Dust under the T4210 screen

[terencec]

I find out today that the dust can get into pen holder and go under the screen. After the dust goes under the screen, there is no easy way to get it out. This is really a design problem. Why does the pen holder have a hole which the dust can get under the screen? It sucks.

Now, I plan to ship the tablet back to Fujitsu to fix this problem. Does the new T4215 and T4220 also have the potential problem? My question is not if your T4215 or T4220 have the problem. I don't concern about it. I just want to know if the new T4215 and T4220 also have the same design problem which the dust can get under the screen due to the hole between the pen holder and internal devices.

I am quite disappointed about this because it will keep collecting dust and I have to ship to the shop to fix it everytime! I want to seal all the holes so there is absolutely no dust can get under the screen!

Because of this problem, I am seriously thinking if I will buy Fujitsu T series in the future. As soon as they fix this problem, I am going to buy a new one.

A few weeks ago, I asked about white dots under the screen. It is because of the white dust. One of them is quite big and it is very annoying.

[kureshii]

Well the T4200 series all use the same chassis so, yes, I would expect this to be a recurring problem. The pen holder is not the only opening, actually.

You don't need to seal the holes. If you know what you're doing you can disassemble the screen, put some sealer around the LCD and put the cover back on so dust is kept out of the screen, but not the other parts of the screen chassis. Besides, with the heat produced by the LCD sealing all holes might reduce ventilation and cause other problems...

[P8RSON]

Many thanks for this terencec.

This is the first case I have heard of this.

How bad is the problem?

[terencec]

Many thanks for this terencec.

This is the first case I have heard of this.

How bad is the problem?

It is quite bad. My screen has dust all over and I could not remove it easily. At the lower left/right corners and the center of the screen. Some of them are quite big. The static will make the dust jump and dance! Maybe, use static to move the dust and hide them!

Kureshii, I don't know how to open it. It seems there are some caps to cover the screws. I don't want to open it by myself and may damage it. Don't want to open it again and again to clean the dust under the screen. Don't know how to seal it.

This is really a design problem. The biggest issue is the problem will not be resolved and I cannot keep shipping the tablet to Fujitsu to remove the dust! Fujitsu should seal the screen so the dust cannot get under the screen. I have a few laptops and this is the very first one I see this problem.

I will call Fujitsu support and see what they can do and make a real solution, not a temporarily fix.

[P8RSON]

I will also talk with FSC UK on Monday.

[kureshii]

Well I wonder if the Fujitsu engineers will take special requests and seal the screen for you...? I haven't tried anything out of the ordinary but it's worth a try.

Anyway, if you do decide to try opening it yourself (after doing the prerequisite reading up), the screws are covered by the silver round stickers in the 4 corners. The 2 covers are held together by tabs so pressure should be applied on the silver cover before gently prying it loose from the black cover.

Sealing it is the reverse of opening it; press the 2 covers back together, put the screws back, put the stickers back. You can remove them without too much damage if you use a tiny flat-head screwdriver carefully.

I've only done it once to clean the small LCD display, so I haven't tried possibly better methods, though.

[terencec]

Well I wonder if the Fujitsu engineers will take special requests and seal the screen for you...? I haven't tried anything out of the ordinary but it's worth a try.

Anyway, if you do decide to try opening it yourself (after doing the prerequisite reading up), the screws are covered by the silver round stickers in the 4 corners. The 2 covers are held together by tabs so pressure should be applied on the silver cover before gently prying it loose from the black cover.

Sealing it is the reverse of opening it; press the 2 covers back together, put the screws back, put the stickers back. You can remove them without too much damage if you use a tiny Phillips carefully.

I've only done it once to clean the small LCD display, so I haven't tried possibly better methods, though.

Thanks for your information.

I am just wondering, how can I remove the silver stickers without damage it or any trace of openning it. Do we need a special tool to do it? Can it be done without any trace of opening by looking at the sticker later.

However, even I open it and clean it, I don't know how to prevent this happen again. Having the tablet for about 8 months and now the dust is cover under the screen. I cannot keep doing this to clean the screen. Don't know how to modify the tablet so I will never get dust under the screen again. Most likely, can't modify the tablet because of the warranty.

Looking at other tablet today, I still like Fujitsu if I don't have this problem! x61t is too business. Hopefully, Fujitsu will change the design and the problem will be fixed in the future T series. Right now, most annoying thing is I don't see any permanent solution except a temparary fix (Maybe there is one but don't know it yet).

P8RSON, Thanks, let me know what you find out. If you or someone can feedback to Fujitsu and ask them to fix this problem in the future.

[kureshii]

As I failed to describe in detail in my previous post, you can slip a tiny flat-head screwdriver (1mm) underneath each sticker and gently wedge it out, the glue isn't very strong and the stickers are quite sturdy. My T4210 looks untampered except for tiny black spots where the screwdriver seems to have scratched the silver off. It's unnoticeable except upon close inspection. Just use more finesse and less force ;-)

You can probably seal around the screen with hobby silicone, or any gel-like substance that solidifies... the screen is further covered by a clear plastic cover (you'll see what I mean if you open it up), so if you can seal off this space between the screen and the plastic cover then theoretically dust shouldn't be able to get in anymore.

This is likely to void the warranty if done DIY though, which is why I suggested getting the Fujitsu engineers to do it, if they're willing to... but I doubt disassembling the tablet would void anything unless you break it, since there were no labels or stickers in the way...

[terencec]

Here is what I got from Fujitsu tech support. I agree it is not manufacture defect. But it is a design issue. Now, I am wondering, if the design has problem, will the warranty cover it technically? Need to pay $230 to remove dust. It is quite expensive. However, I will still pay one time for dust removal and ask them to seal my screen (not sure if they are willing to do it.) If they seal my screen, my warranty may be void later because the tablet has been modified! The tablet is supposed to work in many envirnoments not only in the clean room!

Thank you for your inquiry. I understand that some dust under the LCD
screen.

This is not considered a manufacturing defect and would not be covered
under warranty. You can call in and set up a repair with Fujitsu to
have the notebook cleaned and it it could cost up to $230.00 +tax or you
can send it in under a diagnostic fee and Fujitsu would quote you a
price to have the dust removed. If you accept their estimate to have it
cleaned you pay the cost of the estimate +tax or if you refuse the
estimate you pay the Diagnostic fee which is $105.00 +tax.

Paul D.
Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation Technical Support
1-800-838-5487 (Technical Support and Customer Service line open 24
hours a day 7 days a week)

[P8RSON]

I would agree, if it is not a manufacturing defect it then can not be covered by warranty.

However, if you can instead convince them it is a design fault it should still be repaired free of charge.

Did they actually say it was a design fault or give you any indication as such?