# What is the clear glossy cover on my laptop LCD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722 "2013-08-08T16:33:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/1 "2013-08-08T16:33:46Z")
I want to replace just the clear cover, but what do I call it so I can shop for it? Is it available apart from the whole electronic display? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/2 "2013-08-08T16:53:11Z")
I’ m not exactly sure as to your reference. Is it a screen protector? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/3 "2013-08-08T16:56:55Z")
The plastic film that’s on the screen when you buy a new laptop? You’re supposed to keep those on? I just peel them off and throw them away. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/4 "2013-08-08T16:59:50Z")
See, this discussion itself is demonstrating the problem. There is a clear glossy plastic surface that is obviously not directly involved with making the images on my laptop. It is between me and the images. I’m wondering if I can replace just this piece, as it has scratches. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/5 "2013-08-08T17:03:11Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > See, this discussion itself is demonstrating the problem. > > There is a clear glossy plastic surface that is obviously not directly involved with making the images on my laptop. It is between me and the images. I’m wondering if I can replace just this piece, as it has scratches. You’re looking for a _replacement laptop LCD screen_. If you google that plus the model of your laptop, you should be able to find one. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/6 "2013-08-08T17:11:06Z")
I agree; it’s the screen itself. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/7 "2013-08-08T17:17:25Z")
This clear screen must be on top of the device with the embedded LCD crystals (I know that’s redundant). I have half a mind to attack this with a screwdriver and see what I can find, but if you can’t have just the transparent piece, it’s pointless. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/8 "2013-08-08T17:19:16Z")
Generally, the top overlay is part of the LCD assembly. If you take apart your laptop, you will find that the LCD assembly comes out of the bezel as one piece. Note that this is not always true for desktop machines - the iMac has a front screen that is separate from the LCD. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/9 "2013-08-08T17:20:34Z")
If it’s a transparent film that can be peeled off without affecting the functionality of the display, it’s either a screen protector, or just a protective film for shipping which is intended to be removed before use. Normally a screen protector would be adhered to the screen with no air gap, and would not have any tabs or anything to facilitate its removal. A protective film for shipping is normally loose (ie air between it and the actual LCD), and designed to be removed easily. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/10 "2013-08-08T17:21:48Z")
Well, apparently it’s a polarizing filter film. I don’t know if it is detachable from the glass substrate. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/11 "2013-08-08T18:06:50Z")
What is the make and model number of your laptop? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/12 "2013-08-08T18:45:27Z")
Msi cr-500 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/13 "2013-08-08T20:15:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Well, apparently it’s a polarizing filter film. I don’t know if it is detachable from the glass substrate. How do you know there’s is a glass substrate underneath? “Polarizing filter film” doesn’t make much sense. The LCD panel already contains a polarizing filter as an essential component. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/14 "2013-08-08T20:18:19Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > How do you know there’s is a glass substrate underneath? > > “Polarizing filter film” doesn’t make much sense. The LCD panel already contains a polarizing filter as an essential component. I really don’t know. I looked at the LCD page on Wikipedia. It told me the build-up of LCD displays. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/15 "2013-08-08T21:51:11Z")
Let’s back up. Do you have any reason to believe your laptop has a removable layer on the display that can be replaced? Or are you just asking “my laptop screen is scratched, what can I do about it”? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/16 "2013-08-09T17:35:20Z")
Maybe it is “the laptop screen” as commonly defined. There is clearly a glossy layer that I have trouble believing is involved in creating the images. I assumed it was detachable. ---
**Author:** ![Enigma42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/87869e/32.png) [@Enigma42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enigma42)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/17 "2013-08-09T17:48:50Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > Maybe it is “the laptop screen” as commonly defined. There is clearly a glossy layer that I have trouble believing is involved in creating the images. I assumed it was detachable. I’m sorry to say I think you are probably out of luck. I’ve worked on a lot of laptops and I’ve never seen one with any sort of detachable layer in front of the LCD panel. They are typically packaged as a one piece item (see [this Google image search](https://www.google.com/search?q=laptop+lcd&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.50500085,d.aWc,pv.xjs.s.en_US.ciY8R2R6XC8.O&biw=1283&bih=1212&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=MSkFUtCTBMPmyQG72oDQDg)for examples) that has to be replaced as a whole. The front glossy layer may not actually be involved in creating the image, but it is still integral to the overall assembly. You may be able to find a whole new LCD for a good price somewhere like eBay and replacement is usually not too tough. I’ve fixed up plenty of laptops that way, but that’s the only way I know of to get rid of scratches on the screen. All-in-one style desktops and desktop monitors may be a different story. I’ve never seen one of them with a detachable front layer either, but I haven’t cracked open nearly as many. So I’m not comfortable speaking definitively in that case. ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/18 "2013-08-10T05:57:42Z")
I think I know what the OP is talking about. My HP laptop has it. It looks like a kind of screen protector or some coating that makes the screen glossy. Unfortunately I agree with the general consensus that that specific layer is not replaceable by itself. Best I can say, and say constantly to any that will listen, is that you need to treat your electronics reasonably. If you are getting scratches on the screen, you are doing something way wrong. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/19 "2013-08-10T07:35:23Z")
Most modern screens have the whole thing bonded together. Having no air gap improves the image. Older LCDs might have had a space between the overlay and the actual display, but I really doubt that that’s true anymore. The Apple copy for their “retina” displays even specifically mention that there’s no gap between the pixels and the glass. There are some scratch filler products, and buffing products that might improve the scratches, but short of replacing the display, you’re probably not going to be able to do anything else about them. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-clear-glossy-cover-on-my-laptop-lcd/665722/20 "2013-08-10T17:04:13Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > Msi cr-500 I cannot vouch for this site [but the laptop screen for your make/model](https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/MSI/CR500/) is a self-contained unit. There is no top layer that is replaceable. It’s all or nothing.