Help with computer screen

[Scott M]

I know this is not the correct forum to post this question But maby someone could help me with my laptop screen I was using it one day and the screen went realy dark and I can hardly see my desk top to open my programs. I have to realy look closly to select any thing .after opening a program i get the same result. When I start up the computer the screen is normal breafly.

[mitcorb]

My first response would be that you may have inadvertently reset your brightness in windows desktop properties. The initial brightness would suggest that this is default before desktop fully loads. On my XPhome machine: Right click on empty space on desktop(there are other ways to access this)click Properties, select Desktop tab, see if brightness has been altered, among other things. Or, you may have a specialized "dashboard" that may control these things for battery life, etc. For example, I have a Motion xp tabletpc with a dashboard that can control wifi connectivity, screen brightness, bluetooth, and a host of other things. Try the above and see if this helps.

[Scott M]

@mitcorb said:

My first response would be that you may have inadvertently reset your brightness in windows desktop properties. The initial brightness would suggest that this is default before desktop fully loads. On my XPhome machine: Right click on empty space on desktop(there are other ways to access this)click Properties, select Desktop tab, see if brightness has been altered, among other things. Or, you may have a specialized "dashboard" that may control these things for battery life, etc. For example, I have a Motion xp tabletpc with a dashboard that can control wifi connectivity, screen brightness, bluetooth, and a host of other things. Try the above and see if this helps.

when I right click as above and go to desk top tab I have no option for screen brightness under this tab or any others I am using windowes xp pro version 2002

[mitcorb]

Sorry the first response didn't help.
Perhaps look at this: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Adjust-your-monitors-brightness-and-contrast .
An excerpt:
"Laptop display. Laptop displays don't have brightness or contrast buttons on the front. For a majority of laptops, there isn't a control for setting the contrast. However, you can set the brightness of many laptops by pressing and holding the Fn key, and then pressing a function key to decrease brightness (Picture of the Decrease brightness button) or increase brightness (Picture of the Increase brightness button). When using Display Color Calibration on a laptop, set the display to the maximum brightness setting."
EDIT: I did a Google search on a phrase to find the above url and clipped the quote from that page. You did not describe your laptop, but you could probably Google your model and look up features like this- assuming you have misplaced the documentation on it. You did not say how old the laptop was, so it is possible that the display is failing due to mileage.

[Scott M]

@mitcorb said:

Sorry the first response didn't help.
Perhaps look at this: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Adjust-your-monitors-brightness-and-contrast .
An excerpt:
"Laptop display. Laptop displays don't have brightness or contrast buttons on the front. For a majority of laptops, there isn't a control for setting the contrast. However, you can set the brightness of many laptops by pressing and holding the Fn key, and then pressing a function key to decrease brightness (Picture of the Decrease brightness button) or increase brightness (Picture of the Increase brightness button). When using Display Color Calibration on a laptop, set the display to the maximum brightness setting."
EDIT: I did a Google search on a phrase to find the above url and clipped the quote from that page. You did not describe your laptop, but you could probably Google your model and look up features like this- assuming you have misplaced the documentation on it. You did not say how old the laptop was, so it is possible that the display is failing due to mileage.

thanks for your help I tryed the steps you provided but no help I think it must be a age problem maby some card on the mother borde or something like that

[pmiller]

I had this happen once with a laptop -- it was the inverter board. A simple thing to replace if you can get the part.
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2009/05/04/how-test-lcd-screen-inverter-in-laptop/

Try hooking your laptop to an external monitor. If you get a normal screen, then it's the inverter board.

[Anssi]

I think Paul is right. My laptop did the same thing while it was luckily still under warranty. Another possibility is the backlight - the same machine has developed a fault during the years where the screen brightness has gotten uneven - some of the "lamps" must have gone out.

Parts for old laptops may be ridiculously expensive.

Anssi

[Scott M]

thanks angain the info you all posted and maby I can fix my problem if I am as good at repairing computers as I am at building cabinets and furniture.