Apr 03 2008
A Stuck Pixel on My LG L226WTX
4 days after I purchased my new monitor, I have a stuck pixel. That is at least what I think it is. It's a little blue spot on the monitor that didn't wipe away, so I'm assuming that it is in fact a stuck pixel.
Stuck Pixel On Monitor
The picture makes it look worse than it actually is, but the blue pixel is still definitely noticeable. After researching the issue on the web, I found that there are pretty much three choices to fix it.
The Software Method
I read about a program that will remove stuck pixels. After looking into this, I found a utility provided by WidowPC. It is not actually a program that runs. What the WidowPC tool does is runs a video that flashes red, green, white, black, and blue. I thought this sounded cool, so I downloaded and ran the video. I set my media player to loop the 52 second video, resized it, and placed it over the blue dot. After running it for 2 minutes, the pixel was still there. I decided to leave it longer and left for 15 minutes. When I came back the blue dot was still there. Hmm, oh well onto the next try.
The Massage Method
There is another method I tried that is called the massage method. If you have used an LCD monitor before and have pressed on the screen, you have likely seen the circle of discoloration left from your finger. What happens when you press on the screen is that the liquid moves around to other pixels. This sounded like it would work, so I gave it a go. I put a napkin over my finger, and lightly rolled it around. Well, this didn't work - even though I thought it sounded like the best method. Time for the last attempt.
The Tap Method
The last method to try was a method that involved tapping a pen on the affected pixel. This is similar to the massage method, by moving the liquid out in an attempt to unset the pixel. I gave a quick little tap with the end of a pen, and the pixel was cleared! I wish I had used this method first.
No More Stuck Pixel
The pixel is now cleared and hasn't come back in over a day. I was really worried when I saw this pixel because when I bought the monitor the seller offered me a pixel warranty. The warranty was $15 and assured something like free replacement on monitors with 4 or less pixel problems for a year. Having heard tonnes of warnings from the news/internet/etc. about extended warranties I decided to pass on the option. We'll see if this was the right choice, but for now, everything is good.
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Hey David, the combination you used has a really great rate of success. Pixels get stuck for lots of different reasons and the various methods you use tend to hit most of the causes. I recommend people use the flashing app at the same time as they massage and tap. Works almost every time.
Joshua McClure
Founder, WidowPC
Thank you so much! because as soon as i booted up my brand new laptop….3 stuck pixels were already there….and i pasted on the warrenty like you did…but now they are gone
Glad I could help!
You forgot the Sharpie method.
Good news about warranties, often the store will allow you to return and purchase one up to 30 days after sale, I found going direct to the manufacturer was even better as the acer warranty is $100 cheaper than the one compUSA was offering.
Great April Joke
Strange,
I have the same LCD, and have had it for almost 8 months now without any problems
Sure, same product, and you’ll encounter exactly the same problems Bob. *rolls eyes* Its called statistics. If 100% of the monitors encounter the problem, then yes, you would be right. But depending on the monitor, its typically less than 10% of them that have the problem. But go ahead, believe your special, and managed to avoid a serious problem Bob. So, rather its not strange. More like to be expected.
Rational man, away!
Hahaha, bob annoyed me as well, Zeroth.
the Sharpie method… l o l
Thanks a lot!
I have 2 stuck pixels on my lcd and as I was reading along I was also trying the methods. Except the first one which I’ve already tried and didn’t work.
One of the pixels suddenly came back to life on the first tap of my pen!
The other pixel that was dead since when I got the lcd home however didn’t get resuscitated.
Anyway, thanks again!
Stumbled!
I love my Dell monitor. 1 dead or stuck pixel and they advance replace it with a new one. For 3 years.
You forgot to mention the “hammer method”. I had some stuck pixels and nothing would work to get them out. Enter a 10 pound hammer. No more stuck pixels.
You know. In all seriousness, I have given this all some thought. Dead pixels should teach people *NOT* to buy Chinese goods. I don’t buy any hardware that wasn’t 100% made in Japan.
Most of the Japanese firms monitors are OEM anyway Chron. Just because it says, for example, SONY or Philips, dont draw any conclusions. I live next to and LCD manufacturing plant - in Poland, for a korean firm, LG who OEM to… well you get the picture.
Nice, glad you fixed it.
Buying an extended warranty is pretty much always a bad idea. Those companies have a whole team of actuarial science graduates calculating how much to price each thing so the companies make a profit. If they didn’t make money off of these “extended warranty” scams. Like the casinos in Vegas, the house always in. If you bought an extended warranty all the time, you will pretty much always save more money by not buying the warranty and using that money for replacing the electronics that do go defective.
I think you’re missing the point slightly - obviously they make money from extended warranties - they’re commercial companies, not charities. The point is that you pay a bit extra to ensure piece of mind; it’s an insurance policy. Do you think you make a profit on your car/home insurance over a lifetime?
Actually, there *is* a way to make sure you get your money’s worth from a “super-duper, run over it and get a new one” extended warranty…
Run over it a month before the end of warranty, and bring it in for free replacement. You’ll likely get a new model, and if you’re like me, you’ll yell until they give you one that’s at a comparable price level to the one you bought 3 years before.
Amazing! I thought all these methods were fake.. The pen trick did work fine! Thanks man.
Yov know, the best thing to do abovt problems like these-
Is beat the living fvck ovt of the monitor.
It’ll feel really good, trvst me.
Bad for yovr wallet if yov don’t have money, like me…
Bvt good for yovr sovl to release some of those pent vp emotions.
Thank yov for yovr time,
~A~
I can’t believe you used a “v” for every “u” in that comment… That just made my day.
Maybe he’s got the “u” key stuck as well.
Nice one, I’ll try this when i get home. thanks in advance if this works…
Great Info!
I have wondered what to do about those stuck pixels before >.<
Good info!
I’ve used the flashing video method ands its worked 3 times for me….
Sometimes, it doesn’t work immediately, i like gave the treatment for a about 5 mins, it still didn’t clear out, so i swithched off the monitor for about an hour or so, and when i turned it back on.. it was gone…
Oh, never mind, it was a bugger.
I had just bought a LG W1952TQ for like 2 days now. On the second day I had this stuck pixel right in the middle of my screen. I was kind of worried but I googled it and saw this website. I tried using the method tapping it with a pen; it actually worked. Thanks for your advice, it saved me a trip to Best Buy. =)
That I think was a very cute pixel. Why did you have to kill it? You are so cruel.
I feel so sorry about that pixel. It’s gone forever!
i can see that the tapping method is the best.
but if i tap the screen, i could damage it, and maybe next time the dead pixel will appear exactly at the same place, or maybe around it. and the more i tap it, the dead pixels will more likely appear at the same place…..maybe
I used the flashing raincoat method for my stuck dixel.