Sony Vaio display brightness problem

[coldwater]

in advance, sorry if this issue has been solved on this forum, but i didn't find it.

i have sony vaio VPCS11X9E which came preinstalled with Windows 7 64bit, and everything worked fine. i was forced to reinstall Windows 7 32bit because of some old software (don't ask). as far as i can see, everything is fine except for one thing, display brightness. display is dimmed, constantly, since the login screen. i have managed to make the brightness keys to work in the sense that the brightness bar is visible and changing. however, the brightness of the screen doesn't change. i have also gone through all power and display settings, in windows and vaio control center, and have set everything on maximum, regardless of power plan etc, and tried tampering with adaptive brightness, but to no avail. right now i am a little desperate, and have no other ideas.. i'm in a bit of a hurry so i need any help or suggestion.. i hope i have provided enough information. (drivers are all updated of course).. thank you in advance.

 

[Barman58]

Couple of things to try ....

Check for any Sony supplied software that may duplicate and override the windows 7 settings you have made

Create a new account (same level as your current user), to eliminate profile issues.

If possible run a Live Linux CD to eliminate the slight possibility that you have a problem with the screen hardware

 

[coldwater]

i have just tried with another account (administrator, just as the previous), but unfortunately, nothing changes. screen gets dimmed as soon as the login screen appears, but the windows startup logo and progress bar etc are as bright as can be, so i am certain that it is not hardware issue.

to further clarify, screen was bright until i updated intel graphics drivers from intel website, automatically. it was one of the first things i did after installing Windows 7, even before installing sony specific software from vaio website.. i just don't know where to look for the solution.

thanks for trying barman58!

 

[Barman58]

i have just tried with another account (administrator, just as the previous), but unfortunately, nothing changes. screen gets dimmed as soon as the login screen appears, but the windows startup logo and progress bar etc are as bright as can be, so i am certain that it is not hardware issue.

to further clarify, screen was bright until i updated intel graphics drivers from intel website, automatically. it was one of the first things i did after installing Windows 7, even before installing sony specific software from vaio website.. i just don't know where to look for the solution.

thanks for trying barman58!

Have you tried rolling back the drivers? It would not be the first time that a "New" driver version from Windows Update is a retrograde step. Another thing to look at is if even newer drivers are available from either Sony or the graphics system manufacturer, Intel

 

[coldwater]

Have you tried rolling back the drivers? It would not be the first time that a "New" driver version from Windows Update is a retrograde step. Another thing to look at is if even newer drivers are available from either Sony or the graphics system manufacturer, Intel [/QUOTE]

that is just what i was doing just now. there was a newer graphics driver on intel's site that wasn't being installed automatically, so i did it manually. however, nothing changed. screen is still dimmed and brightness controls don't change it, whether i use keyboard fn+F5/F6 or windows' power options, or sony vaio control center.

i am trying to find an older graphics driver, maybe i'll get lucky.

thanks nigel.

 

[coldwater]

ok, so far, i only get ahead when i deinstall graphics driver completelly (from programs and features). but, as soon as i install any driver, problem reappears. i have tried 4 versions of drivers, oldest being from 30.12.2009, but i just can't get a break.

any help would be greatly appreciated..

 

[zigzag3143]

ok, so far, i only get ahead when i deinstall graphics driver completelly (from programs and features). but, as soon as i install any driver, problem reappears. i have tried 4 versions of drivers, oldest being from 30.12.2009, but i just can't get a break.

any help would be greatly appreciated..

what GFX chipset Intel what?

Bios newest?

does it do the same thing in safe mode(F8)?


Ken

 

[Dwarf]

Hi coldwater,

Have a look at these links: VAIO : Sony Europe

You could also check their Forum: http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/gb/en/forum/listthreads?forum=6 (sorry, there doesn't appear to be a search facility, at least for unregistered viewers).

 

[Barman58]

The latest drivers for the Viaio range are here

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/WIN7UPGRADE/

I can't see what is causing this so have put a call out for some assistance from some of the Sony / Intel People here to take a look - hopefully someone will recognise this issue

Also some laptops have screen /power settings in the Bios (Dell Etc), you may want to check the BIOS for such settings (kudos to Pebbly for the suggestion )

 

[Barman58]

More suggestions ....

Barman, done a little searching , does the op have the original sony cd here is a quote off a site by someone with the same prob


Try the SonyTR forum: http://www.siliconpopculture.com/forum/

You need the Sony Utilities Library, Sony PowerPanel, two utilities for
the function keys which names I don't remember. I have your email
address. I have a complete set of the TR3A installation CDs but they are
with the TR3A which is on vacation and will not return until mid-week.
As I recall, the install CDs can be used to selectively install the
proprietary Sony files. I'll let you know.

ignore the TR3A bit it seems it happens to a few types , also get the op to try the lid catch [ appears to be faulty wiring in the flexcable]

 

[Eso Rimmer]

I have the same VAIO model and experienced the same problem once I formated system full of crappy trialware trash apps and installed clean win7.

Solution is to use graphic drivers from Sony support webpage. They probably made some stupid modifications to drivers, so standard Intel drivers don't work and we are all doomed to use drivers from Sony only. :-(

Otherwise this notebook isn't bad. I got it new for 500€ one week ago.

 

[tekgirl]

I know this is an old post, but I had this same issue. For me, it turned out that is was a setting in the Vaio Control Panel: Display -> Automatic Brightness Settings -> Uncheck "Adjust Brightness Automatically". The screen was very dim before I unchecked this setting, and would fluctuate somewhat in brightness. Unchecking this made all the difference. I'm sure there are many reasons for this behavior, but wanted to post what helped me in case this is the same issue someone else may be having.

 

[MashMash]

Solved - what a waste of a day!

I tried all the suggestions on this thread but nothing worked - downloading Desktop Lighter seemed the best option but it still wasn't great as only changed the colouring to give the effect of lighter and darker.

Now I still can't use the function keys for brightness but this solution is so simple. I ended up asking my guys at theofficeproviders and they showed me instantly, felt pretty stupid as tech isn't even what they do but hey ho, they didn't make me feel too bad!

Ok go to 'Control Panel' , hit 'Appearance and Personalization' , hit 'Display' , hit 'Adjust Brightness' . Now I kept going in to the Power Plan options and messing around in there for ages. Ignore those options look down at the bottom of the main window and you will see the Screen Brightness scroller. I never saw it because I was being distracted by the powerplan options.

How simple is that?! Hope it's as easy on every Vaio. Mine's a VPCCB2MOE bought December 2011.

Hope it helps...

 

[Muhammad1]

Sony Vaio Brightness Problem

I have a Sony VAIO E series Model No. VPCEH3P1E/W..it came with windows 7 premimum 64 bit.but windows was in spaish,so i formatted c drive and installed the windows 7 ultimate 64 bit.I installed all the drivers,also the nvidia driver.Now evey thing is working fine,but brightness is not changing,neither from key board nor from display settings.In fact brightness settings are not appearing anywhere.Its working on full brightness.Please help me to resolve this issue..

 

[oscarflores]

same problem

Hi, im a user of a vaio VPCS111FM from mexico, and i also formated my laptop with windows 7 64 bits and the same problem, changing screen brightness doesnt change in screen, it stays dimmed always and tired of looking for solutions because anything has worked unfortumately, i would like to know if you were able to fix this issue
thanks

 

[Jing2x87]

You have to edit registry key FeatureTestControl in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001 (OR 0000)

edit hexadecimal into fb20. It worked for me using Intel i3 core and should work for any intel graphics.

If NVIDIA the hexadecimal code is fb60

or try f900