I upgraded my old Apple Powerbook to a new model last month and have been enjoying the increased speed, larger hard drive, dvd burning superdrive, and new two finger scrolling trackpad. Other than that, it’s basically the same old laptop.
It’s been getting plenty of use this week since school started, but while at work the other day, I noticed a red stuck pixel near the center of the screen. It was only noticeable when watching movies, but I do that quite often so I was extremely disappointed. Well aware of the lack of support for pixel anomalies from LCD and laptop makers, I searched for my own solution. Generally, manufacturers don’t support LCD screens with stuck or dead pixels unless they are in excess of about 5.
I ran across a color flashing video for the Sony PSP. I used the same video to try and fix my first PSP, but it didn’t work. I figured it was worth a shot though. I let it run for about 30 minutes to no avail. I also read about massaging the area so I gently rubbed the spot a little but that too did not do anything.
Last night I decided to let the video run on a loop while I slept (you can do this in Quicktime). I set it up and figured I’d rub the spot a little bit. This time I used my Monster iClean cleaning cloth instead of my dirty finger. I massaged the area for about 30 seconds while the video was flashing and the pixel started working perfectly.
In all honesty, I don’t know if it was the flashing, the massaging, or the combination of both, but I’m glad it works. I don’t know if this will help anybody, but it’s worth a shot. Give it a try and let me know if it helps!
If you’d like the color flashing video, I’m hosting it here (right click and save file to your hard drive). Good luck!
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Thanks a million, it worked like a charm! I’ve had my 12″ powerbook G4 for about 4 months and a few days ago it got a stuck pixel (red) right smack in the middle of the screen (very noticable and irritating while watching DVDs). I tried a color flash utility I found somewhere else and tried applying pressure to the spot during boot-up, but those methods didn’t work. When I tried the color flasher you posted while simultaneously rubbing the spot with (I’d estimate) about 6-7 lbs of pressure (through a cloth), it became unstuck within about 15 seconds! I’m so relieved, that little red dot was driving me crazy!
Thanks, but no luck here… I don’t know if I’m doing anything wrong, but my brand new 15.4″ IBM/Lenovo laptop with a stuck blue pixel won’t fix…
Damn. It only ran for about 4 hours before the pixel became stuck…
I don’t know how hard I’m supposed to press… how do I know when I’m just making things worse by pressing to hard on the display?
Thomas,
Don’t push too hard, just enough to see the colors change a bit. Use a clean, soft cloth and let the video run overnight if you can.
Okay, I’ll try… Thanks anyway!
By the by, I’ve downloaded a program called UndeadPixel from the following URL:
http://udpix.free.fr/index.php?p=dl
As far as I can see, it does the same thing, but allows you to set the color changing interval yourself (Though I don’t know if that makes any difference…).
But I’ll try letting it run overnight, and share my experiences when I’m done…
Thanx a lot. Just bought a new ACER AL1916AS and after 1 hour 1 red pixel. After running the color flashing video and rubbing the pixel for 30 seconds it worked again.
Thanks a lot my friend for the tips and the video! Today it appears a stuck pixel on my 19” LG L1915s. It was a blue pixel and it was appeared only on black background. I let the video runs for about 5 minutes, do a massage for about 20-30 seconds and the blue dot dissapeared! Magic!
Heyya!
I just got my spanking new DS Lite from Japan, but i got one red and one blue pixel on my lower screen. Much irritating! So what to do? Run a flick on my DS? Massage it? I dont got the tools to play movies on my DS, but if thats the key, I’ll get it.
Just need your input in the matter.
i just got my imac 20″ and its got a red stuck pixel when i got home from the store. So i stumbled on ur blog in search for help. But i dont see the color flashing video u posted? Could you please…..send it to me?
thanks a million…!
The video is on the page, it took me a minute to find the link as well it’s the last paragraph on the page “If you’d like the color flashing video, I’m hosting it here (right click and save file to your hard drive). Good luck!”
You have to click on the word “here” to get to the link.
I have a stuck red pixel on my 19″ LCD and i’m hoping this will fix it, it hasn’t in the couple short runs i’ve done, but we’ll see.
Fixed one of two for me.
Worked on my BenQ FP93GX! Thanks a lot!
Ok so yeah i have a problem. I have one, just one stuck red/orange pixel near the center of my screen. Now keep in mind i have tried EVERYTHING; massage, flicking, tapping, color video (12 hours and counting), the wiki theroy, literally every single thing i have heard of i have tried many times. that damn thing doesnt seem to wanna go away. its obviously not worth returning it just for one barely noticable pixel, but the fact is even though it isnt noticable i know in my head it is there. so what im trying to say is, am i outta luck? are stuck pixels known to go away on their own after a certain period of time? i really need your input people, because this is driving me crazy! thanks alot
This worked for me in about 10 seconds…thanks!
