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    Display brightness 'stuck', vista x64

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by DBordello, Nov 18, 2007.

  1. DBordello

    DBordello Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a clean install of Vista x64. Normally I am able to modify the brightness of the display as expected, including on screen display.

    Several times now (randomly) after resuming from sleep the brightness of the screen has been reduced and I am unable to raise it. I get no on screen indicator (or it indicates it is maxed when it clearly isn't).

    A restart resolves this issue, as soon as I select shutdown it flashes brigher and resumes to the dimmer state until it restart. I am fairly positive it is a software issue.

    Any insight is appreciated.

    -Dan
     
    DBordello, Nov 18, 2007
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  2. DBordello

    DBordello Notebook Enthusiast

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    On my old T40 I was under the impression the brightness was controlled by the hardware (bios, etc). The brightness would change no matter what, even in Linux with no drivers.

    It appears now that the OS/Software controls the brightness. And when that gets into a funk, the Fn keys do nothing.

    Note, right now the volume still responds, and still produces on screen information.
     
    DBordello, Nov 18, 2007
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  3. optomos

    optomos Notebook Evangelist

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    If you have the hotkey drivers/power manger/productivity center installed it would be FN+HOME key to raise brightness, but hotkey is not available for X64.
     
    optomos, Nov 18, 2007
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  4. DBordello

    DBordello Notebook Enthusiast

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    I do have the hotkey software installed. "Generally" FN+HOME works and I get an on screen display. It is after resuming from sleep these certain times that the on screen display goes away for brightness and I am unable to change it.
     
    DBordello, Nov 18, 2007
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  5. optomos

    optomos Notebook Evangelist

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    Do you have the power manager installed?
     
    optomos, Nov 18, 2007
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  6. DBordello

    DBordello Notebook Enthusiast

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    I do have manager installed. I just rebooted, everything came back as expected. I now can control the brightness and I get the on screen display.

    I did notice that the brightness is generally controlled by the bios. During boot up you are able to change the brightness, even when no os is running.

    Something running on my computer must 'freeze' when it resumes from sleep and put a lock on the brightess. Wierd.
     
    DBordello, Nov 18, 2007
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  7. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    Check your Power Manager settings - in particular the current power plan.

    'Edit' that plan to see what brightness setting it is set at. Pay particular attention to the setting under 'Idle timers->Lower Display Brightness'. Adjust that to suit your needs or simply set it to 'Never'.

    My guess is in your case the brightness setting for resuming from idle state was set too low.
     
    morphy, Nov 19, 2007
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