Dell 2001FP - invaded!!!

So pretty hot over the weekend right? Well we had a plague of 'thrips' (thunderflies) on sunday morning and as I was using my PC I noticed a black shape moving around - inside the tft!

So I checked for viri, bugware etc... ;) Then I realised what i was seeing - the shadow of a thrip inside the tft panel - and from the look of it it's between the backlight panel and the lcd matrix. Shouldn't that be impossible? Is this a manufacturing defect?

I'm going to ring dell in a mo - when they stop laughing at me I'll get their perspective!

Checked this morning and the bugger looks like it's died about 2 inchs in from the right hand side of the panel..
:Oops:

Zak had a similar problem...

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=79424

I'm pondering what to do about the same problem on my 2005FPW.
Although I haven't yet had any get inside the thing, it would appear to be only a matter of time, as there's loads of the little beggars crawling around on the surface :(

Well I tried attracting it out with a light but it stayed put despite leaving lights on all night etc.. I think it's dead now so i'll have to think about pulling things to bits to get it out (voids warranty) if dell don't care (probably). Failed to get through to them at all this morning - i'd forgotten how bad their home support is compared to business.

Anyone know if i could swap it with the work one and RMA it via business? Do they check serial numbers accurately?

Sounds like thats quite a problem with dells. I guess its not just us lot that like them. How big are these bugs that get in there anyway? For possible future reference would it be possible to put some sort of mesh over the vents to stop this happening.

Do you think it only happens in certain models due to assembly differences or size of ventilation holes?
Ta

I guess any panel not sealed correctly is vunerable - all monitors have to have venting for heat disapation. The insects are very tiny - they commonly get into picture frames (between the glass) for example

http://www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/images/colle...ysanoptera.jpg

Order Thysanoptera - Thrips, Thunderflies (Top)
2 pairs of tiny, feather-like wings
0.5 - 15mm long
Mouthparts adapted for piercing and are highly asymmetric
Yellow, brown or black
Very narrow body
Prominent compound eyes
5,100 species, at least 5 in Britain
World-wide, spread on wind currents and with cargoes
Habitats: vegetation, especially flowers
Feed on growing vegetation


Commonly known as Thunderflies due to the massive swarms which form in still, thundery weather.

They appear black to the human eye.

Tell them you have some oddly shaped dead pixels :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Psychotic Emu

Sounds like thats quite a problem with dells. I guess its not just us lot that like them. How big are these bugs that get in there anyway? For possible future reference would it be possible to put some sort of mesh over the vents to stop this happening.

Do you think it only happens in certain models due to assembly differences or size of ventilation holes?
Ta

---

My Dell seems to be a lot better than my LG TFT tbh.
The LG's rear ventilation slits are bigger, and I can see more light from the backlight through them IIRC.
Only problem with the Dell is that it's so big, and so bright, it's like bug central if I leave the windows open.
I think some sort of netting would be ok...might be something I'll have to look into next week.

Hi

you might like this one. I had a similar problem with a LCD TV from LG, they suggested I operate it next to a light to attract the flies out, and that I should also consider closing my windows to stop the flies getting in the house. See reply from LG below:

LG Help Desk Reply:
The insects are attracted by the light so one way to prevent them entering the TV is to place a lamp in the area of the TV to try and attract them away from the television. Of course keeping the windows closed also helps but obviously in the hot weather this can be uncomfortable. Yours Sincerely, LG Electronics UK Helpdesk 0870 607 5544

Laughable or what?
:confused:

Well, nice that a human actually considered your request and actually tried to help you :) It's not really their problem ;)

To dig up an old thread but... it's that time of the year again and this year i'm going to try something new (last year I used tights to protect my screens lol) -
http://www.allplaz.com/acatalog/Anti_Thrip_Netting.html

Should arrive in a few days and i'll be installing it on both my TFT monitors and my LCD TV. We shall fight them on the beaches..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dangel

We shall fight them on the beaches..

---

Personally, I think you need to take off and nuke them from orbit...

It's the only way to be sure?

... well, if you can find any live bugs amongst the molten mass that used to be your monitor, then I'd be impressed :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ajones

... well, if you can find any live bugs amongst the molten mass that used to be your monitor, then I'd be impressed :)

---

Cockroaches

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vinnyT

Cockroaches

---

It's a bug-hunt!