Dark screen

[TrueBlueAngel]

My windows Vista laptop screen is darker than usual (god knows what the DSs have done to it while I've been away). I can't see how to make it brighter. Does anyone know?
Thanks.

[Andre]

There will be a function key for brightness, probably labelled as a little blue sunshine symbol on another key. Hold down the blue Function button (usually lower left of keyboard, near the Control/Alt keys) and press the brightness up key (it's key F8 on mine, but yours may vary).

Andre

[TrueBlueAngel]

Andre, my brightness keys seems to be on my arrow buttons (back and forward) but when I press them, nothing happens. I've tried them holding down other buttons but nothing. My lappie is an Acer, if that helps.

[JAL]

You need to hold down the Fn button while pressing the arrow key.

[TrueBlueAngel]

I did, it didnt work :)

[Andre]

Does pressing Fn at the same time as the brightness-DOWN key (i.e. Fn+LeftArrow) make it get dimmer at all? That would tell us whether the function buttons are working properly for you.

Andre

[TrueBlueAngel]

Nothing happens at all :(

[Andre]

That's odd, what about any of the other FN + "blue key" operations, do they work on your keyboard (e.g. page up/down, volume up/down, mute, depending on your keyboard).

Andre

[TrueBlueAngel]

Yep, they all work. Very strange.

[wazzimama]

we have an eco key on ours, this saves a bit of energy and dims the colour

[Andre]

How odd, whatever the system settiings are, the brightness up/down buttons should increase or decrease them a bit, even if you're running on battery (which often turns the brightness down automatically for you).

The next step would be to check the graphics driver settings, there may be an icon in the tray at the bottom right of the screen to do this. Otherwise, go to Control Panel and click on Display and see if you get any extra setting options. I'm not sure with Vista quite how the panel layout works though.

We're going to have to start calling you "Dark Angel" :)

Andre

[Vabeth]

My Windows Vista laptop has a battery conserve function that changes the brightness of the screen to make the battery last longer!
Bottom right hand of screen there is a battery icon, click on it to see what yours is set at! High performance gives the brightest screen!
I don't know if that's the problem, but it's the only thing i can think of!