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fly inside iMac screen

S

sandeep.pillai

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 13, 2010
2
0
Hi,

Couple of days back I noticed that a dead fly inside my iMac screen (this is iMAC Late 2014 27" 5K model). I tried vacuuming or gently knocking the screen, it didn't move. I read somewhere that the screens are air tight, so don't know how this fly was able to get inside.

I've contacted Apple Care team and the only solution offered by them (by just looking at the fly) that the screen needs to be removed, which is going to cost me £580. Considering this iMac is almost 4 years old, the amount is considerably high to repair the fault.

Is there any other option to fix this?

I have tried posting this query on Apple Community forum, but my post is being removed after saying that I should contact Apple Care !!!. This is the support I get after purchasing £2500+ iMac from Apple !
 

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There is no access between the glass and the LCD panel inside. I think there is an airspace there (obviously enough to allow a once-living beast to enter )
The glass front is glued or sealed in position, covering the LCD panel, but as you can see, is not really an air-tight seal.
I suspect that the Apple service folks may have seen this issue before, and the fix offered is to replace the display assembly

All I can think of to try:
Disassemble the iMac to remove the screen. This is so you have access to the bare edges of the display assembly.
The display assembly is more fragile when not in the case, so be careful when you move the bare screen in different directions... :cool:
You may be able to see possible entry points along the edges. You might have some luck getting that critter dislodged using compressed air.
If your local environment is dusty, you might also succeed in getting some dust inside the glass, but still might be worth the time and effort.
There's places for something to get in, maybe you will find it, maybe not.
There may be some luck involved here, and Apple service might not feel confident in offering a solution relying on luck, so replacing the display assembly is Apple's offer.
 
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What in the world?

I have not seen anything like this before.

On the 2012 and later model, the glass is supposed to be fused to the display.
 
I understand your frustration but despite the cost of your iMac, don't begrudge Apple for this – they can't offer anything cheaper than an entire display replacement. The glass is fused together with the display, so if the insect managed to get inside it, the only thing they can physically do for you is to replace the entire display. That's why it's expensive. Sorry.
 
Isn't the iMac glass just held on by a couple of screws at the bottom and magnets along the top, sides and bottom?
 
4 year old iMac?
£580?
Not worth it.

Chances are something's gonna get broken if you try to separate the display laminations.
Again, not worth it.

Either "live with it", or start shopping for a replacement.
Or.. take the money and buy a 27" 4k monitor, and use that instead.

My opinion only.
 
You can get an external display or do a search on how to remove the display and try to fix it yourself. If you fail, replace it since it's already 4 years old.
 
I've never heard of this before. Is it definitely a real life fly and not a computer generated image that someone has somehow managed to prank you with?
 
Working in a service shop, I have occasionally seen small insects/flies/ants trapped behind the glass.
You can't separate the front glass from the LCD panel. As others have said, the glass is fused to the front.
That does not necessarily mean "completely sealed", as the OP's anecdotal evidence shows.
I have never tried removing the screen assembly, and inspecting carefully along the edges for tiny openings along the edge. If openings exist, they may vary slightly from one iMac to another, so it may be worth the effort to try removing the display, and try compressed air all around the edges. (all for an innocent dead animal, too
The fact remains that "wildlife" can get between the glass and the LCD panel.

Last time I saw that, the owner had bought an "open box" at (where else?) Best Buy, and elected to return that iMac to that store.
 
Krayzkat said:
I've never heard of this before. Is it definitely a real life fly and not a computer generated image that someone has somehow managed to prank you with?
Click to expand...

Yeah, you would think if the fly died, it would fall down instead of acting like it got squished against the glass?
 
I don't think the air space is that deep.
Bug crawls in (I have seen ants, and something like gnats or fruitflys in the past.)
They expire and are simply caught in place. I expect the fly doesn't have enough weight to overcome that slight friction.
If there is a chance, it might be moved with compressed air from the edge of the open screen, assuming one could discover an opening, and said opening was anywhere near to the dead insect. I confess that I have never had the opportunity to try, as no one has yet gone for the expense (when I had no way to guarantee that it would work :D
 
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DeltaMac said:
There is no access between the glass and the LCD panel inside. I think there is an airspace there (obviously enough to allow a once-living beast to enter )
The glass front is glued or sealed in position, covering the LCD panel, but as you can see, is not really an air-tight seal.
I suspect that the Apple service folks may have seen this issue before, and the fix offered is to replace the display assembly

All I can think of to try:
Disassemble the iMac to remove the screen. This is so you have access to the bare edges of the display assembly.
The display assembly is more fragile when not in the case, so be careful when you move the bare screen in different directions... :cool:
You may be able to see possible entry points along the edges. You might have some luck getting that critter dislodged using compressed air.
If your local environment is dusty, you might also succeed in getting some dust inside the glass, but still might be worth the time and effort.
There's places for something to get in, maybe you will find it, maybe not.
There may be some luck involved here, and Apple service might not feel confident in offering a solution relying on luck, so replacing the display assembly is Apple's offer.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1529350631][/doublepost]
DeltaMac said:
There is no access between the glass and the LCD panel inside. I think there is an airspace there (obviously enough to allow a once-living beast to enter )
The glass front is glued or sealed in position, covering the LCD panel, but as you can see, is not really an air-tight seal.
I suspect that the Apple service folks may have seen this issue before, and the fix offered is to replace the display assembly

