Nowadays, for any user of modern household and computer equipment, the phrase “dead pixels” causes nothing but a headache and a bad mood. But what is it really and how scary is it to be the “lucky” owner of equipment with these same dead pixels?
First, let's figure out the principles by which modern TVs and monitors work. They form an image using many dots, which are called pixels. When they change their color, the image on the screen also changes, and we see the picture formed from these dots. In modern monitors, a matrix is installed, called active - in it, a separate thin-film transistor is responsible for controlling each pixel (that is why such screens are called TFT, from English. If one of these transistors fails for some reason, we can observe the phenomenon which is called a dead pixel on the monitor.
Due to a technical malfunction of the transistor, such dots do not change their color when the image on the screen changes and appear as a black dot. Although it should be taken into account that dead pixels can be not only black - on a black background such a dot is usually white, and there are also red, blue and green faulty pixels. In our time, such a malfunction can be corrected in a specialized workshop. To do this, it is necessary to replace the corresponding failed transistor, and it will again be able to perform its functions.
But it happens that dead pixels on the monitor are formed not due to the failure of the transistor, but due to the so-called stuck dots. Typically, a jam is accompanied by the appearance of a light dot on a dark background, which does not change its color under any circumstances. Such a defect, unlike a “black spot,” can be tried to be corrected at home using some physical or software manipulations.
It should also be noted that the world's leading manufacturers are currently establishing special standards that allow a certain number of faulty pixels in various standards. This is due, first of all, to the fact that the percentage of defects among matrices operating on liquid crystals is quite high. You should pay attention to this nuance if you are going to contact a repair shop under warranty. A table of acceptable defective pixels is included in the standard called "ISO-13406". It can be easily found on the Internet on the websites of many leading manufacturers of LCD monitors.
Many users often have a question: how difficult is it to see dead pixels with the naked eye? It is unlikely that it will be possible to answer this unambiguously. This is due to the fact that when buying a monitor, sellers very often show us bright, changing images, thereby not allowing us to properly examine the display in different situations. For example, it happens that a defective red dot can only be seen on a green background, and even then a certain shade. Therefore, you should check your purchase very carefully. This can also be done using special programs. One of the best such utilities is “Nokia Monitor Test”, which allows you to test your monitor for various defects, readability, moire and damaged pixels.
Don’t forget that you can try to “cure” the so-called stuck dead pixels (not black dots, but colored dots) at home. To do this, you can use special programs (one of the best such utilities is called “ScreenFix Deluxe”) or try to massage the defective area of the display with a cotton swab. The main thing is not to overdo it during such a “massage”, since the chance of further damaging the display or its anti-glare coating is quite high.
If your monitor constantly has black, white or some bright spots that do not change color, then the problem is dead pixels. Where they come from, who “beats” them and how to get rid of them - we will look at all this in detail in this article.
Causes of damage.
The main causes of damage are:
Tip: New monitors may also have broken dots, so always check for them.
Software method.
This method involves quickly changing the colors of those cells that are located next to the bat. Thanks to this method 55% of pixels can “come to life”. But each type will require its own time, its own speed, and so on. In most cases you will have to experiment.
Here this utility You can not only download, but also buy - http://www.z-drex.com/ru/downloads.php. The free version is valid for 30 days, but there are no additional features.
First, you should choose which device screen you will treat. Select the required item.
After this, the following menu will be available to you.
Select "Treatment" and click on the green button. Next, move the window to the area where there are non-working points. Leave the program for a couple of minutes and then check the result. If the pixel doesn't come to life, try increasing the speed. You may have to do this several times.
After the point has recovered, carry out prevention.
Advice: carry out preventive maintenance once every two months. Then no non-working points will bother you.
This program can be downloaded here: http://udpix.free.fr/. It's completely free. Install this utility and open it. This is what you will see.
Set the settings that suit your pixels. Click on the appropriate button to get started. Dots will appear on the screen that need to be moved under the broken cell. After 10 minutes, check the result. If nothing has changed, try again, increasing the operating time.
Massage treatment.
You will need an ear stick. Press a little on the place of the non-working point (smears should appear) and scroll with it. This should take about 15 minutes. Yes, it takes a very long time, but the dead pixels disappear immediately.
