Dead pixel!

[sikkinixx]

I just bought a 12" powerbook and it has a dead pixel (always red) in the top right corner about 2 inches down from the info bar on the top of the screen. It doesnt bug me while normally using it, but when im watching a widescreen movie and there is this little red dot in the middle of the black bar it drives me nuts! I bought it from my local university so i would get the education discount but dont know if they or apple will take it back or whatever... Happened to anyone else? Any ways to get rid of the pixel? black would be better than red!!! help!

 

[ericssonboi]

Try to see if you can rub it out.

 

[ClarkeB]

You need to have 3 or 4 or more (3 if you can really push it...like by saying "I DIDN'T PAY *X* *CURRENCY* TO HAVE SCREEN WITH BROKEN PIXELS!")

Then you might get somewhere.

 

[Devie]

Yes, unfortuantly its a major problem with LCD's. The only company that has a no dead pixel policy is samsung.

You could go back to the store or call apple to try and get it replaced but it is doubtfull. Dont have a fit to them, just be firm saying that you paid this much for this crap blah blah blah...

 

[Capt Underpants]

Well if it's a stock computer, you should be able to return it... then turn around and buy a new one

 

[alexstein]

i would call apple and ask for repair/replacement or bring it back to the store and explain your case be firm on what you want without making a big scene! i'm sure they will find a solution for you. isn't there a 14day grace period of returning it for a new/different one?

 

[Phat_Pat]

Go raise some hell

 

[ITASOR]

Run this overnight by selecting LOOP in quicktime in the area the pixel is in. Works 75% of the time:

http://itasor.com/pixelmurder.MP4

 

[Demon Hunter]

Run this overnight by selecting LOOP in quicktime in the area the pixel is in. Works 75% of the time:

http://itasor.com/pixelmurder.MP4

What if it's in the menubar?

 

[ITASOR]

What if it's in the menubar?

Ouch. You have to hook up an external monitor and get the menubar onto the other screen. Not that hard, but a pain!

Good luck!

 

[Demon Hunter]

Ouch. You have to hook up an external monitor and get the menubar onto the other screen. Not that hard, but a pain!

Good luck!

Good call, I'll try that. And thanks never knew such a remedy existed

 

[Chrispy]

I have been through this very thing with Apple many times. They will fight you tooth and nail about letting you do a return with a dead pixel. I had to call over and over again to get them to agree to do it. Then the replacement had a dead pixel too . I went to the store and got mad and did another exchange and started the replacement up before I bought it to check... sure enough there was another dead pixel..... Finally, I got one that worked but it was a pain. If you try hard enought they will eventually give in. Just keep calling and be polite but stern.

Oh.. and Dell has a zero tolerence policy on dead pixels. If you have one on a monitor or laptop they will replace it. I called to double check on this because Apple told me EVERY company has their policy of 4 or more pixels. I proved them wrong and that is what got them to do my first exchange.

 

[ericssonboi]

I have been through this very thing with Apple many times. They will fight you tooth and nail about letting you do a return with a dead pixel. I had to call over and over again to get them to agree to do it. Then the replacement had a dead pixel too . I went to the store and got mad and did another exchange and started the replacement up before I bought it to check... sure enough there was another dead pixel..... Finally, I got one that worked but it was a pain. If you try hard enought they will eventually give in. Just keep calling and be polite but stern.

Oh.. and Dell has a zero tolerence policy on dead pixels. If you have one on a monitor or laptop they will replace it. I called to double check on this because Apple told me EVERY company has their policy of 4 or more pixels. I proved them wrong and that is what got them to do my first exchange.

Good job

 

[Chrispy]

Haha thanks I have leared with Apple that if you don't get what you want the first time you call just keep trying. You will eventually get someone who will work with you. There are some great customer service people at Apple .... but there are also some who suck. Keep going till you get a good one!

 

[jamdr]

Run this overnight by selecting LOOP in quicktime in the area the pixel is in. Works 75% of the time:

http://itasor.com/pixelmurder.MP4

I have never heard of this before. Have you had any personal success with this method? Where did you hear it works 75% of the time?

 

[Cloudgazer]

I got my mac about 3 months ago.
And until I found this site I never knew a thing such as dead pixels existed.
Then, horror or horrors I found not 1, not 2, but 3 dead pixels on my shiny new mac.
I wanted to cry.
(purchased my mac in the US and Apple here apparently get very snotty if you've purchased your hardware overseas - or so I've heard.)

So I downloaded a tiny app called Pixel Check v1.2.
I ran the app it and it cofirmed my worst fear, yup 3 dead pixels.

I used a radtech cloth (but any cloth thats not abrasive should do) and rubbed the area gently and Presto!!
Working pixels.
Fabulous!


I couldn't beleive it was so easy.

 

[ericssonboi]

I got my mac about 3 months ago.
And until I found this site I never knew a thing such as dead pixels existed.
Then, horror or horrors I found not 1, not 2, but 3 dead pixels on my shiny new mac.
I wanted to cry.
(purchased my mac in the US and Apple here apparently get very snotty if you've purchased your hardware overseas - or so I've heard.)

