How to tell if a pixel is dead?

Me again...

I just have this terrible luck with computers. And this one in particular... Man, it's been a headache since the day I opened the box it came in. But I digress.

Anyway, I've been using my (Inspiron 6400) computer to watch videos, and it came to my attention that there is a fixed pixel, a blue one (I think it's just one, at least), just... say, northwest of the middle of the screen. I tried to make a screencap of it to show, but that evidently was the silliest idea I've had this week. At first I thought it was a video glitch, but it's everywhere... even on the screensaver.

I ran a search on the forums and read that dead pixels cannot be revived, but the definition for dead pixel doesn't mention anything about them being blue. Is it still dead? Is there anything I can do to fix it?

Maybe I'm being a jerk about it, I mean, it's only like a pixel, but this being the first thing I bought with my very own salary, I want to make sure I make the most of what I paid for...

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

http://www.gdargaud.net/Hack/DeadPixels.html

try that.

I don't know if dell will replace it with only one dead pixel though. If you are happy with it and the dead pixel doesn't bother you, then just keep the screen.

If it bothers you that bad, call dell's tech support and try to get it fix

 

I've used laptops with dead pixels before, depending on where the pixel is it sometimes does/doesn't bother me. Middle of the screen is kind of a sucky place to have it though. Dell's policy is 7 dead pixels = automatic replacement otherwise it's case by case. check out a guide I wrote a while back:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2211

 

Maybe this is just in Canada but I know I was told about the "Total satisfaction guarantee". That means that if you're unhappy with the notebook in anyway they will either replace the part that's giving you the issue (after troubleshooting) or replace the entire computer.

I had a white stuck pixel in the center of my screen. Looked like a silvery pinpoint that had it's own light source behind it. At one point I actually put my hand behind my lcd to see if it was a hole... Yes a moment of stupidity. Either way I called Dell and say this sucks. It's like an itch in my brain whenever I'm doing anything with a semi-dark background. And it keeps getting more noticable as I use the machine. Tech came out onsite and replaced the screen the next day.

 

they have a total satisfaction gurantee on USA also, but at the same time I'm not sure if dead pixels are covered in that. Like Abaxter says, dell use to have it where you had to have 7 dead pixels to get a replacement but that could be related to warranty.

The only thing you can really do is call dell and find out what they say. Ultimately, they have the decision to replace it or not.

 

Has nothing to do with the warranty. Within those 30 days (for Canada) you're under the total satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied they try to do what they need to do inorder to satisfy you. You can't get your entire computer replaced under the warranty but you can within those 30 days.

P.S. It's 6 pixels by the way.

 

Yes, I know. Dell has a similar policy in the US, but it is 21 days. I just don't know if the policy would cover dead pixels or not. You can return your laptop during those 21 days, but you have to pay a restocking fee and shipping fees. I don't think Dell would wave the restocking fee because of 1 dead pixel.

 

That's odd. Dell must really be harsh to people in the US. I called up second day I got the system and didn't make a big deal about it. Just stated everything in a matter of fact way like "You know what I'm going through, buddy?" You know the over politeness of Canadiennes.

 

Definitely get rid of it. If you are comfortable changing in yourself, just call Dell and tell them there is something stuck inside your screen (happens alot actually). Tell them you want to replace it yourself, and they will send you a new screen. Yes, a blue pixel is a dead, or "stuck" pixel, and I absolutely refuse to have a screen with one. Look how much it's bugging you already, do you want to keep dealing with seeing it??

Dell won't check to see if you were telling the truth when they get your screen back by the way

 

I have never had a problem returning a machine with dead pixels and I am in the US

 

Hello everyone,
I just bought a new, never opened (supposedly not refurbished) laptop off ebay (so I guess I should have expected this huh), and everything worked fine at first but then after 2 days I noticed what appears to be little bluish/green spots on my screen. At first they weren't really noticable but after I installed a game they got a little more intense and now after another few days they have gotten even worse, enough that they are very noticable. Sometimes they are scattered but most times they appear in patterns. I'm not for sure what they are, dead pixels? If so I hope dell will replace it but what do you all think they are dead pixels or something else? Please help!

Oh yeah, My system is a dell E1505/6400 w/ a 2500T/ 2 Ghz processor, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM memory, 256MB ATI Radeon video card, 120 GB hard drive, and a microprocessor 2MB L2 cache if that helps any.

 

go here and download the small app

http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1

then go thru each color and scan the lcd for pixels that does not show up same as the color slide you choose. very handy application to quickly check for dead pixels when new laptop comes.

 

You have the infmaous Dell screen sparke/shimmer. Do your white backgounrds look grainy and "dirty?.....This isse is highly annoying and for some reason gave me eye strain,

 

Yeah, it is really bad on white backgrounds! Also on light blue. Is there any way to fix it? Or will dell replace it? thanks!

 

Actually, a dead pixel means no light comes through. What you have is technically a stuck pixel. Search google for that, or set your screen saver to all white and leave it on the all white screen all night. That can OCCASSIONALLY reset a stuck pixel. Worth a shot.

 

tijgert @ NotebookForums sent me a pixel exerciser few months ago. Send me a private message with an e-mail account that will receive a 1.51MB .MP4 file if you want to try.

 

Dell has either a 6 or 7 dead pixel policy before they will replace it. You can always call their Tech Support and see what they say. There are plenty of free dead pixel testers as well as videos that try to fix any stuck pixels.

 

Thanks everyone for your input! I probably have around 100 or so of these 'stuck' shimmering pixels so they are very annoying. I will try to use your methods first and then if they don't work I'll call dell tech support. Hopefully they can help me on that and with another problem, which is when I play the sims 2 and I try to go back to the neighborhood screen or quit the game my laptop crashes saying that it was caused by a file atiduag.dll and will need to shut down.
I have no clue what that means. But that and this pixel problem is just giving me a headache. Why for once can't I just get 1 that works!?

 

Hey, everyone thanks again for your help. I tried all your suggestions but the problem still exists. Thanks for trying though!