You can do this simultaneously with some of the above programs. After this work you need to leave working application for a few hours.
Treatment with a stylus.
If you have a stylus, then align it as accurately as possible opposite the non-working point. Turn off the monitor and then turn it on without removing the stylus. When the computer is fully booted, remove it. If nothing has changed, try again.
Shutdown.
This method does not help everyone, but you can try, especially if you are going somewhere. Disconnect the monitor from all power sources, including the Internet cable. Leave the device in this state for several days. The monitor capacitors should discharge during these days. Therefore, there is a possibility that the dead pixel will “come to life”.
Thus, it is very easy to remove dead pixels. Some methods require patience, but nothing will irritate your eyes.
This article will tell you how you can fix a stuck pixel on your LCD monitor that has stopped changing colors. The pixel usually gets stuck on some color other than black or white, and the problem can often be corrected with a couple of in various ways. If the pixel turns out to be broken and not stuck, then it will be impossible to fix it. Likewise, although you have a chance to fix a stuck pixel, it cannot be guaranteed that you will successfully fix it.
Part 1
Preparing for workMake sure that the pixel is really just stuck and not broken. Although the terms “dead” and “stuck” pixel are often used interchangeably to refer to problematic pixels, stuck pixels can be fixed, while dead pixels cannot. If a pixel has a specific color other than black or does not change color correctly depending on background color It's most likely just stuck.
Understand how pixels work. Pixels reflect combinations of red, blue and green colors depending on what is shown on the screen. A pixel can become stuck for a variety of reasons, including too long time use monitor or after a long period of displaying colors that are too saturated. When a pixel is stuck, it displays only one color, which may vary slightly depending on the color of the surrounding pixels.
Check the warranty conditions for your LCD monitor. Often, manufacturers are willing to replace a monitor when it has a certain number of stuck or dead pixels. If your monitor is still under warranty, it is best to take advantage of a warranty replacement rather than trying to fix the problem yourself.
Turn off the monitor for 24 hours. If the pixel got stuck recently, then the problem may disappear by itself - just turn off the monitor for a day. There's no guarantee that you'll fix your monitor this way, but a stuck pixel often means the monitor has been in use for too long and it's best to unplug it for a while to prevent further damage.
Consider having your monitor repaired. Even if the monitor's warranty has already expired, paying for professional repairs will be cheaper than buying a new monitor due to an accidental breakdown of the device as a result of DIY repairs.
Know that the pixel can work on its own. It is not uncommon for stuck pixels to disappear after some time, however, this period can vary from a few days to several years. If you only have one pixel stuck on an expensive monitor, it is best to refrain from tapping, rubbing, or otherwise physically pushing the monitor to fix the pixel.
Part 2
Using software to fix screen problemsUnderstand how this method works. Screen repair software displays random combinations of red, green and blue at up to 60 flashes of color per second to return the pixel to its normal cycle.
Avoid using stuck pixel repair software if you have epilepsy. Since this software
displays random flashes of rapidly changing colors on the screen, you may want to avoid using it if you (or anyone in your family) has a history of epileptic seizures. Go to http://www.jscreenfix.com/ in your browser. JScreenFix is a free online application that can fix stuck pixels.
Scroll down the page and click on the button Launch JScreenFix to launch the application. This button is colored blue and is located at the bottom of the page. It allows you to open JScreenFix in your browser.
Find the stuck pixel. The main part of the screen will be black, so you can easily find the stuck pixel.
Move the flashing repair block of the application to the stuck pixel. Click and drag the flickering block onto the problematic pixel, then release.
Leave the application running for at least 10 minutes. In this case, do not roll up the window, move the repair unit, or turn off the monitor.
Check the pixel status. When the required amount of time has passed, close the application window to check the pixel. If the pixel is restored, then the problem is solved.
Part 3
Applying pressure and heat to the problem pixelUnderstand the risks associated with this method. Although some people have been able to fix stuck pixels with pressure or heat using this method, you are more likely to damage your monitor screen than to repair it.
Turn on your computer and LCD monitor. For this method to work, you must turn on the monitor.
