Dead pixels are one of the most annoying things in our systems. We spend a fortune on high-resolution panels, yet manufacturers expect us to tolerate these defects. Although there is a remote possibility of freeing a stuck pixel, it's more likely that it has retired early and will remain permanently. If you want to know if your monitor has dead pixels, the small utility IsMyLcdOK can help.
My main monitor has a dead pixel, and I can't stop staring at it. It's basically a black dot that stands out against everything. I've tried everything from massaging the area with an eraser to running apps that rapidly cycle pixel colors for hours. To be honest, these are the things that make me miss old CRT monitors.
How to Check for Dead Pixels on Your Monitor
My first 14-inch CRT monitor lasted seven years (I sold it still working), and the second reached four years before its flyback failed. In contrast, this is the fourth flat screen in just over five years to experience some failure—whether dead pixels, entire columns stuck on white or red, or control issues. If you suspect a problem with your panel and want a visual check, you don't need much.
A copy of IsMyLcdOK is more than enough. The program weighs only 55 kilobytes and offers several tests, including eight colors, two gradients, and two line patterns. It also includes three small benchmarks and a stress test that runs all exercises sequentially. The white background option is likely the most useful for spotting dead pixels, but the other colors help you gauge contrast depth, since the problem might not be a single pixel but several in a concentrated region.
The program has no external dependencies, supports Spanish, and is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, plus a special build compatible with Windows 98. Nothing more to add, except the hope that you never get dead pixels. They are truly irritating.
