Do you Have LCD Problems?
Don’t Attempt LCD Monitor Repair Yourself
If may go without saying, but LCD monitors are electrical devices. And such devices may retain a charge even if you unplug it from its outlet. Don’t risk attempting a repair yourself. As we said, in many cases the problem may not lie in the hardware itself.
Contact one of our Personal Technology Experts®. We’ll scan your computer and make sure the right LCD monitor device drivers are installed, and we’ll make any adjustments to the screen resolution, power-saving mode settings and more.
At Support.com, we’ll be happy to help you with the following and more:
- Help with a Gateway laptop screen problem
- Solving Sony Vaio laptop screen problems
- Fixing laptop screen problems
- Helping with an Asus laptop screen problem
- Monitor display troubleshooting
- Operating system issues (e.g., Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP)
- System restore
- System start-up problems
- System memory problems
- Win XP boots and then black screen issues
- Advanced laptop and desktop repair
- Removing computer viruses
- How to do screen printing
- Dell LCD monitor turns off
- Help connecting an LCD monitor to HDTV box
Everyone loves a nice LCD monitor. And why not? You can now bag yourself a half-decent 22 inch LCD monitor for under $150. But how much do you really know about the technology that goes into these widescreen wonders? The next time you buy an LCD monitor, will you have a clue what you're buying? Or will you be winging it based on little more than size, price and maybe the number of input options? Fear not - we're going to give you all the information you need to sort the good LCD panels from the bad. Monitor makers may have a nasty habit of fluffing up spec sheets with all manner of distracting disinformation. But we'll help you keep them honest with the most powerful weapon of all – knowledge.
Not all LCD monitors are the same. In fact, there are three major types of LCD panel technology - TN, IPS and VA. Each has its own very distinct characteristics in metrics such as pixel response, contrast and viewing angles. No single panel type is superior across the board.
However, before we trot out the various pros and cons, it's worth understanding the basic principles of any LCD display, from a simple monochrome panel in an ancient pocket calculator to the latest high high definition screens with millions of eye-popping colors. LCD, of course, stands for liquid crystal display. Each picture element, or pixel, in an LCD panel is made up of just that, a cell containing liquid crystals.
On a desktop LCD monitor, there are thousands – if not millions – of these pixels, arranged in a grid pattern. Behind this grid is a light source, literally the backlight. When an electric current is passed through the crystals courtesy of a pair of transparent electrodes, they realign themselves. Precise techniques vary between panel types, but the idea is that there are two basic positions or states the crystals can assume. In one, light is allowed to pass through, in the other it's blocked out.
OK, it's actually a little more complicated than that. The crystals don't block light, they polarise it in a certain plane, and in combination with static polarisation filters, light either passes through the LCD panel or is blocked. What's more, the crystals can assume intermediate positions, allowing some but not all light to pass through. But you get the idea.
Now, on a full color LCD panel, every pixel is actually made up of three individual elements, each with a color filter – red, green and blue. However, these elements are so tiny, the light emitted by them is amalgamated at normal viewing distances. Hence, by varying the intensity of light that passes through these elements, a full palate of hues is generated and Bob's your mother's technicolor brother.
Those principles all LCD panels share, but there are lots of detail differences. For instance: some panel types block light more efficiently, allowing deeper blacks and greater contrast.
In others, the liquid crystals change state more rapidly, delivering better pixel response and hence sharper moving images. Still others offer finer control of the positions that the crystals assume, giving superior color accuracy.
If your LCD screen has a stuck or dead pixel (a point on the screen that is always lit or always dark), it is usually due to a transistor malfunction or uneven distribution of liquid in the liquid crystal display (TFT LCD). This can often be fixed.
Try a solid state solution like PixelTuneup. These devices produce specially tuned video signals that eliminate stuck pixels while enhancing picture quality, color, and contrast. Also works on televisions, including LCD, LED, plasma, or CRT.
- Turn off the monitor.
- Plug in and turn on PixelTuneup, then turn on the monitor.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Turn off and unplug PixelTuneup. Stuck pixels and other IR will be gone, and color/contrast will be improved.
Warnings regarding repair of LCD monitors:
- Do not attempt to open the monitor as it will void the warranty and the manufacturer will not replace it.
- Make sure you don't get any electrical equipment wet or it may break.
- Some people claim that touching the screen can cause more pixels to become stuck, although this has not been proven.
- LCD Displays are composed of multiple layers. Each layer is separated by very small glass spacers. These spacers and the individual layers are very delicate. Rubbing an LCD panel with a finger or even a cloth can cause the spacers to break and cause further issues beyond the original pixel fault.
- Most LCD manufacturer warranties for LCD displays will cover replacement of the panel when the display reaches a certain number of pixel anomalies. These warranties however generally will not cover damage caused by rubbing the screen so use extreme caution and contact the manufacturer before proceeding to see if you qualify for repair or replacement.
- Not all is lost if your laptops LCD dies. You can usually purchase an LCD monitor and configure it as your primary dislay or you can check with your laptops manufacturer to see what the cost of a replacement LCD panel would be. Some have even sourced out a replacement LCD panels for their laptop from sites such as eBay a greatly reduced prices. Keep in mind it can be very difficult to replace the LCD panel on a laptop and probably is best performed by a technician that is familiar with LCD panel replacement.
If you are experiencing issues with your laptops LCD or an LCD monitor, feel free to give us a call. We can help you troubleshoot the issues and establish whether it is a software/operating system issue, or if it's a hardware issue, then we can point you in the right direction for repair or replacement. Just give us a call.
We're here 24/7 to assist you with your LCD Problems. Just call one of our Personal Technology Experts and we’ll handle everything. The entire process is easy. After you call, one of our Tech Experts will start remotely scanning your computer right away. By using only your Internet connection, we can fix just about any problem you may have—big or small. We're here to help you get the most from your technology.Also, by calling Support.com, there’s no need to go out to a local support center or invite strangers to your home. You’re free to just sit back and relax after we start.
Support.com offers the top-notch support you’ve been looking for. We've been helping people solve their computer problems since 1998.
All of our Personal Technology Experts are full-time employees living right here in North America. Before they can help you, they must first earn their title by passing a series of incredibly rigorous tests. By doing this, Support.com assures you that you’re getting the best customer support possible.
From driver problems to stubborn viruses to a slow computer, if you have a problem with your laptop, desktop or peripheral device, don't wait another minute—Support.com can help you right now.
Call Support.com and get the technical support you need.