Open the black image. It is critical that the screen actually shows a black image and not be in a no-signal state, as you need the LCD monitor's internal backlight to work.
Find a thin object with a narrow, blunt end. You will need a marker or a pen with a pointed cap, a very blunt pencil, a plastic stylus, or the back of a makeup brush.
Wrap the end of the selected item with a napkin. This will protect the monitor from scratches.
Use the rounded end of an object to gently press down on the stuck pixel. In this case, a white ripple effect should appear around the point of contact.
After a few seconds, remove the item. If the pixel remains in the same state, you can reapply this method or switch to using heat. However, if the problem is resolved, turn off the monitor immediately and do not turn it on for at least one hour.
Wet a washcloth with hot water. If possible, heat the water on the stove until the first sign of gas bubbles appears at the bottom of the container (about 88°C), then dip a washcloth into it and soak it in the hot water.
Protect your hands. To avoid burning your fingers in subsequent steps, use an oven mitt or thick cloth.
Seal the hot washcloth in a Ziploc bag. This will protect the monitor from moisture. Make sure the bag is securely closed.
Apply the washcloth bag to the stuck pixel. Light pressure through the washcloth should loosen the pixel's contents slightly, potentially aiding in its correction.
When purchasing a laptop, monitor or tablet, we try to inspect the device as thoroughly as possible to make sure that it has no signs of defects. Alas, not all flaws can be identified by external examination. Some of them may remain invisible even if you look at them directly. These are just dead pixels - permanent black or one-color dots on the display. You can only notice them on plain background, therefore, most often this defect is discovered by the user when money has already been paid for the product.
It is not always possible to exchange a defective device, which may be due to several reasons. For example, in devices of the second class according to the ISO13406-2 specification, up to 9 dead pixels per million, which means that according to the current law, you will not be able to exchange the purchased device, even if you want to. It is also possible that a defect will appear after the warranty period has expired. Fortunately, in some cases, dead pixels can be fixed on your own. But before we move on to considering acceptable methods, let's find out what dead pixels are, what they are, and what leads to their formation.
Unlike outdated cathode ray tube monitors, in which the picture was formed by constantly bombarding the inside of a phosphor-coated screen with electrons, in modern liquid crystal displays the image is formed thanks to liquid crystals that can change their position in space and thereby influence the properties of what is transmitted through them of a light beam. Liquid crystals in displays form what everyone is used to calling a pixel matrix.
Such a matrix consists of many individual elements traditionally called pixels or points. Each matrix element is controlled by its own transistor - Thin Film Transistor or TFT for short . Pixels, in turn, are formed by three subpixels, each of which corresponds to one of the three primary colors - red, blue and green. Mixing in a given order, they give the variety of colors that we can see on the digital image of modern monitors.
However, as it happens, at some point one of the pixels or the transistor that controls it begins to work incorrectly. As a result, a dot appears on the display, glowing in the same color. This is a dead pixel. The reasons for the appearance of dead pixels lie in the design of the LCD screen itself. The lower the quality of the materials used to make the display, the greater the likelihood that dead pixels will appear on it. Their appearance can also be caused by too low or high temperature, as well as pressure on areas of the screen surface.
Thus, success in “treating” dead pixels largely depends on the nature of the defect. Some dead pixels can be fixed at home, while others require a completely special approach.
Dead pixels come in three main types and appear as:
First type most often indicates physical damage to the control transistor. This is the most difficult case. Such a defect can be eliminated only in special laboratory conditions by replacing a non-working transistor. Also, the reason for the appearance of a black pixel can be the crystal stopping in the closed position. It is hardly possible to revive such a crystal. The same can be said about the white dead pixels that appear when the crystal is stopped in the open position.
Third type defect - colored pixels in most cases can be quite successfully eliminated at home. These are the so-called stuck pixels. They appear when, for some reason, a subpixel freezes in one position. So, to launch such a pixel, sometimes it’s enough just to “boost” it. This can be done using special programs or using the method of gentle mechanical impact on the area with the problem pixel, which will be discussed a little below.
