welcome too, but be nice. ;)

--janak

[JackTheTripper]

2 words. Bread crumbs.

Or....

You catch more flies (bugs) with honey......

I was gonna say just squish it, but then it would smear the inside of your screen.

Still have the reciept? Take it back and tell them it's "buggy."

I've got nothing.

[Steven Cedrone]

Well, if you can determine the bug's gender, you can probably entice it to come out. It would require a bug of the opposite sex, maybe a little wine and some soft music... :wink:

Or, you could just get a big bug and send it in after the little bug! But then you have to figure out how to get the big bug out! Well, you could always get a bigger bug to go after the big bug you sent after the little bug... :wink:

Heh, I would just wait and hope for the best... :twisted:

Steve

[wocket]

OK i'll get the puns out of the way first :lol:

MS still buggy as ever

Have you tried to use RAID?

Draw a maze on the screen and train it to follow it

Phone up tech support and tell them you have a wandering alive pixel.


Other than that dismantle the display it and get it out. Good luck!

[milkman dan]

go with an air can. How the bloody HELL it managed that is COMPLEATLY beyond me, as LCD's are usually just a cold cathod tube, stuck to a plastic panel, with a few refract0r sheets, and the lcd itself slapped over that, then compleatly sealed with a sticky, strong tinfoil like wrapper, and it is ALWAYS nearly airtight to prevent light from leaking. I honestly can think of no way whatsoever this would be possible, unless your lcd is built different than the ones I've seen (a possibility, as I have never toyed with a 20" lcd). If the spray can doesn't get it out, might I suggest taking it to a laptop repair technician and explaining the problem, they are probably best suited to deal with the probolem aside from the manufacturer themselvs, but if it isn't under warranty they are going to charge you more than it cost most likley :(

[ghostppc]

Hmm, during your extensive tests of trial and error, you might stumble across a new use for bluetooth. The "Bluetooth Bug Zapper" "Kill annoying little buggers from the comfort of your backyard with safe, invisble wireless technology. Safer than Raid. And convenient download for only $99.99" :lol:

[Tom W.M.]

:rofl: Please, show us a photo!

[Janak Parekh]

I was gonna say just squish it, but then it would smear the inside of your screen.
The screen is hard, actually, so I couldn't. I scanned Google Groups, and found that someone did squish one in their laptop... and it was stuck there. 8O

Still have the reciept? Take it back and tell them it's "buggy."
It's more than a year old... and it's not like I live in an insect den, so I'm shocked to see this happen for the first time.

--janak

[Janak Parekh]

Or, you could just get a big bug and send it in after the little bug! But then you have to figure out how to get the big bug out! Well, you could always get a bigger bug to go after the big bug you sent after the little bug... :wink:
How about I send you after the bigger bug? :twisted:

--janak

[Janak Parekh]

Other than that dismantle the display it and get it out. Good luck!
Yeah - that might be one choice. I'm afraid of doing it, though. It's not a laptop, but still...

go with an air can. How the bloody HELL it managed that is COMPLEATLY beyond me, as LCD's are usually just a cold cathod tube, stuck to a plastic panel, with a few refract0r sheets, and the lcd itself slapped over that, then compleatly sealed with a sticky, strong tinfoil like wrapper, and it is ALWAYS nearly airtight to prevent light from leaking.
You've got me! It's pretty standard Viewsonic fare. That said, it is a really tiny bug - one that I might not even notice outside - but inside the shadow can't be missed. :(

Please, show us a photo!
I didn't have a camera handy last night that was capable of macro. I'll bring one home tonight and snap a shot if it's still there/alive.

--janak

[Kati Compton]

I wonder if it's a Webworm (http://www.bugwood.org/factsheets/webworm.html)...

[Kati Compton]

Or, you could just get a big bug and send it in after the little bug! But then you have to figure out how to get the big bug out! Well, you could always get a bigger bug to go after the big bug you sent after the little bug... :wink:
How about I send you after the bigger bug? :twisted:
Oh, I don't know... I think he's better equipped to deal with squirrels (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23035&highlight=squirrel) than insects...

[maximus]

I didn't have a camera handy last night that was capable of macro. I'll bring one home tonight and snap a shot if it's still there/alive.

--janak

So, the bug still there ? or the bigger bug chased it away already ? :mrgreen:

[Janak Parekh]

So, the bug still there ? or the bigger bug chased it away already ? :mrgreen:
I checked last night - no bug! :mrgreen: I think the potential of being photographed with the Powershot S230 I have scared it away. ;) Maybe it's shy...?

