Is it possible for a "dead" pixel on an LCD display to fix itself?

[mhendo]

My computer is about three years old, a Dell Dimension desktop. I run it with two monitors, a Dell 17" LCD that came with the computer, and a Samsung 997DF 19" CRT that i purchased afterwards.

A few weeks after i got the computer, i noticed that the LCD had what appeared to be a dead pixel. That pixel displayed only bright green, and was most noticeable when the screen was showing dark colors. If the screen was mainly white space (e.g., an open Word document), i hardly noticed the dead pixel. I'm not sure if i could have exchanged it for another monitor, but i couldn't be bothered as it never really distracted me very much.

Anyway, it just occurred to be this evening that i hadn't noticed the green pixel for a while. At first, i assumed it must have be simply because i had gotten used to it, and because i use that monitor mainly for word processing, email, and other applications with lots of white background.

But then i opened up a dark background application and moved it over to the LCD, and couldn't find the little green pixel anywhere. I'm not sure how long it's been fixed for, but now that i think about it, i haven't noticed it for ages.

So, what's the most likely explanation? Can these things just fix themselves? Could bumping the monitor put something back into place, or is it not that simple? I'm happy the problem (such as it was) is fixed, but also a little confused.

[TimeWinder]

Yes, they can. I had an older LCD monitor manual that actually recommended "gently rubbing" dead or stuck pixels (probably with a soft cloth or something, I don't recall) to try and fix them before calling for support.

I've seen dead ones start working over time. I've only ever had one stuck (always on) pixel on a monitor, and it never went away, but that's hardly a good sample size.

(BTW: "Dead" usually means always off, "Stuck" usually means always on).

Perhaps obviously, you can accumulate damage over time, too - pixels can "go dead", especially if you spend too much time gently rubbing your monitor.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by mhendo

I'm not sure if i could have exchanged it for another monitor

Probably not, for a single 'stuck' pixel.

Most LCD makers won't replace a monitor unless there are at least 8-12 malfunctioning (stuck or dead) pixels on the monitor.

[Sitnam]

Yup, it happened to me.

[Mangetout]

There are websites that claim stuck or dead pixels can sometimes be revived just by trying to switch them on and off over and over again for a while - this one, for example, has a little Java applet that you can place on your screen so that it will exercise the problem pixel.

They also go on to recommend 'pixel massage', if 'pixel exercise' doesn't cure it.

I can hazard my own WAGs as to why each of these methods might work in some cases, but I'd be interested in the opinions of LCD and semiconductor experts - if it works, how would it be doing it?

[TimeWinder]

Originally Posted by t-bonham@scc.net

Probably not, for a single 'stuck' pixel.

Most LCD makers won't replace a monitor unless there are at least 8-12 malfunctioning (stuck or dead) pixels on the monitor.

Bah. Don't buy from anyone with such an antiquated policy: there are plenty of LCD manufacturers with a "zero tolerance" for dead pixels, and the ones that still claim you need several of them for a return will cave if you go past the first-level support.

I don't think I'd complain about a single stuck pixel even in a modern monitor, but if I had two or more, I'd complain until they replaced it. Such a monitor should never have made it by the quality checks and shipped (I'm talking about out-of-the-box dead/stuck pixels, of course). The last eight LCD monitors/laptop displays I've owned have had a grand total of one stuck pixel (red and off-center) -- they're just not that common these days, and manufacturers who want repeat business will listen to you when you tell them that.

[ChrisBooth12]

The thing about those kinds of monitors is that they are producded on such a scale that there is no way to have someone check every one of them to see if it is stuck. Having a coupld dead pixels is just apart of the manufacturing process. My laptop has over 2 million pixles on it, and i only have 1 stuck pixel.

[Jayrot]

Originally Posted by TimeWinder

Bah. Don't buy from anyone with such an antiquated policy: there are plenty of LCD manufacturers with a "zero tolerance" for dead pixels, and the ones that still claim you need several of them for a return will cave if you go past the first-level support.

I don't think I'd complain about a single stuck pixel even in a modern monitor, but if I had two or more, I'd complain until they replaced it. Such a monitor should never have made it by the quality checks and shipped (I'm talking about out-of-the-box dead/stuck pixels, of course). The last eight LCD monitors/laptop displays I've owned have had a grand total of one stuck pixel (red and off-center) -- they're just not that common these days, and manufacturers who want repeat business will listen to you when you tell them that.

I dunno man. Newegg.com is probably one of the more reputable and solid resellers around. Their policy on LCD returns is:

Originally Posted by Newegg

LCD Display Return Policy

* Return for refund within: non-refundable
* Return for replacement within: 30 days
* There must be a minimum of 8 dead pixels to declare an LCD display defective and eligible for return.

Newegg.com sells many products such as Notebooks and Monitors that feature LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens. Newegg.com adheres to the dead-pixel policy that is observed by the majority of our manufacturers. In order to declare any product with an LCD screen "defective" and eligible for replacement or refund through any applicable Newegg.com Return Policy, there must be a minimum of 8 (eight) dead LCD pixels.

bolding mine

[Red Barchetta]

Nintendo will take a system back for even one stuck pixel. I know; I used to work there. Love their CS.

[TimeWinder]

Originally Posted by Red Barchetta

Nintendo will take a system back for even one stuck pixel. I know; I used to work there. Love their CS.

So will Planar, and Samsung, and Gateway (at least Gateway did a few years ago). I think HP and Dell are 3 anywhere, or one in the middle third of the screen; and even that's a couple years old, they may be better now. I bet Newegg is fibbing a bit; I bet that's the MOST restrictive policy of their manufacturers, not the "standard" policy. They're just standardizing on it to make it consistent. Besides, Newegg is a vendor, not a manufacturer -- they're usually not the ones responsible for the warranties.

I'd be surprised if the average defect count of even large monitors today was greater than a single pixel per display--certainly most displays I see now don't have any.