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Bought a new iMac...LCD burn?

W

WillMak

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 29, 2005
957
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I just bought an iMac for my father for father's day and everything has been working great. However, today I noticed a long smudgy mark on the glass when the monitor was turned off. No problem, I got out the wiper and tried to wipe it off but nothing happened! It won't go away! You can only notice it when the monitor is off or if there is a lot of black like if you're looking at photos of space or something.

Is this a common issue? You can use it fine, but I don't want my dad settling for something like this if it really is a defect. Has there been issues of LCD problem for the iMacs? Thanks.
 
With LCDs it's known as "image persistence" as usually the problem is not permanent. However, it doesn't sound like that's your problem.

Could it be a smudge on the inside of the glass? They should be able to solve this issue at any Apple Store, if there's on nearby.
 
solve it? How? By exchanging? I'm scared! Besides the smudge the screen doesn't have anhy dead pixels. Should I resk getting an exchange?
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you wouldn't be able to see a "burned-in" image if the LCD is turned off. I know with the old CRTs you could see the image even after it was turned off, but usually it went away after a few hours of it being turn off.

Anyway, it seems like this is a smudge. But if it is a "burn-in", you can try to follow these tips from Apple. I think the most effective way is to have a black and white background alternating every so often. It works well on a lot of high-end HDTVs.

As for taking the risk on exchanging it, I'd go for it. I mean, the iMac is only a week old.
 
MarkMS said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you wouldn't be able to see a "burned-in" image if the LCD is turned off. I know with the old CRTs you could see the image even after it was turned off, but usually it went away after a few hours of it being turn off.

Anyway, it seems like this is a smudge. But if it is a "burn-in", you can try to follow these tips from Apple. I think the most effective way is to have a black and white background alternating every so often. It works well on a lot of high-end HDTVs.

As for taking the risk on exchanging it, I'd go for it. I mean, the iMac is only a week old.
Click to expand...

Oh I see, so it's definitely a smudge then I suppose. This is gonna sound stupid but....am I wiping it wrong? If I could avoid a trip to the apple store I would...or them looking at me like an idiot for not knowing how to wipe properly. I am just wiping with the fabric cloth it came with
 
WillMak said:
Oh I see, so it's definitely a smudge then I suppose. This is gonna sound stupid but....am I wiping it wrong? If I could avoid a trip to the apple store I would...or them looking at me like an idiot for not knowing how to wipe properly. I am just wiping with the fabric cloth it came with
Click to expand...
Try a damp soft cloth. If that doesn't do it, bring it to an Apple Store and they should be able to remove the glass and wipe the other side as well.
 
EricNau said:
Try a damp soft cloth. If that doesn't do it, bring it to an Apple Store and they should be able to remove the glass and wipe the other side as well.
Click to expand...

They can remove THE GLASS!? Sweet, that doesn't sound like it should be that hard then. How do I do this myself? Oh and I see you are 916!
 
WillMak said:
Oh I see, so it's definitely a smudge then I suppose. This is gonna sound stupid but....am I wiping it wrong? If I could avoid a trip to the apple store I would...or them looking at me like an idiot for not knowing how to wipe properly. I am just wiping with the fabric cloth it came with
Click to expand...

I doubt it. I use the fiber cloth that came with my MacBook Pro too. I also use some generic LCD/Plamsa TV screen solution that I got from Wal-Mart when there is a oily smudge from fingers or something.

As for removing the glass, check this Youtube video out. Just be sure of what you are doing. You could void the warranty!!
 
WillMak said:
They can remove THE GLASS!? Sweet, that doesn't sound like it should be that hard then. How do I do this myself? Oh and I see you are 916!
Click to expand...
Yes, they can remove the glass, however, I would strongly recommend against completing such a repair yourself. Doing so could void your warranty.


