Solved Dell Inspiron with windows 7 very very very dim

[nighthawk01]

I upgraded my old Inspiron 9400 from xp to windows 7 and when I installed the drivers for my graphics card (x1400) my screen has gone very very dim and can only be seen with a flashlight. Can anyone help?

 

[Berton]

There should be a couple of keys on the motherboard for brightening or dimming the screen, usually a combination of the Fn key plus another such as F5, F8, etc. Notebooks/Laptops vary on that point. Also, not knowing the Service Tag number I couldn't check at Support | Dell US as to the drivers available that are compatible with Win7.

 

[nighthawk01]

Checked

I checked their site but nothing is there... One thing I know is that there was once windows 7 on here... Working. But now when I install it it doesn't work. Only xp works

 

[Berton]

There's a possibility the drivers for Vista would work. Also be sure to get either 32-bit or 64-bit version according to which Windows is installed although the incorrect version shouldn't even install.

 

[nighthawk01]

Tried that

I tried that but it told me that it is not compatible or whatnot. I think that xp is creeping up on me. I still have the original OEM disc from it

 

[maxie]

Try to Install the Chipset Driver and also the QuickSet Application ..

That should help with your Function Keys ...


Product Support | Dell US

 

[nighthawk01]

Oh well.

When I connect an external monitor and use quickset it says brightness is 100% but the screen on the laptop is very dim

 

[nighthawk01]

Maybe my screen is finished? On the dell boot screen it's dark as well

 

[maxie]

Do you have a Monitor you could try ? ....

 

[nighthawk01]

Oh and if it helps the right fan when it's on makes a very very loud rattling/grinding noise

 

[nighthawk01]

Also I do have a monitor

 

[nighthawk01]

Here is a picture of how to looks (sorry for potato camera)

 

[maxie]

Just looks black to me .. Try it with the Monitor if that works would rule out the Graphics .. You will need to see to that fan also ..

 

[nighthawk01]

With the monitor it works flawlessly. The display its a hit and miss. Yesterday it was working today it gives up... The fan isn't a problem to what I know since this laptop used to work well even with the nearly broken fan

 

[maxie]

Looks like you have some sort of a problem with the LCD or the back light ... You have removed the Ac Adapter and the Battery and press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds ? ...

 

[nighthawk01]

Maybe it's a ripped screen cord?

 

[maxie]

Could be many things ... Best to get some one who knows what they are doing to have a look at it ...

 

[nighthawk01]

I have the inside a massive clean out and now it looks like its working. looks like it was the fan or something. by the way thanks everyone who helped

 

[maxie]

Great news

 

[nighthawk01]

Oh yea and also if this happens to anyone clean it out then take the display cover thing (the one that says dell) an make sure the display wire isn't squashed