Screen dark on Dell Laptop

November 27, 2017 8:03 AM

I recently got a new computer at work. When I first got it, the display was noticeably dim. For some reason, this self resolved - I did nothing but it became brighter. This morning, I have the same problem. Help?

Of note:

I have an external monitor and sometimes use a projector. The screens are dark/dim on both the laptop, and the external monitor or projector image. The problem is not resolved by disconnecting the laptop from the monitor or projector.

I have tried messing with the settings under Control Panel/Display/Adjust Brightness (it's on max brightness).

This is a Dell Latitude 7280 notebook.

I imagine this is something dumb and simple but what can I say, I'm middle aged.

posted by latkes to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

Power saving mode? Is it plugged in? Even if it is, it might still have somehow be using the profile to dim the screen (ask me how I know this can happen).
posted by crocomancer at 8:08 AM on November 27, 2017

Response by poster: It is plugged in and charging now. I changed my "Power Options" to "Dim the display - Never", but still the problem persists.
posted by latkes at 8:11 AM on November 27, 2017

I doubt it's power saving mode, since it affects external displays. You might check the display calibration, though; it's possible that, for some reason, it's selecting a profile that is calibrated poorly.
posted by brianogilvie at 8:19 AM on November 27, 2017

Response by poster: Cool, any suggestions are helpful. Can you tell me how to check that "display calibration" and what I might adjust it to?
posted by latkes at 8:26 AM on November 27, 2017

Is adaptive brightness on?
posted by Candleman at 9:11 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

It looks like Dell may make it hard to actually get at that setting.
posted by Candleman at 9:14 AM on November 27, 2017

Response by poster: Hmm, of course I don't have administrator permissions to install update so that I can change adaptive brightness setting, but I think this is the right track!!
posted by latkes at 10:51 AM on November 27, 2017

Try looking at the BIOS settings. My XPS has a setting for adaptive brightness there that I guess just deactivates the light sensor or somehing independent of the actual OS used.
posted by zengargoyle at 12:09 PM on November 27, 2017

Oh, and when you're fiddling around, it's a good time to check the Dell Support page for your laptop and see if there's a new BIOS update. You can dowload and put the .EXE on a USB drive and when you're poking around the BIOS anyway, might as well do the BIOS update if one's available.
posted by zengargoyle at 12:14 PM on November 27, 2017

You can at least try to pin it on that setting by locating the sensor on the device and hitting it with a flashlight/covering it to see if it responds to the stimulus in a way that's consistent with what you've been experiencing.
posted by Candleman at 12:27 PM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the help. My IT person showed up eventually and I told them about the patch/update. Not sure if that is how they fixed it but it is now fixed.
posted by latkes at 2:45 PM on December 11, 2017