...If you're in the 916 as well, the Arden Apple Store isn't far away. ;)
 
I had just what you are describing on my mid-2007 24" iMac and sent it in to Apple. I thought it was a simple matter of cleaning the LCD panel under the glass but they ended up replacing the entire LCD panel itself. Unfortunately the one they replaced it with had a bad inverter and developed horrible flickering issues but that's a different matter.

The third LCD panel replacement has been perfect.

And no, I would strongly recommend against removing the glass panel yourself even though it is easily enough done (it is only held on with magnets). Unless you are in a professionally dust-controlled environment you stand a very good chance of ending up with dust particles under the glass once you replace it that look like stuck pixels that flash colors, not pretty.

Then, even if you take off the glass and you've got a damaged panel it will all have been for naught.

I recommend you let Apple deal with it.
 
WillMak said:
I just bought an iMac for my father for father's day and everything has been working great. However, today I noticed a long smudgy mark on the glass when the monitor was turned off. No problem, I got out the wiper and tried to wipe it off but nothing happened! It won't go away! You can only notice it when the monitor is off or if there is a lot of black like if you're looking at photos of space or something.

Is this a common issue? You can use it fine, but I don't want my dad settling for something like this if it really is a defect. Has there been issues of LCD problem for the iMacs? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Most likely a smudge on the backside of the glass cover as others have said. If you are near an Apple store let them do it. If not you can do it yourself. You do NOT need a special environment to clean it. Make sure to use a lint free cloth to clean it. Use some canned air to blow off any dust immediately before reinstalling it.

Removing it yourself will not void your warranty, but if you damage the glass the damage will not be covered by the warranty.
 
gehrbox said:
Most likely a smudge on the backside of the glass cover as others have said. If you are near an Apple store let them do it. If not you can do it yourself. You do NOT need a special environment to clean it. Make sure to use a lint free cloth to clean it. Use some canned air to blow off any dust immediately before reinstalling it.
Click to expand...

Well, I didn't say you need a dust-controlled environment I just said if you don't have one there is an excellent chance you will have dust under the glass after you replace it. Heck, on my first panel there was a dust speck under the glass from the factory!

If you must remove it yourself I would turn off any fans or any electrical device that moves air, close all the windows, maybe even slide a damp cloth under the doors and wait 30 minutes for all the dust to settle then do the job. ;)

And as for it "most likely" being a smudge under the glass that's what I thought about mine and was on the fence about whether to pop the glass myself. I'm glad I didn't and sent it back to Apple instead after having found out it was a damaged LCD panel that needed replacement.
 
SaSaSushi said:
If you must remove it yourself I would turn off any fans or any electrical device that moves air, close all the windows, maybe even slide a damp cloth under the doors and wait 30 minutes for all the dust to settle then do the job. ;)
Click to expand...

Where's D4F when you need him?
 
Pffft... I can't even take a day off to get some sun on the beach without you two looking for me :D

As for the topic... Sure man. Take that toilet thing, stick it to the screen, pull gently and voila. Screen is off. Leave the window open as fresh air is always good, then take a piece of toilet paper (the softer the better - particles rock!) and wipe it.
Once you put the glass back you should be a happy owner with a 24/7 'kinda grainy' looking screen.
:rolleyes:

Get the pro to do it or you will be bitching here soon how ****** the screen looks after you're operation.
 
SaSaSushi said:
If you must remove it yourself I would turn off any fans or any electrical device that moves air, close all the windows, maybe even slide a damp cloth under the doors and wait 30 minutes for all the dust to settle then do the job. ;)
Click to expand...

I always apply screen protectors in the bathroom.
I let hot water flow till it's pretty foggy and steamy :) Then once it starts to settle I apply the protector.
Mist takes all the particles down. Works like a charm.
 
D4F said:
I always apply screen protectors in the bathroom.
I let hot water flow till it's pretty foggy and steamy :) Then once it starts to settle I apply the protector.
Mist takes all the particles down. Works like a charm.
Click to expand...

Science is a wonderful thing ;)
 
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