Here’s a freeware program (222KB download) that will test your monitor for dead pixels. Aptly named Dead Pixel Tester or DPT, this utility will help you identify if that dot on your screen is a bad pixel or whether you’ve sneezed without covering your mouth.

Never buy an LCD screen sight unseen without a reasonable return policy from the store. Many manufacturers have a dead pixel minimum (10 or less and you’re out of luck). They claim dead pixels are ‘the nature of the technology’. I’m fortunate to have a clean screen on my laptop. Phew!