My Tamagotchi P1's screen is faded?

Hi!

My tamagotchi P1s screen has faded in the middle, and I'm not sure what could have caused it. I restarted it up a few weeks ago with new batteries, and the faded screen has been a constant factor - it doesn't seem to decrease/increase in how faded it is, anyone have any idea to what could have caused it or a possible fix?

Images are here: https://imgur.com/a/rarUd

I hope the images are clear enough to show you what's happening on the screen! ^_^

If you press on the sides of the Tama and push the two halves together, does it increase or decrease? How about when you press on the left and right sides towards the middle? Or try gently pressing on the screen itself (GENTLY) to see if there's anything different. If there is, it might be the screws.

If you're comfy doing it, tighten or loosen all the screws on the Tama. Open it and tighten or loosen the ones holding the circuit board. Do that if all else fails and you feel comfortable opening your Tama and feel you won't damage it.

If you feel REAL adventurous, you can open it all the way and dab a cotton swap in rubbing alcohol and swipe it over the parts where the conductive rubber touches the circuit board as maybe there's some microscopic debris. Let dry, then put back together. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Thanks for the reply! I gently pressed on the back, screen and pushed the two halves together, it doesn't seem to have done any difference to the screen fade. Is it still worth opening the back up and tightening/loosening the screws?

You could still try it only if you feel comfortable, like Midorime said. But do it at your own risk... If you don't want to take any chances i guess you will have to deal with it, but it looks like those might be dead pixels...how long was it put away before you found it and where was it stored?

Ah I see, it was put away for a few years (3+) in a bedside drawer alongside the P2 I have - the P2's screen is fine, and doesn't appear to have any screen issues like the P1.

Maybe a few dust particles collected beneath the screen making it fade, or there is something in it that might be pushing up on the screen. Are you comfortable taking it apart or not? Because if you aren't you may want to try to blow into where the pull tab was and maybe it would move it around so the screen wouldn't be as faded...

I just tried taking it apart but the four screws keeping the circuit board from being exposed are incredibly tight and I couldn't get them loose. Any ideas on how to loosen the screws?

You should open it and clean the guts using a cotton earbud with alcohol (just a bit!). Be careful while taking the back side off - there are two small cords connecting the speaker with the hotplate. You should clean the hot plate and the buttons and the gummy pink things that connect the hotplate with screen. That should do it.

Thank you! I am a bit anxious about opening the back - are there any precautions I should have? I'd hate to loose this Tamagotchi, it was my first one

Actually, yes- when opening it either side, be very careful. Te reset button could fall out i it has one, and if you manage to get the screws out, dont lose them. If it has an IR port, make sure you don't lose that. While your working on it take a container or Baggie and stick everything you have that came from the tamagotchi in there... Also when you remove te circuit board, make sure the tamagotchi have its screen facing downward or things may fall out!!

Thanks for the heads up! I did look at this website: https://necrobones.com/tamasurg/ about opening up a tamagotchi, are the 'rubber spacers' he/she mentions the areas which I will need to gently swipe with alcohol on a cotton bud?

Where the spacers touch on the board is where you want to clean, and lightly on them as well, but do not remove them off the screen, try to keep them attached to the screen. They have very small circuit paths running through them, and if you put them back wrong or damage them, your screen won't work properly if you're unlucky.

Okay... This is completely off topic, but thanks Midorime! My v4 is broken, the screen is very messed up, and i recall the spacer falling out...they might e in wrong thanks!

And Annabelle Sucks, i hope the problem gets fixed soon!

Thanks everyone! And I'm glad this could hopefully help fix your V4!