Screen too bright, can't adjust permanently

[scottmar98]

After computer goes on, Windows (Home Premium 64-bit) title screen is fine, then the icon screen goes on okay. Two seconds later, the screen brightens by itself. Can't see many things, like streets on Google Maps, and boxes to fill information in. Adjusting on monitor does nothing, and in 'Display', the 'calibrate color' procedures sometimes had helped temporarily (not now), and 'adjust resolution' doesn't help at all. Any suggestions?

 

[stormy13]

scottmar98, welcome to the Seven Forums.

This,

Adjusting on monitor does nothing

says to me that it is the monitor itself, which if that is the case there is nothing you can do from within Windows. Do you have another computer you can test the monitor on?

 

[scottmar98]

What I mean is, the monitor will make the screen appear darker or less bright, but I still can't see the streets on Google maps or boxes for information...it doesn't make a difference...it's Windows which is too 'bright'.

 

[DavidE]

Do you have this problem if boot in Safe Mode ?
Have you tried updating the GPU driver ?
Did you always have this problem, or did it just start recently ?

 

[scottmar98]

I don't know what grade point units have do with anything :huhnow you see what we're dealing with), but this has been going on for a load of months (but not back since we bought the computer brand new a few of years ago) We were hoping a lightning strike or something a little less would help, but now we're tired of having problems reading downloaded documents.

I'm not sure about safe mode, but if later I try and it makes a difference, what's it mean?

 

[DavidE]

Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers, services, programs.
If you don't have the problem in Safe Mode then it sounds like it's a software issue in Windows.

Here is a tutorial by Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

 

[scottmar98]

It seems that safe-mode is also quite bright.
What does that mean?

 

[DavidE]

To me that means it could be a hardware problem, or maybe a problem with your Windows video driver.
Look in Windows Device Manager,
- Check if your video device/driver has any errors
- Is it using the default Windows driver, or a specific driver from the PC Manufacturer

This tutorial by Brink may help with Device Drivers:
Uninstall Device and Device Driver

You have to fill in your SF System Specs for anyone here to help you find drivers.
At a minimum add your Gateway desktop model to the SF specs ...
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

Things I would do if i had your problem:
- Uninstall/Reinstall/Update the Windows video driver
- Try a different connection type such as VGA/HDMI/DVI, etc.
- Try a different Graphics device such as built in IGP vs. a GPU graphics Card.
- Try a Linux boot CD/USB and see if i have the same problem.

I don't know how good/comfortable you are with opening a PC, Hardware changes, and what options you have ... ?
I don't know if you have an IGP and GPU and can try different hardware graphics devices ?
I don't know if you can borrow a GPU for testing, and install/use it ?
I don't know how you would like trying a different OS such as a Linux boot CD ?

If you can boot from a Linux CD/USB and have the same problem, it sounds like a hardware issue to me ...

Sorry for my long-winded reply, but this is what i would try ...

 

[DavidE]

I'm on a system right now that was too bright, similar to your issue.
This PC has an AMD GPU.
I used CCC (AMD Catalyst Control Center) to adjust the brightness and contrast.
This worked for me, so maybe it's something you could try ?

I'm sure NVIDEA has a similar utility, i haven't used NVIDEA in a long time.
I don't know what is available for Intel graphics.

You have to find out what type of graphics processor you have, and find out what utilities are available.
Here is a tutorial by Brink for System Specs:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

CCC example: