My screen has dimmed with no explanation

[Flash 103]

Hello everyone.

Just a few days ago, my computer has been acting weird. The displa
keeps dimming for no reason that I can see.

I can turn on my computer, log in, and stay at the desktop for about 3
seconds with a fine and bright display, but then it suddenly dims an
stays that way. The only time it will un-dim is if I put my password i
again after the screensaver comes on. It will then turn bright as i
brings up the desktop, but that's only for about 2 seconds. Then whe
the desktop is back up, it will dim again.

I really do not think it has anything to do with my monitor because:
1. It's always bright when I've mentioned, and then turns dim. It'
like clockwork.

2. THE MOUSE CURSOR IS THE ONLY BRIGHT THING ON THE SCREEN. IT DOES NO
DIM AT ALL, AND REMINDS ME OF HOW THE SCREEN DIMS WHEN VISTA ASKS YOU I
YOU WILL ALLOW A PROGRAM TO OPEN OR WHATEVER

However, if I do start up a program where it asks me if it ca
continue, the screen only gets DARKER for that portion, and then turn
back to dim when I pick an option.


I really have no clue what could be causing this, and it's ver
annoying. The only thing that "changed" during the time this happene
was that I bought a new Dell laptop (my computer is made by Dell, too
and both have Vista) and connected it to my home internet. I used tha
for about a day, and then when I returned to my main computer, I sa
this problem.

It reminds me of how on my laptop I can set the battery to "power save
and it dims the screen. It looks just like that, except for the mous
cursor remaining bright. But I'm not sure how that can affect my mai
computer at all. I just figured I should mention it anyways.


Either way, thank you for your time and any help that you give me! :

 

[Not Even Me]

Is it a laptop?
There is a power setting that will do that on a portable, usually under
'when running on battery' power scheme.

 

[Flash 103]

Is it a laptop?
There is a power setting that will do that on a portable, usually unde

'when running on battery' power scheme.

No no, it's a desktop computer. I just mentioned the laptop becaus
that what it reminds me of. But, it's a desktop computer.


And to the next poster down, the system and screensaver setting wer
the first thing I checked. Apparently, I've had the computer on powe
save mode since the first day I got it about over a year ago. I neve
dimmed the monitor during all that time, though. I don't think that'
the problem, but still, I've changed it to High Performance, bu
nothing has changed.


I still don't understand, though, why it's the whole screen that dim
except for the mouse cursor. It's like some weird visual effect th
computer is using

 

[Flash 103]

@vistabanter.com says...-
I still don't understand, though, why it's the whole screen that dims
except for the mouse cursor. It's like some weird visual effect the
computer is using.-

Have you tried reinstalling and/or updating your video drivers? If the

video drivers have their own control panel, did you double-check any
possible settings in there?

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Sorry about the delayed response. I've been busy with college stuff.


Anyway, to chinga69, I cannot try another monitor, but I do know for a
fact that it's something wrong with Vista or some sort of hardware and
not the monitor. I've tested it a few times and I can start up the
computer and sit at the login screen for a long while (and probably
forever) without any dimming. Once when I log in, it usually takes 30
or 40 seconds for the screen to finally dim. Also, as I've mentioned,
the mouse cursor stays bright. I've never heard of a malfunctioning
monitor that can dim everything but one thing that I can constantly
move. Maybe it could dim all but one area of the monitor, but that
isn't the case...


To Andrew Rossmann, I've updated my video driver and there is no
change. I'm not sure how to uninstall it or where to go to install it
again... I've check the controls on the driver (it's an ATI Catalyst,
it says) and they all look normal, nothing has been changed and they
all seem to be set on the high performance options instead of the
power-saving ones, etc.

So I'm still clueless on what is causing this. I can only guess that
some sort of program on start up is doing this, but I don't know what,
or how to check...

 

[Not Even Me]

it almost sounds like you may have some accessibility setting (maybe high
contrast) turned on and mal-adjusted.

 

[Flash 103]

it almost sounds like you may have some accessibility setting (mayb
high
contrast) turned on and mal-adjusted.

It might have been that... but it seems to have fixed itself somehow..
I had the computer off for like a day or so because I just couldn't dea
with it and this morning I turned it on to print something out reall
quick. I didn't realize it then because I was in such a hurry to go t
class, but the screen didn't dim.

Now about four hours later, I come home and find the screen stil
didn't dim. I'm relieved everything is back to normal, but I have a ba
feeling that it may relapse. I don't understand how it could just act s
bizarre and then suddenly stop. I wonder what the problem was.

Hopefully I'm wrong and it stays fixed..