Most safe way This is, of course, software. The most well-known utilities for restoring broken pixels are Bad Crystal, Pixel Repair, JScreenFix, ScreenFix Deluxe. All these utilities work on the same principle. A large amount of energy is supplied to the subpixels, causing them to “swing” and come to life. Externally, the work of programs manifests itself as a rapid change of colors. No additional actions are required from the user, you just need to run the program and wait a while.
In some cases, restore normal work pixels are achieved in 20 minutes, in others it may take up to 10 hours.
If you fix frozen pixels programmatic method If it doesn't work, you can try giving the screen an acupressure massage. This procedure is performed as follows: turn off the monitor, take a cotton swab and gently rub the problem area in different directions. You don’t need to press hard, just enough to create faint streaks. Massage time is approximately 20 minutes. Next, turn on the device and look at the result. This method has certain disadvantages. Firstly, there is always a risk of accidentally damaging the fragile layers of the screen, and secondly, it is not suitable for touch capacitive displays.
Today every family can afford to buy a computer. Due to the rapid progress of computer technology, they are becoming obsolete fast , and they are being replaced by more powerful and updated models. Therefore, everyone can now afford to buy a computer or laptop. Moreover, most already have a couple or more computers.
For example, a friend of mine has a computer that is installed in the kitchen so that cooking and, in fact, dining are not boring. The computer is of average power, but for home use it will do just fine. But using it in the kitchen, in the summer heat, and even with the stove or oven on, problems were not long in coming. Dead pixels began to appear on the monitor. While there are only a couple of them, it is necessary to urgently take action to prevent the problem from getting worse. Today I will teach you how to remove dead pixels and fix them.
For those who are not at all familiar with the term dead pixels, I’ll tell you - these are non-working dots or parts of a dot on the monitor. You can also watch them on your phone. But most often they are noticeable on computer screens.
If the pixel no longer works at all, then it will be black and can only be seen in white or light tones of the monitor. This type of dead pixel is considered the most harmless. But despite this, nothing can be fixed here.
The most popular and at the same time the most noticeable dead pixels are dots of bright red, blue, green, yellow, turquoise or purple. Such broken subpixels are also called stuck pixels.
If one of these pixels appears in the middle of the screen, it will annoy you especially if it is red. Such a dead pixel is immediately noticeable.
One of the features of dead pixels is that they not only appear unpredictably, but can also disappear unpredictably. For example, on my old monitor, when I first started using it, there were already three dots of different colors. Maybe I didn’t notice them when I bought them or they appeared on the first day of use, I don’t know. But I didn’t bother at all with these dots, since they didn’t interfere with viewing the picture on the monitor at all. I've been using this monitor for five years. And during this time, the dots did not bother me at all and I observed them very rarely, despite the fact that they were clearly in the middle of the screen.
Most likely, the points were not captured due to the fact that the monitor was on an MVA matrix, and not on the most popular TN. This matrix has one feature - small defects are not noticeable. Before writing this article, I decided to check if I could remove dead pixels on my old monitor. I turn it on, but the pixels are fine. I didn't find a single broken point.
Naturally, we will not talk about methods using high technologies, since they are used only in special laboratories and with special equipment. But there is a treatment method that will help you remove dead pixels at home.
There are only two ways to remove dead pixels at home, this is programmatic method and mechanical. I’m sure you, like me, were also not aware that there are programs that can fix dead pixels. On this moment I managed to find only two such programs.
This method was made possible due to the technology of quickly changing the colors of adjacent pixels. Thanks to this process, a flow of energy is applied to the subpixel large quantities, which makes him come to life. Using this technology, you can resurrect from 55% to 80% of already dead pixels.
But using this method, you need to be patient. Because it will take a lot of time to restore some pixels. You’ll have to get out and experiment if you can’t immediately restore the dead pixels. Experimentation will consist of changing the speed of color changing and the operating time of the program itself.
Recovered pixels can beov fade away. Most often, hot weather contributes to this. But, repeating the recovery procedure and the dead pixels work again. But there are times when a pixel cannot be restored.
