Laptop screen very dim

Smag

I turned on laptop and it all started ok - screen works fine until windows sign pops up (windows xp home) then the screen goes extreamly dim - the icns can just be made out, so with a squint and a lot of patience the programmes can be used. I have backed up all my files (i know it should have already been done) and ran full system scan, all seem well except for the dim screen resolution. It can not be the screen as when I start it the screen is working perfectly until the windows icon pops up.
This has happened once before and when restarted the problem cleared (obviously not totally) I have restarted and also started in safe mode and it is the same thing. If anyone has any ideas or can direct me to a forum site that may be able to help please get in touch.

Thanks Steven

Sooler

Could be the backlight and inverter, a small circuit board behind the screen, starting to fail - a common problem.

eBay is worth a look for spares

This page shows how to replace it ...

http://www.fonerbooks.com/laptop_5.htm

Smag

Thanks for the info - forgot to say my laptop is a sony vaio PCG-K215B - will have a look at the website link - looks interesting.

Would this still be the case given the fact that the screen does boot up and looks fine until the windows sign pops up ?

Steven

Sooler

Smag wrote:

Would this still be the case given the fact that the screen does boot up and looks fine until the windows sign pops up ?

Not sure about that ... is it definately Windows that triggers it or is it coincidental - does the screen come on for a certain length of time and then go off which just happens to be when the Windows sign appears.


You could try booting from a Linux live CD, like Knoppix if it works with a laptop - there are other ones, to see if the problem still occurs.

star1_2

I had a similar issue and found that the screen was'nt grounded properly (the earthing strap that crosses through the hinge area and that was attached to the circuit board in the screen part and the base was loose - as soon as this was tightened - the problem was solved !

Smag

Sooler wrote:

Not sure about that ... is it definately Windows that triggers it or is it coincidental - does the screen come on for a certain length of time and then go off which just happens to be when the Windows sign appears.


You could try booting from a Linux live CD, like Knoppix if it works with a laptop - there are other ones, to see if the problem still occurs.

Seems to be at exactly the same time when the screen goes blank, can't say for sure that it is windows that triggers it, but looks that way. Your suggestion to try linux went way over my head sorry.

Steven

Sooler

Try interupting the Windows startup by pressing the F8 key, this will get you to a text base menu rather than into Windows. See if the screen still goes dim after similar length of time.

ManAtHome

Does it go dim if you are connected to the mains? If it only happens on battery power, check your power-saving settings. I don't have a Vaio, but get the option for 'dim screen when battery-powered' (or something similar) on my Compaq lappy.

indiegirl_2

Also - check your graphics card properties. On my machine at work, I have adjusted the Gamma, Contrast and Brightness to a very low level, thus dimming the screen without any other manual changes.

If you have an Intel Extreme Graphics card, there may be a system tray icon giving you a shortcut to the graphics card properties.

I have a Samsung laptop which has a Function hotkey which when pressed in conjunction with the arrow keys - brightens and dims the screen, although from memory that would affect the screen at startup as well - it couldn't be something like that, would it? (easy to hit a wrong key without realising!)

Because you say it happens when Windows boots, it sounds like a setting in Windows somewhere that's changed, rather than the screen itself to me...

Darksun

You could try altering the brightness, gamma and contrast settings to compensate. Right click Desktop and select properties, then press Advanced in the Settings tab.

gizmos

Try your FUNCTION and F6 key

I am using a Vaio right now and this is what adjusts the brighness on the screen.

Also does it happen when plugged into the mains or only on battery power (just thinking of power saving modes etc)