Dim monitor problem-interesting bug

[benfield]

If someone could help me with this...

**Problem Description:

Primary monitor becomes dim, similar to when UAC highlights one of its
dialog boxes. The only item of full brightness is the mouse cursor. This
begins ~30 seconds after booting, with no noticeable beginning of processes
(viewed in task manager), high disk throughput or processor uses beyond
normal startup.

**Important details

Regardless of the resolution (WUXGA to SVGA) or theme (glass, classic, high
contrast) the primary monitor will remain dim. If the definition of
"Primary" is switched from the laptop's attached monitor to the external
one, the primary retains the dim, with the secondary remaining normal
brightness.

When the "Snipping Tool" from tablet PC functionality is used, there is no
difference between screen captures of the dim and the bright area. Note
that when the Snipping Tool dims the monitor, the primary monitor increases
its dimness.

Both the Vista shipping drivers and the new Mobility Catalyst 7.4 from Dell
produce the problem. When uninstalling the new drivers, care was taken to
completely uninstall the driver and all ATI software. The default, no
driver setup (standard VGA adapter) does not exhibit the problem.

When placing the computer in "stand by," the computer goes through states of
dimness before it goes to black. This begins at full brightness, not the
partial brightness at which the computer has been running.


A new user was created to troubleshoot the problem, refer to him as "A".
The user that experiences the problem is "B". The following are scenarios
and the results:
User B logs in and has the problem

Only user A logs in and does not experience the problem


User B logs in, has the problem, then logs out. User A logs in and does
not experience the problem.

User B logs in, has the problem, then switches the user without logging
out. The switch user screen has problems, as does A when logged in. B then
logs out, but both A and the switch user screen have the problem. A logs
out and no problem is experienced in the switch user screen. A then logs
back in and does not experience the problem.


**System specifications
2005 manufacture of Inspiron 6000 with ATI mobility Radeon x300 64 MB.
WUXGA LCD and external WSXGA (1680x1050)
Windows Vista Ultimate with all available updates
1.6 ghz Pentium M with 533 mhz FSB
2 gig 533 mhz RAM

**Programs
Adobe Flash
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Reader
Autodesk Revit 2008
Autodesk AutoCAD 2008
FFDSHOW
Filezilla
Goldsim
Matlab 2007a
..net runtime 1.1
Office 2007
C++ redistribute
MSXML 4.0 XP2
Oggcodecs
Paint.NET v3.08
SAP2000 v11
WinRAR
Yahoo Music Jukebox

 

[Richard Urban]

Substitution is called for here. I would start with substituting a dual
output video card of known good quality (one that is know to function
correctly). Same problem? I would then sub in a 3rd monitor in place of the
dim one.

Solving for something like this takes physical trouble shooting. Just last
month I replaced a *keyboard* that functioned fine under Windows XP but
froze up Vista so bad that you had to use the power switch to reboot. Go
figure!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[benfield]

I am on a laptop, so a video card replacement is out of the question.

Most oddly, the problem only manifests under one user account, which does
not sound like a hardware bug.

Any new ideas? Specifically, does Vista offer a "feature" that dims the
monitor so the user is better able to find the mouse? Or is there a way
that UAC's dimming can be turned on at all times? It almost seems like a
feature gone wrong.

Maybe I will try using "migrate settings" to another computer and see if the
migrated user has the same problems.

Ben

 

[Tiberius]

hello.. never ever listen to richard urban.. he is full of urban myths..

what you are seeing is the display adaptor driver turning down the
brightness...
I dont know why its happening to you but I simulate that exact thing *dark
surrounding but bright cursor*
if I go inside the settings of the dispay adaptor and change them...

I even have a small program called volumemouse that lets me turn the
brightness up and down
with the scroll wheel.. when I turn it down .. I see that exact thing as you
are describing.

what kind of display adaptor is this? nvidia chip?

 

[benfield]

Tiberious

I am using a Mobility Radeon x300

I can change the brightness of the monitor, that changes the overall
brightness (It turns down the backlight). The problem seems to be in
Windows, with the brightness of the output to the monitor turned down, not
the actual backlight lower. I don't know if that made any sence.

Where are you turning down the brightness in the "display adaptor driver?"

Ben

 

[Tiberius]

try this small free utility to adjust the brightness

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Video-Tweak/Gamma-Panel.shtml

 

[ctaliercio]

Hi there.

I was having this same problem with Vista Ultimate on an ATI Mobility
Radeon X1400.

Here's how to fix it:

In the catalyst control center, go to the advanced settings.

Then click color.

The click the "Reactivate ATI Color Control" button.


I'm not sure why this happens - but this definitely fixed the problem.

Good luck.

- Chris