MazMacMan

Q: White sun stripes from the top of the screen

Hello everyone,

 

I own a 3year old iMac 24" model 2008. On the top of the screen theres appeared some white "sun"-alike stripes.

I got the iMac from someone which unfortunately is a smoker, so the first thing i did was cleaning the glass, which did alot for the fuzzy smudges. But theres something wrong in the LCD screen itself.

 

I have taken a photo to illustrate the problem.

 

My observation are that its easier to see when theres backlight, so when the screen is black its almost not visible.

 

I wonder if theres any chance that dust/smoke has got its way inside of the LCD even though the stripes look way too symmetric.

Photo 10-05-12 22.15.19.jpg

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 24" 2008

Posted on May 10, 2012 1:22 PM

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Q: White sun stripes from the top of the screen

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 10, 2012 1:36 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 10 (123,830 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:36 PM in response to MazMacMan

    Hello,

     

    Likely just need to clean the inside of the glass...

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cHMHzq5E5I

     

    PS. Good move on the pic showing it likely this problem.

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 1:39 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:39 PM in response to BDAqua

    Unfortunately i have already cleaned the glass from in and outside. There was alot of dust, but nothing that changed this issue.

  • by RRFS,

    RRFS RRFS May 10, 2012 1:41 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 5 (4,490 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:41 PM in response to MazMacMan

    It could be that smoke got behind the screen and then maybe moisture or something caused the streaking. The glass panel is held on with little magnets around the perimeter of the screen, they aren't real strong but enough to hold the screen in place. If you take some packing tape or maybe scotch tape and make some little handles ( the tape folded with a sticky flap on either side) you can pull the glass off. I would unplug it and lay it on its back on a towel and then just lift with the tape "handles" and the glass should pop up. Don't get anything in the face of the monitor (what's behind the glass) as they are harder to clean. Take the glass and thoroughly wash, dry and delint with a lint free cloth the back og the glass, then put it back into it's resting place on the computer. They do this stuff in those clean rooms so the cleaner you keep everything the better your results will be. I hope this solves the problem, my wish for you is that it's not the monitor.

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 1:43 PM in response to RRFS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:43 PM in response to RRFS

    Thanks alot for your reply! Please look at the reply i gave BDAqua :-)

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 1:45 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:45 PM in response to MazMacMan

    Just an followup:

     

    I am worried that the LCD screen backlight is damaged, and or that theres some dirty inside the panel itself, but it should be insulated enough for this to not occur.

     

    As i mentioned in my post i have already cleaned the class inside and out. There was dirt which was successfully removed, but it did not resolve the issues on the LCD panel itself.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 10, 2012 3:03 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 10 (123,830 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:03 PM in response to MazMacMan

    Is there anything on the LCD panel behind the glass?

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 3:04 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:04 PM in response to BDAqua

    I dusted it with a duster but it was totally clean. Only the glass on the inside was dirty. But it seems odd that the LCD panel itself did not take any of the dirt.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 10, 2012 3:37 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 10 (123,830 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:37 PM in response to MazMacMan

    Well, it does now sound like the backlight, not sure how hard it is to get to it though.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2150293?start=0&tstart=0

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 3:41 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:41 PM in response to BDAqua

    Im afraid so, i found this link https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1915086?threadID=1915086&start=0&tstart=15

     

    Doesnt seem promising!

  • by RRFS,

    RRFS RRFS May 10, 2012 3:51 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 5 (4,490 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:51 PM in response to MazMacMan

    In doing some research on your streaking problem it appears you will have to live with the problem or return it to the person who sold it to you.  There is a way to take the front panel off the monitor itself but by the looks of it I wouldn't try it because it is considered a "sealed" unit. By the way did you get the original install disks for that Mac. They should be grey and it should say "not for retail sale" on the disk or disks.

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 3:55 PM in response to RRFS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:55 PM in response to RRFS

    Well thats what im afraid of. Worst case i have to change the LCD panel, but i was hoping it was dust/dirt. I am an electronic guy so i dont really have any problems fixing it. From the looks of it, im afraid its a defective panel rather than dust.

     

    I dont have the install disks..

  • by RRFS,

    RRFS RRFS May 10, 2012 4:25 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 5 (4,490 points)
    May 10, 2012 4:25 PM in response to MazMacMan

    You should be able to get the replacements for the install disks from Apple Support for an upcharge fee. The display is considered a sealed unit and form what I could gather it comes apart. Not for the faint of heart but if you are going to buy another one anyway what thwe heck, try taking this one apart, right? They used a metal tape similar to metal ducting (not Duct tape) tape. It is a black stripe of metal with an adhesive that seals the plastic frame of the monitor to the glass. There are several notches in the frame for holding the glass which must be pryed out to release the glass. Once you can get behind the glass it becomes a simple cleaning operation. If I was in your shoes I'd try it, nothing to lose, right? 

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 4:28 PM in response to RRFS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 4:28 PM in response to RRFS

    I tend to do so, im just looking for a cheap replacement on eBay, just in case i wont succeed. I think i will bring it to the dust-free lab at my school just to be clinical.

  • by MazMacMan,

    MazMacMan MazMacMan May 10, 2012 4:32 PM in response to MazMacMan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 10, 2012 4:32 PM in response to MazMacMan
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