WHITE SPOTS ON THE PLASTIC PART OF MY LAPTOP

[VERA9589]

Dear sir/madam

I have the notebook hp 15-bs025nv (blue). I bought it on 04/2018. Recently, some white spots on the plastic part on the screen appeared. I tried to clean them softly, but they were not cleaned, not even got smaller. Could you please advise me of what could this be due to? e.g. dirt which can be somehow removed or material failure?

Thank you in advance

Best ragards

Vera

[Dragon-Fur]

@VERA9589 

Personal opinion only and not a statement of fact:

I doubt the spots are dirt or "material failure".  

Short Version

Spots (or streaks) are just more likely the result of outside damage inflicted on the surface than a casual break down of the material used to construct the case.  This, of course, assumes the case is not ancient (many years old) and that the computer has been well cared for, that is, not subjected to extreme heat, cold, filth, or general contact with unsafe materials.

Longer Version

Perhaps more likely, the spots are the result of some kind of spill - spots of nail polish remover (acetone or "non"-acetone types) can do this, for example, though the damage from this particular chemical would be something you would remember having caused (and the damage would likely be much worse). 

Nonetheless, "whitish" spots on plastic usually denote some sort of surface damage to the finish - even weak solutions of any solvent that can damage plastic could result in spots, streaks, or smudges.  

Is this a guaranteed analysis?  Certainly not.  

References

•  Protecting and Caring for your HP Notebook PC

and

•  About LCD Panel Defects and Terminology for Notebook PCs and Tablets

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Clarification of terms and "what the device can do" (Specifications)

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HP Notebook - 15-bs025nv

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[VERA9589]

Thank you for the response!

Initially, I had the same thought with you, too e.g. it may be due to nail polish remover which could be by accident splashed on the laptop. But:

1. The spots are both on the interior (around the laptop screen) and on the exterior part of the laptop (if acetone was splashed by accident, only one part would have been damaged, right?)

2. The laptop is usually in its case, so the possibility of accident is relatively low

3. From the time that I noticed the spots, I saw that they are getting bigger and that new spots appear, although I am very careful concerning its storage. And that was the main reason why I suspected material failure.

[Dragon-Fur]

@VERA9589 

Well, "new spots and growing" is certainly not good news and I retract my earlier guess.

Worse case scenario - and certainly NOT based on any kind of specific knowledge:

Not sure why kind of environment you are experiencing - the "growing" spots may be mold.

A quick check on the 'net shows that this is actually a "thing", meaning that it can and does happen to computers. 

There are various suggestions - certainly cleaning any dust out of the inside is important - using  90% isopropyl (also known as rubbing) alcohol on the parts...

No, I don't have any idea whether / how / to what extent this might further damage the surface.  More research is needed.

I am glad I cannot speak from experience, but it does look like this sort of issue (if it is actually mold) can be treated (cleaned, killed, saved).

One example:

Can I Clean a Laptop Computer that was Exposed to Mold?

I am out of other ideas for the moment.  

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