What to do about dead pixels?

March 20, 2006 10:55 PM

What can I do about dead pixels, and why do they happen?

For a long time there have been two un-clean-able smudges on my laptop screen. Recently dead pixels (more than one) have appeared in clumps in the middle of these two smudges. I've become accustomed to the smudges over time, but the dead pixels drive me mad.

Is there anything I can do? I may need to give Toshiba a run on my laptop this summer anyhow, as I'd like to get them to take a look at the fan.

And why, oh why, does this happen, pray tell? My boyfriend (who knows a thing or two about computers, but not so much about laptops) says it's because I shut the screen too hard. Yes? No?

posted by anjamu to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Most dead pixels are a result of manufacturing defects, and are considered "permissable" by most manufacturers in small quantities.

This article offers some advice, including massaging the dead pixel back to life. However, if your laptop is still under warranty, make Toshiba fix it for you.
posted by fvox13 at 11:11 PM on March 20, 2006

Powering up and down can sometimes cause it, and can occasionally fix it. I'm sure gross physical shock could do it as well.

Sometimes leaving this video running fullscreen on your LCD for a few hours can help. You can also try very, very gently massaging the area around the pixel, although I've never gotten any results using this method.

Unfortunately dead pixels are just a fact of life for those who own LCD monitors. Google around - there's a ton of info on this topic out there.
posted by Ryvar at 11:18 PM on March 20, 2006

If the dead pixels are appearing in the middle of smudges then it's probably because something (the keyboard?) is putting pressure on your laptop screen when you close it. This would first cause wear on the screen, which might look like smudges, then eventually cause dead pixels due to the pressure on the screen. If so, it's probably a design flaw, although it could possibly be exacerbated by closing the screen hard.

If the computer is still under warranty, see if you can get Toshiba to fix the problem. Occasional dead pixels in new displays are a fact of life, but what you describe sounds like ongoing damage due to physical trauma to the screen, and as such you can expect that power cycling, "massaging," or running the dead pixel fixer video will not help.

Good luck!
posted by musicinmybrain at 11:30 PM on March 20, 2006

It's probably not caused so much by slamming the screen, as pressure on it while it's closed. If your laptop case is wedged full of stuff (power cords, spare batteries, external floppy drives, printouts, what have you) it will mash the screen and keyboard together.

I headed that problem off by keeping the thin foam packing sheet that Dell supplied with the machine; I always put it back between keyboard and screen before I close the lid. If you make a screen-sided protector sheet out of thick terry towelling or corduroy, that would probably work too.

Make Toshiba fix it, then do that.
posted by flabdablet at 3:02 AM on March 21, 2006

If your laptop case is wedged full of stuff (power cords, spare batteries, external floppy drives, printouts, what have you) it will mash the screen and keyboard together.

I headed that problem off by keeping the thin foam packing sheet that Dell supplied with the machine; I always put it back between keyboard and screen before I close the lid.

Hey, good call and good idea!
posted by musicinmybrain at 5:16 AM on March 21, 2006

Yep. I saved the little fel-like cloth that came with my Acer, and it has a double advantage - it keeps the keys from scratching the screen, and also picks up dust from the screen when the laptop is closed. If you don't have the sheet that came with your machine, cut a chunk of felt to fit. Just make sure it isn't so thick that it makes it hard to close your laptop.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:28 AM on March 21, 2006