Hi, thanks for the tips, i got one blue and that should be stuck pixel as wiki’s theory about dead and stuck.
so i had the hope that can be gone, tried the video with massage, and pressure for 2 mins, but didnt work, then i left the video for hrs but also didnt work, perhaps i need more time running the video, although i am not comfortable with running the video while sleeping the whole night, but if there is something else i should do, it’d be much appreciated to know.
thanks again!
Worked for me!
When i received my new 19″ LCD monitor it had no hot or dead pixels. Now i have it connected to a KVM switch so that i can use 2 PCs through the same monitor. After a couple of days use switching between displays about 30 times in total i developed a red hot pixel and an intermittent green hot pixel. I was really piss*d at seeing this occur!
Searched the net for an answer. Found this video, plus other tools such as undead pixel, which is now to be found at http://sam100.free.fr/UDPixel2_en_installer.exe
and dead pixel buddy which is located at http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1
Decided to use this video. Played it looped full screen using the VLAN the cross platform player from http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
3 looped plays fixed the intermittent green pixel.
Then i shrank the video into a really small window and placed it over the red hot pixel and left it running. Ofcourse, i had to stop the power saving mode so that the monitor would remain on for the duration!
Checked back after 5 hours and the red hot pixel was gone!
Now my display is completly clear of hot pixels!
My thoughts are:
1. if the pixels have recently turned “hot” you are likely to be able to fix them with this video.
2. Switch off the monitor BEFORE using the KVM switch to swap PC displays. I believe that the stress of the switching is what cause the hot pixels on my LCD monitor.
Thanks for the vid & Hope this helps!
Kris
In-cre-di-ble! A dead pixel appeared on my 30″ Cinema display. Horror!!! I ran the movie for a few minutes, rubbed the spot for 40 seconds and whammo! Gone!
I just had one of these, stuck on red, on my Acer Laptop… I tried the video (2hours) and rubbing the screen, but it was no good!
Here’s how I fixed it:
-Put a black image on the screen to make the stuck pixel show up
-Applied pressure to the plastic edge of the screen directly above and/or below the pixel*
-By varying the force and position of the pressure points I was able to find a point at which the stuck pixel went back to its correct colour, and no other pixels were discoloured
-I held this position whilst watching a normal video (an episode of Scrubs = 20 minutes)
after that, the pixel was unstuck.
The pressure required was quite small, (thanks to acer’s cheap construction) like what you’d use if you were checking someone’s pulse. (don’t know what that is in lbs!)
WTF!!!
I ran that video about 20 mins and nothing happened, until I started to softly massage it… after 3 secs it was gone! Thank you very much!
I was going crazy with that purple dot while watching movies…
THNXXX!!!!
Could anyone please tell me how to keep the video running continuously ? Thank you in advance. And thanks jeffpatch too. In advance.
I ran the video on my new LG 19″ widescree monitor with one dead pixel for around 5 minutes and also massaged my screen with little pressure nothing seemed to happen. I thought all this is crap but then i tried the same thing with much higher pressure and i was absolutely amazed the pixel dissapeared instantly. THANKS A LOT JEFFERY…..AMAZING BLOG ….U ROCK
Is it possible doing the same operation and getting any results on a 42″ LCD Television??
Jeff, found your blog via Google via Digg searching for stuck pixels. Thanks for this solution! Worked like a charm on my brand new out of the box LCD monitor.
Thanks again!
This worked on my Sony TX series, massaging didn’t seem to work but I left the video looping all night long and when I woke up it was fixed! THANK YOU!
hey, I got the same problem it’s on the LCD screen of my PC, which I bought almost 2 years ago, and since I turned it on for the first time, that annoying little green stuck pixel has lived on my screen
, I have done everything that I’ve read (but maybe not the right way)…
anyway, I’d like to know if I can (still) have some hope, even though are almost 2 years since the problem began…
so, I hope to post a comment like the other guys who had great results =)
Hi, I used the good old massage technique on my brand new TFT and it worked in under 4 seconds!!
Oh and there is a big big difference between dead and stuck pixels. Read here for more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_pixel
Thanks! Very helpful.
Works (for now).
Any tips on cleaning smudged screens:)
I was searching because I was getting annoyed with this nice red pixel right in the middle of the screen and came across your site.. Wish I had looked a couple of years ago.. Had this machine for twos and finally got rid of the red spec
Many thanks,
Chain
Legend! Fixed my pixel problem!!! Massivly happy, literally ran the video for maybe 5 seconds and it worked
I bought an incredibly cheap LCD (I-Inc iF191DPB, from Tiger) that worked great with my mac mini, except for this one brilliant green pixel just off-center.
I couldn’t believe this approach would work, but I figured I had little to lose.
With the color cycler running and a very firm, spot-on massage (with a soft thin cloth), within moments, I saw that the green spot now flickered (on a static black background. So I tried again, and poof! GONE! Thank you so much for fixing this problem!!
I had a stuck pixel (green) on my brand new TFT from dabs.com – ran the video once and it was gone!
(and i didnt even have the video on the bit with the stuck pixel, as i was looking for a repeat option in VLC player!!!)
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you so much for this! You’ve SAVED CHRISTMAS!