All I can think of to try:
Disassemble the iMac to remove the screen. This is so you have access to the bare edges of the display assembly.
The display assembly is more fragile when not in the case, so be careful when you move the bare screen in different directions... :cool:
You may be able to see possible entry points along the edges. You might have some luck getting that critter dislodged using compressed air.
If your local environment is dusty, you might also succeed in getting some dust inside the glass, but still might be worth the time and effort.
There's places for something to get in, maybe you will find it, maybe not.
There may be some luck involved here, and Apple service might not feel confident in offering a solution relying on luck, so replacing the display assembly is Apple's offer.
Click to expand...
Fishrrman said:
4 year old iMac?
£580?
Not worth it.

Chances are something's gonna get broken if you try to separate the display laminations.
Again, not worth it.

Either "live with it", or start shopping for a replacement.
Or.. take the money and buy a 27" 4k monitor, and use that instead.

My opinion only.
Click to expand...
Exactly my thoughts. It is not worth replacing.
[doublepost=1529350662][/doublepost]
Krayzkat said:
I've never heard of this before. Is it definitely a real life fly and not a computer generated image that someone has somehow managed to prank you with?
Click to expand...
Real one (dead though).
[doublepost=1529350863][/doublepost]Thanks all for the time responding to my query. I guess these days everything is use and throw, repairing is not worth the time for big companies. I love this machine and with no flaw (other than the dead bug) I don't want to replace the screen. Also, don't have the courage to open the screen myself. Hope one day that fly drops down.

Kind regards,
 
That must have been one determined fly to get in there. Maybe it was sealed into the iMac at the factory, and crawled up to the display to avoid the fan winds inside the machine? Maybe shaking the iMac a little to "jostle" the now desiccated corpse (probably thinner than when he died) back to whatever path he came from? Then again he could be "baked" against the screen ...

Reminds me of the High Sierra fully baked pun ...
 
What’s weird is my 2014 iMac has EXACTLY this same problem and it just happened last week. Noticed a little fly crawling around behind the glass. He ultimately died before making it all the way to the edge. My machine is with Apple right now, the tech said he wanted to try getting it out before replacing the display assembly. What are the odds?
 
chrfr said:
The glass isn't fused to anything. It's held on with double-sided tape, and the LCD panel is separate from that glass.
Click to expand...

I have upgrade dozens upon dozens of these iMac(s).

If the glass can be separated from the display, I would be shocked to know because I haven't found a way to do it yet.
 
Last edited:
Krayzkat said:
I've never heard of this before. Is it definitely a real life fly and not a computer generated image that someone has somehow managed to prank you with?
Click to expand...
BigMcGuire said:
Yeah, you would think if the fly died, it would fall down instead of acting like it got squished against the glass?
Click to expand...
The fly crawls into the LCD panel and gets stuck between the backlight and polarizer. Had this not happened with my own Late 2014 5K (a few years ago, luckily still within the AppleCare period), I would have a hard time believing it's possible myself.
 
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sandeep.pillai said:
Hi,

Couple of days back I noticed that a dead fly inside my iMac screen (this is iMAC Late 2014 27" 5K model). I tried vacuuming or gently knocking the screen, it didn't move. I read somewhere that the screens are air tight, so don't know how this fly was able to get inside.

I've contacted Apple Care team and the only solution offered by them (by just looking at the fly) that the screen needs to be removed, which is going to cost me £580. Considering this iMac is almost 4 years old, the amount is considerably high to repair the fault.

Is there any other option to fix this?

I have tried posting this query on Apple Community forum, but my post is being removed after saying that I should contact Apple Care !!!. This is the support I get after purchasing £2500+ iMac from Apple !
Click to expand...

Well, Apple tried to get him out, but failed. Their solution is to replace the entire display for just under $600. I’m going to call them in the morning and see if I can get them to foot at least some of the bill. I may just live with it, but it sure is distracting.
 
Let it dry out and disintegrate a little then try the air duster trick. Even if you can’t get it out, blowing it to the side will be better
 
Jsiegrist said:
Well, Apple tried to get him out, but failed. Their solution is to replace the entire display for just under $600. I’m going to call them in the morning and see if I can get them to foot at least some of the bill. I may just live with it, but it sure is distracting.
Click to expand...

As I wrote in this thread, I just got my 2017 iMac back today with a replacement LCD panel for exactly this problem.

Even when they're paying for it, the only repair Apple does for when insects get between the LCD panel and the backlight is to replace the entire unit.
 
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