As I already said, I found only two programs that can restore dead pixels. One of them is “Bad Crystal”. By downloading the free version, you can use it for 30 days, but with limited functionality. By downloading this version, you will not have access to advanced technologies. But there is an option to use more old version Bad Crystal 2.6 programs. It works without restrictions, but after the first minute of operation the program window is completely darkened. But you can solve this problem by using a hardware tablet. You need to move the program window with the mouse and then do not let go left button mice. It can be held in this position using a mug. In this position, you will see the program window constantly. If anyone finds a version of the program already with treatment, then do not forget to do it before installing. After all, the downloaded file may contain very unpleasant surprises.
Having installed the program, run it. You will immediately need to select the device you will need to work with: screen, computer, mobile phone, console or plasma panel.
If you are using the program on a phone or game console, the video file will be generated at the selected resolution. It will need to be played in a repeating mode on mobile device. For a plasma panel, you can burn a DVD or HD disc with the finished video or run it from a computer in “Full Screen” mode. Since you are working with a monitor from a computer, we need to select “Computer Monitor”.
To open an additional menu, we need to move the mouse cursor to top part program windows. You will see that only 4 modes are available to you: Common Clearing (CCM), System Modified (SMF), Complex Force (CFV), Personal Protection (PPM).
But even from these available modes in free version you can only use two, these are SSM and PRM. The remaining modes provide a higher percentage of restored pixels, so they are only available in the paid version. On the standard, the CCM mode is selected.
When we have figured out the interface, click on the “Launch” button. After that, working window programs must be moved to the area of dead pixels. We wait 10 minutes and check the result. If the points are still in place, then it is necessary to increase the speed of the program. To do this, press the "Speed Up" button.
This button will not be visible until you hover over it. It is located in the upper left corner of the program window.
We also wait 10-15 minutes and check the result again. If even after increasing the speed the dead pixel does not disappear, we increase the speed of the program to maximum and again check the result of the work. Thus, a lot of time can be spent restoring a pixel. He will eventually recover, but do you have the nerves for this procedure? I learned about cases where such recovery lasted for 10 hours.
To prevent pixels from getting stuck again, I recommend turning on auto mode prevention - PRM. The way this mode works is that over a period of time, the colors on the monitor will change. You need to run this process a couple of times a month, at times when no one is sitting at the computer. IN manual mode You can also run this procedure. But I couldn't stop her. Maybe I didn’t wait long, but when the program was running it said that there were 30 seconds left. In fact, the work continued all the time. To shut down the program, you need to end the process called “PPM.exe” in the task manager.
The next program with which you can restore dead pixels is JScreenFix. Although, JScreenFix can hardly be called a program. This Java application. For it to work, you must have Java installed on your computer. More recently, this program was freely available and absolutely free, you can look for the old version.
The JScreenFix program is completely different from the previous one. The application will independently determine its place of work. You just need to click on the “Locale” button. The program window will turn black and you will need to move this window across the screen of your monitor. Don’t rush, because the program will have to identify all the dead pixels. In order not to look for points yourself, you need to select “Full Screen”, so that the application scans the entire screen at once. The stage of checking for dead pixels is completely free.
But the second stage of working with the program, namely the restoration of dead pixels, will already require payment for use. In this respect, the program is similar to “Bad Crystal.” On the application’s website you can find ready-made videos depicting the program’s operation. You can use them to restore pixels. But given that the video resolution differs significantly from the original work of the program, it is not effective You can use any player for playback, so the video can be played both on your phone and on your computer.
The manufacturers of both programs recommend maintenance of the monitor. To do this, you need to start the “recovery process.” Honestly, I won’t tell you how necessary this is and whether it’s worth spending time on it. But if we're talking about O plasma panels, then such prevention will really be useful.
If after this procedure the dead pixels disappear, then the problem was not serious. But, for prevention, you need to run “Bad Crystal” and process this very area. If the dead pixel is not sold, then you need to take a double blow to the problem, namely, run the “Bad Crystal” program and at the same time massage the problem area with an ear stick. The massage can be stopped after 15 minutes, and the program will have to be left running for at least 10 hours. Then you will definitely be able to get rid of dead pixels.
I hope this knowledge will not be useful to you and dead pixels will not appear on your monitors. And if they do form, they are invisible and will soon disappear.