We'll see tonight.

--janak

[Janak Parekh]

And no bug tonight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Time to sleep... :zzz:

--janak

[maximus]

20 inch LCD, purchased a year ago.

I wonder how much did you pay for it :mrgreen:

[Kati Compton]

20 inch LCD, purchased a year ago.

I wonder how much did you pay for it :mrgreen:
And did you have to pay extra for the bug? :P

[Pat Logsdon]

20 inch LCD, purchased a year ago.

I wonder how much did you pay for it :mrgreen:
And did you have to pay extra for the bug? :P
Are you sure it's not a "feature"?

:mrgreen:

[ctmagnus]

Features generally don't have six or more legs. ;)

[Janak Parekh]

I wonder how much did you pay for it :mrgreen:
A fair bit; perhaps $1,400 or so. My previous monitor died, so I viewed it as an investment, considering the many hours I stare at my screen. And it's been a fantastic one - modulo the bug, I've had nary a problem and it's made me more productive. :)

--janak

[Janak Parekh]

And did you have to pay extra for the bug? :P
Are you sure it's not a "feature"? :mrgreen:
I'll tell you what, you genuises... if you want such a feature, I might be able to visit your homes and give you one. :twisted:

--janak

[Kati Compton]

I'll tell you what, you genuises... if you want such a feature, I might be able to visit your homes and give you one. :twisted:
Idle threats! I know you don't have time to travel!

[Steven Cedrone]

O.K. guys, stop buggin' Janak! :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

O.K. guys, stop buggin' Janak! :wink:
Thanks, Steve. I see the "battle lines" are being drawn amongst the PPCT editorial staff. :P :lol:

--janak

[maximus]

Is it safe for us, non-editorial staffs, to be here ? :p

[Kati Compton]

Is it safe for us, non-editorial staffs, to be here ? :p

No! Get out!

:P

Just kidding.

[ghostppc]

A fair bit; perhaps $1,400 or so. My previous monitor died, so I viewed it as an investment, considering the many hours I stare at my screen. And it's been a fantastic one - modulo the bug, I've had nary a problem and it's made me more productive. :)

--janak


Hmmm. Bug = productivity. :treadmill:

Thus bug gone = decrease in productivity :worried:

Somebody better keep an eye on Janak now that his little muse is gone! :devilboy:

[Janak Parekh]

Hmmm. Bug = productivity. :treadmill:
:lol: No, no! I mean, without the bug it's been fantastic. If anything, having a little shadow darting around the screen is very distracting, if not depressing.

--janak

[ghostppc]

Sure, we believe you :idontthinkso:





*just kidding* :D

[Pat Logsdon]

Hmmm. Bug = productivity. :treadmill:
:lol: No, no! I mean, without the bug it's been fantastic. If anything, having a little shadow darting around the screen is very distracting, if not depressing.
Are you sure? I've found that anything that helps one get a leg up on the on the competition is helpful.

Wait for it...






I guess that'd be six legs in your case...

In the interests of humanity and all that is decent, I will now hit myself on the head. :twak:

[Janak Parekh]

In the interests of humanity and all that is decent, I will now hit myself on the head. :twak:
Thank you. And so do the moderators. ;)

Oh, what the heck... :twak: ;)

Seriously - the bug has not reappeared, and I am very glad that is the case. I was not looking forward to the prospects of disassembling this screen...

--janak

[maximus]

Perhaps the bug realized that by running around the LCD screen, he/she/it is in a clear and present danger (mortally), and decided to mess with your ipod instead. :mrgreen:

[Janak Parekh]

Perhaps the bug realized that by running around the LCD screen, he/she/it is in a clear and present danger (mortally), and decided to mess with your ipod instead. :mrgreen:
A hearty :twak: to you too! ;) My iPod is fine, and I don't want it to be jinxed, thank you very much.

--janak

[maximus]

Ah ipod ...

I was curious about the new ipod. Is there any technical improvement from the 'old' ipod, or the changes are only cosmetics ?

[Janak Parekh]

I was curious about the new ipod. Is there any technical improvement from the 'old' ipod, or the changes are only cosmetics ?
Which new iPod? There have been no new major releases except for the iPod Mini. The latest 3G units (e.g., 40GB) are identical to the previous 3G units...

--janak