Bug in Monitor!

This sounds as if it may be a joke but it really isnt. I appear to have got a small bug, as in an insect, stuck inside my monitor! I have a Dell E176FP flat panel display and the bug appears to be behind the surface of the monitor. Its not huge, but big enough to annoy me. Any help on getting it out would be great.

 

I would first call around to some local computer shops and ask them for some safety advice. Since it is a flat panel I don't believe their is the danger of high electrical discharge as with tube type monitors... but get some safety advise first. When you are on the phone with shop, ask them for some suggestions. I've never owned a panel, have not viewed their basic construction, I can only guess at what may work. First disconnect panel from power source and computer. Now begin to rotate the panel in preferred axis and try to move the insect to an extreme edge, possible out of view. Maybe gentle taps along the opposite edge to get it to move. Any chance a vacuum cleaner nozzle can find a seam to help move the bug to an edge. If this does not move the critter, find a shop to open it up. Another solution, "adopt-a-bug" and add him/her to the family. Must say, an unusual / one of a kind "ice breaker" at the next family get together.

 

If it is still under warranty I would think that would be covered. It may be a fairly large job to get it out, depending on where it is lodged.

 

Hmmm.. i tried claiming the warrenty but they said that it was not a technical fault with the product therefore they couldn't do anything. I tried forcing it to the edges, but its a little harder that one might think. Because it is unplugged from the power, the screen is black, and therefore it is impossible to see where the critter is!

 

I'd wait for it to die and drop to the bottom of the screen area. Bugs don't have a long lifespan especially without a food source.

 

Yea. I think its died....
but it is sat right in the middle of the screen. I will try the old vacuum trick and if that doesn't work i will have to live with it.
I might even give him a name....

 

I would push the warranty issue a little harder. I would see it as a technical issue because the screen is obviously not completely sealed. Their designers should have taken this into consideration or maybe it is supposed to be completely sealed and is faulty.

If you spoke to the local service center, you may not get much further than the person you spoke to. Try emailing the Dell support and get a decision from someone higher up. Here in Aus, the PC hardware magazines love to take up these issues on behalf of the readers and almost always get a positive result even with the most stubborn of manufacturers (makes good reading ).

I suggest not to give up too easily.

Matt

 

As stated in my first post, I've never owned a flat panel, so not familiar with basic construction. If panels are sealed by design (no venting required for cooling) I agree with Matman, push for warranty coverage. One of two things occurred. They sold you a monitor with a insect inside at time of purchase. This suggests poor assemble conditions, causing viewing problems. If pixels are not be shown, whose to say they are burnt out or covered over by bug ... pixels are not being displayed is a warranty issue. If insect came from alex98uk environment, this suggest a failed seal, again an issue warranty should cover.

 

a couple of questions

I have a couple of questions for you.
Has the bug always been there or did it appear recently?
if it has always been there then you should be able to get some assistance from the manufacturer. if it appeared recently then it is really and truly your problem. just exactly where is it located? is it inside the LCD display panel itself or is it just on the outside?
these are important things to take into consideration before shooting the manufacturer.
like to hear back.

good luck

 

It has only appeared in the last few days, but that may have been because it was out of sight when i bought it...
The bug seems to be wedged between the screen (Which I can touch) and the liquid cristal (I think) behind it, so actually inside the monitor. It appears to have died now leaving what looks like a set of dead pixels.
I will try and push a bit harder with the old warrenty issue.

Thanks for all the help

 

Hi I have just registered with forum to comment on this "bug" problem.
I have 5 behind my screen all dead. Not sure of correct name for these pests but locally we call them Harvest flies/Midges, they are very small and annoy us (UK) for about 6 weeks so I expect more will enter my LCD. They can get into Watches Picture frames and TV's, annoyingly they always die and stay put until you dismantle device to remove them. At this moment in time I have no idea how to do this with an LCD