So I downloaded a tiny app called Pixel Check v1.2.
I ran the app it and it cofirmed my worst fear, yup 3 dead pixels.

I used a radtech cloth (but any cloth thats not abrasive should do) and rubbed the area gently and Presto!!
Working pixels.
Fabulous!


I couldn't beleive it was so easy.

Worked for me before too... never hurts to give it a try.

 

[sk8erboy]

diamons are forever oh forever oh forever oh.











god damn pixels !

 

[sikkinixx]

I have been through this very thing with Apple many times. They will fight you tooth and nail about letting you do a return with a dead pixel. I had to call over and over again to get them to agree to do it. Then the replacement had a dead pixel too . I went to the store and got mad and did another exchange and started the replacement up before I bought it to check... sure enough there was another dead pixel..... Finally, I got one that worked but it was a pain. If you try hard enought they will eventually give in. Just keep calling and be polite but stern.

Oh.. and Dell has a zero tolerence policy on dead pixels. If you have one on a monitor or laptop they will replace it. I called to double check on this because Apple told me EVERY company has their policy of 4 or more pixels. I proved them wrong and that is what got them to do my first exchange.

Where did you find that info from Dell? I would like to print it or something so I can show apple or the store. Thanks for all the replies btw! The stupid pixel is red most of the time but sometimes it works then goes red again etc. God it drives me NUTS! i have tried rubbing and it doesnt do anything and im running that pixel murder thinggy for a while to see if it does anything. I e-mailed the university computer store i bought it from and basically told them it drives me nuts to havea red dot in the letterbox while im watching a movie and that i didnt spend 2200 bucks to have my computing experience ruined etc. blah blah blah and hopefully they will exchange it or something! its only been 4 days since i bought it

 

[wdlove]

Where did you find that info from Dell? I would like to print it or something so I can show apple or the store. Thanks for all the replies btw! The stupid pixel is red most of the time but sometimes it works then goes red again etc. God it drives me NUTS! i have tried rubbing and it doesn't do anything and im running that pixel murder thinggy for a while to see if it does anything. I e-mailed the university computer store i bought it from and basically told them it drives me nuts to have a red dot in the letterbox while im watching a movie and that i didn't spend 2200 bucks to have my computing experience ruined etc. blah blah blah and hopefully they will exchange it or something! its only been 4 days since i bought it

Sorry to hear about your dead pixel problem. You could try visiting your university computer store. Maybe on a one to one basis, they might help you. Try to be very pleasant and polite, but firm. The policy with dead pixels with most companies and definitely Apple is that it has to be at least 3 or 4 prior to an exchange. Otherwise its just finding that right person and situation.

 

[ITASOR]

I have never heard of this before. Have you had any personal success with this method? Where did you hear it works 75% of the time?

I tried it on 4 stuck pixels over night. It worked on 3. Look on some PSP Forums (that's what this is made for, I didn't make it personally, just hosted it) and you'll see that a TON of people say it works.

Then there's the people who say it made another dead pixel, but I highly doubt that. Just think if it made a few more, you could get a replacement. If it fixed it, you won't need a replacement! Hehehe.

Seriously though, it worked fine for me. 3/4 is pretty good.

 

[sikkinixx]

Sorry to hear about your dead pixel problem. You could try visiting your university computer store. Maybe on a one to one basis, they might help you. Try to be very pleasant and polite, but firm. The policy with dead pixels with most companies and definitely Apple is that it has to be at least 3 or 4 prior to an exchange. Otherwise its just finding that right person and situation.

i might do that, it is a stock model so i might just return it say it sucks and does not live up to my expectations etc. and then go buy one with my dad's SUN discount which is the exact same as the education one but i already e-mailed the university store i bought it from and told them my gripe and invoice number and everything so hopefullyy they will let me get a refund if it comes to that.

 

[wdlove]

i might do that, it is a stock model so i might just return it say it sucks and does not live up to my expectations etc. and then go buy one with my dad's SUN discount which is the exact same as the education one but i already e-mailed the university store i bought it from and told them my gripe and invoice number and everything so hopefully they will let me get a refund if it comes to that.

I hope that you will be successful. Please let us know what happens.

 

[cb911]

pixelmurder hey... sounds good.

i've got a stuck-on green pixel - never really annoyed me much, but i'll try this thing out. may as well see if it fixes it!

 

[blackpeter]

I got my mac about 3 months ago.
And until I found this site I never knew a thing such as dead pixels existed.
Then, horror or horrors I found not 1, not 2, but 3 dead pixels on my shiny new mac.
I wanted to cry.
(purchased my mac in the US and Apple here apparently get very snotty if you've purchased your hardware overseas - or so I've heard.)

So I downloaded a tiny app called Pixel Check v1.2.
I ran the app it and it cofirmed my worst fear, yup 3 dead pixels.

I used a radtech cloth (but any cloth thats not abrasive should do) and rubbed the area gently and Presto!!
Working pixels.
Fabulous!


I couldn't beleive it was so easy.

I've barely heard any stories of people "rubbing" a single dead pixel back to live, let alone three. Are you sure it wasn't just dust?