White Spots

[headspace]

Purchased a refurbished T23 and when the screen is white there are faint white spots scattered all over the page.

While viewing a page with a darker background or a darker image they dissapear.

If this was a major issue, wouldn't they have replaced the screen during the refurb?

Took two weeks for it to arrive and I don't want to be without it for a couple weeks for what might be a common problem, I'm also worried that a replacement lcd could possibly be worse.

[t20user]

I don't know about all over the page, but yes, the white spots are a common problem with the T2x. All (3) of my T2x laptops have had them in some form or another. But, I have never had more than 4 of them.

If you do a search here or Goog, I mean Yahoo you will find lots of info.

[headspace]

Thanks for the quick reply, just wanted to know if it's a common problem. Most of my searchs of dead pixel info came up with dark spots on a white screen or spots clustered in what look like small clouds.

Thanks again.................

[tfflivemb2]

Yes, I believe it is a common problem. Both of my T23s and my T21 have them.....they are called "pressure spots".

You can search this forum and you will find several posts about them. Supposedly, if you have a "clean room" you could peel back the layers of the LCD and correct the problem, but even IBM thinks that it is too difficult to do, so if it is under warranty, they will generally just replace the LCD instead. Even in a clean room, dust can get inside of the layers quite easily....then you have black specks throughout the display.

[linux_inside v2]

Yeah pressure points, they suck. my original panel suffered that fate something severe. i replaced the panel and it has happened again but not much at all, i suggest a nice padded bag for it, and im even thinking of putting a metal plate on the inside of the screen cover to protect it.

[LtTPfan]

I believe pressure spots show up on a dark screen but disappear on a light screen, not the opposite as indicated here. At least that's the way my R40 was, and what I've read. On the other hand, my first T30 suffered as the OP's with light spots on a light screen. I sent it back for other reasons but the screen had obviously been jacked around with by someone unfamiliar with Thinkpads. The bezel was broken and all the screw covers were missing as well as four screws. I later read that light spots on a light screen are indicative of dirt on the CCFL backlight lamp, and/or a poorly reassembled backlight/reflector. It seems counterintuitive that a speck of dust on the lamp would cause lighter spots on the screen but apparently that is the case with these systems.

Pressure spots are easy to dermine as they are caused by pressure on the screen rubbing the keys and Trackpoint against the polarizing film. You should be able to match up the marks with what caused them.

Who "refurbished" this Thinkpad, IBM or some eBay seller? If the latter, it may very possibly be someone without the proper knowledge, skills, tools, or facilities. One indicator to look for are the screw covers. It's hard to get them off without knicking or bending them. IBM will replace, not reuse them, and screw kits that contain new screws and covers are cheap so most legitimate (actual) refurbing companies will replace them; your average shadetree PC tech won't.

[tfflivemb2]

The pressure spots that show up on the T21 that I am typing on right now, are more apparent on white sections of the page, versus darker sections. One spot specifically isn't lined up with the trackpoint, but rather about a little more than an inch to the right of my 3rd mouse key.

As for the light spots that are from dirt on the CCFL, they usually show up at the bottom of the screen, or tend to ray out from the bottom towards the top, depending on where the CCFL is located

I tried taking pics, but they weren't turning out so well.

EDIT: I should add that the rest of the white spots line up with obvious parts of the keyboard that cause such problems.

[headspace]

Who "refurbished" this Thinkpad

Notebook was purchased from Thinkpaddepot

[Zedicus]

presure spots can iether apear as light or dark spots actually. usually a light spot will b folowwed by a dark spot too. think of it as a wave that has a high point and low point right next to each other but they dont move...

if yur a brave soul u can fix it. run a steamy shower in yur bathroom, and then right when most of the steam is cleared do it in there... dont run the bathroom exhaust fan or anything. dont leave any fingerprints.. it realy stinks having to look at a fingerprint in the middle of the screen forever, unless u disasemble it again...

[LtTPfan]

if yur a brave soul u can fix it. run a steamy shower in yur bathroom, and then right when most of the steam is cleared do it in there... dont run the bathroom exhaust fan or anything. dont leave any fingerprints.. it realy stinks having to look at a fingerprint in the middle of the screen forever, unless u disasemble it again...

Where do you get the polarizing film? The places I found wanted about $60 just for the film and $90 if they replaced it.

[linux_inside v2]

i have found that having too much stuff in my laptop bag (wireless card and a few ultrabay devices) with my older panel and when i didn't know that i could get these pressure spots, it was caused by things touching the lid.

I had removed the panel and refitted it on the old one because the ribbon cable was broken, but i didn't do that with the new screen, since i had a whole thinkpad spare i just grabbed the whole screen section

so, i have protected my screen pretty well by a) keeping things from touching it and b) not unscrewing the panel.

i think the problem is the lid design from the looks of it, anyone who has pulled them apart will know what i mean.

But, i suppose that is the cost of having the lightest feature packed series of the time

[headspace]

Here is a pic from a LCD from Ebay, my spots are a not as bright but are scattered over the whole s.creen

[linux_inside v2]

your one looks like the keboard and bottom plastics are not affixed properly, check to make sure that all the screws in the bottom of the laptop are in properly.

I gather that it is a refurb, also is the lower half of the screen bezel scuffed? if so ti is a telltale sign that someone put something in wrong.

[MooZaic]

FYI : Most pressure spots on the T2* series are caused by badly designed Back Covers/Top Covers, If u look at some of the patterns of White spots on older T20 / T21's they correspond to raised parts of plastic that were not designed to the correct tolerance. If u are intent on fixing then check you have the right top cover or an LCD panel that has added rubber padding on the rear to even out the support against the cover. If u are getting sporadic white spots then u have had some contamination enter ur panel at some point during its life and pressure on the cover has compounded the effect, movement of ur laptop will probably start to move the dirt/dust particles around the inside of the panel and u will get more white spots. Never lay anything ontop of ur thinkpad as u are just asking for white spots. IBM would only ever change these if u complained hard enough.

[linux_inside v2]

hmm that might also be why mine hasnt gotten damaged this time, i might have to open up the lid later and do some sanding