Thanks a lot mate , I got my new T61 and was sick worried abt a dead – red pixel to the corner of the screen … and i was trying to find the FAQ about return policy for lenovo before I read this blog ….
Here is what I did , ran the movie for a few sec and applied pressure with a soft tissue … I did that may be 4 times , quick bursts of pressure ,just enough to see the colours around the pressure spot kind of mix up … I dont think you need too much pressure …
The whole thing lasted for 5 min and then like magic the red spot went away …
I think it is the combination of flashing and pressure that did it –cant be sure though …
and the best part is – I need not find that FAQ !!
New Acer X203W via newegg.com for xmas, just hooked up this evening and noticed a single green stuck pixel in lower left of screen (took a couple hours and a black screen to notice it – by accident really).
I used the video posted here, along with rubbing and it took about 1 minute of moderate rubbing. I had played the video twice, and the third and fourth times started rubbing.
It worked! Thanks so much! On the internet, in some ways it’s so much easier to rely on the kindness of strangers. Happy New Year!
It worked on my brand new BenQ G2400W!
I did it once, then the pixel came back a few minutes later
I’ll keep trying this, unfortunately the pixel keeps coming back.
I was actually writing a review about several HD monitors, I got my BenQ today from newegg.com – it had a stuck blue pixel.
I ran this video for a few minutes (full screen), then i put the eraser-end of a pencil through a damp washcloth and masaged it for about 20 seconds.. removed and it’s gone!
P.S. I’ve tested the Acer, Dell E248WFP, Samsung 2232GW and out of all of them the BenQ G2400W is the best one, except for the pixel issue…
Thanks!!
I just Googled “fix stuck pixel” and found this post via Digg.
Downloaded the video, massaged the spot and… fixed!
Thanks
I took me 3 cycles of the video and a few taps with a pencil eraser to get rid off a blue pixel which was driving me nuts over last couple of weeks. Dell 19″ monitor. QuickTime Player. Thank you for the tip! Still works in March 2008
I’ll Try it on my lcd to see if it works, Thank you.
I have a stuck pixel (red) on my brand new LCD ACER 22” wide
i ran the video and other programs that i found on net made in java, i even try to massage, nothing worked:(
so if some1 has other infos pls share it with me.
Thanks
I too Googled my way to your blog and found this. I ran the video, rubbed it for a short time and ta daaa! No more annoying pixel!
Thanks
I was hoping to get the same results as you guys did but I had no luck…
Nothing happened…
i’ve had this happen twice, the first time it fixed itself. last night they appeared so i followed your instructions and loe and behold everything is great. i think its still vaguely there but i can’t tell if it really is or if i’m making it seem there cause i can’t see it at all on the page i use to see it all the time. thank you jef
Just bought 2 LG Flatron W1952TQ 19″ Widescreens, both of them came with stuck pixels.
The first one was blue and fixed it by tapping, but the second monitor has a red one in the bottom right part of the screen, no amount of flashing or tapping has any effect – completely ruins it in my opinion.
Both pixels were dead on arrival, they didnt appear after being fine at some stage.
thanks a lot, your method worked flawless on a lenovo T61, the rubbing made all the difference, remind me to give you a six pack whenever you’re in Helsinki
have a green stuck pixel on my 19inch toshiba tv. hooked it up to my pc, ran about every video on the internet for extended periods of time, and tapped/massage/apply pressure and still cant fix it.
am i missing something here.
don’t want to push too hard
Your 3 year old blog entry essentially just fixed what I had perceived as a dead pixel on my screen. Light blue and highly annoying, and it was gone in like 15 sec. Kick ass. Thanks.
Thanks mate!
This worked on my DS lite.
Thanks!
Generally Ido not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so! really nice post.
Your video just made my weekend! I am the happiest person right now. Thank you Sir!
hello..yesterday i saw on my macbook pro 15,4 a white “line” on the center not so focus and a circle down and around the line. this is broken or stucked pixel? i didnt done nothing only the video with the colors but nothing. can someone help me please?thanks.
Just got a LG w1952tq monitor. When turned on the screen says digital power save mode and then goes blank. Tried all the usual stuff – the leads are properly connected and pressing keys on the keyboard or moving the mouse does nothing. Any help?
I tried for DAYS to get rid of a green stuck pixel. I ran the java video from http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php over night, massaged it, did all the tricks and nothing worked. Then a day or so after I ran the video on the pixel again and when i put some pressure near the pixel (not directly on it) it started to flicker. This gave me so much hope. Eventually it has started to work =).
The key is, keep running the video on that spot whenever you’re not on the computer. And massage it while the video is running for awhile if you can. There’s usually a spot near the pixel that actually will fix the pixel, it’s usually not on the pixel itself. This fix makes sense because eventually you’ll have a more uniform liquid crystal in the area near the pixel which will fix it. Just keep trying until it works
.
It worked for my Powerbook 1.67ghz!
I looped the vid and rubbed gently and approximately on the pixel (stuck in green) and after about a minute or two it righted itself! Thank you!