# LCD Monitor Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706 "2003-01-10T08:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/1 "2003-01-10T08:28:12Z")
I recently got a brand new LCD monitor. It’s really groovy. Unfortunately, it seems to have developed a problem in the last day or so. There is a defect right in the middle of the thing that looks like a giant greyish smudge. It’s about an inch wide and three inches long. It’s definately not dirt, and shows up regardless of the resolution, which leads me to believe it’s a problem with the monitor itself. Can this type of thing be easily fixed, or will I have to send it back? (It’s still under warranty, so no big deal, just a PITA.) ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/2 "2003-01-10T09:27:53Z")
Send it back. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/3 "2003-01-10T10:10:05Z")
What **Urban Ranger** said. Sounds like the backlight is defective. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/4 "2003-01-10T10:28:00Z")
☹ Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/5 "2003-01-10T11:02:33Z")
Usually this sort of problem is associated with some sort of impact damage to the screen; LCD panels are very sensitive to pressure and impact, still, if it developed spontaneously, it could just be a manufacturing defect. Certainly I’d send it back; what other option is there? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/6 "2003-01-10T16:18:02Z")
You didn’t “touch” the screen did you? I.e., press your finger against that spot and go “Hey look at the clever SDMB thread!” Fingers and screens of any type don’t go together. More so with LCDs. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/7 "2003-01-10T16:29:33Z")
Nah, I didn’t poke it especially hard. The problem started out small and gradually spread. Like a cancer, I tell you. LCD Cancer! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/8 "2003-01-10T16:37:35Z")
Okay, like the others said get another one. But you know its always better for me if you state the make & manf of the monitor in the future. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/9 "2003-01-10T18:01:40Z")
It’s a [Planar PL190M](http://www.planar.com/monitors/PL190M.asp) in a distinguished silver color. We’ve got a bunch of them at the office and have never had problems, so I guess I got a crappy one or it got dinged in transit or something. ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-monitor-problem/147706/10 "2003-01-10T19:20:27Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ve got a bunch of them at the office Hmm, I think I see a solution here…