Hi folks

My wife has a Dell XPS M1330 laptop. There is a problem. The screen is fine when it is plugged in to the power, but when unplugged the screen goes fairly dim. I have checked the settings and the “not plugged in” screen brightness setting is already at maximum brightness.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is something wrong with the battery?

Many thanks for any help offered. I was playing around with e linux based memory stick with a program which overrides windows yesterday. Would that have caused this problem?

I know you said that you have checked the ‘not plugged in settings’, but have you tried pressing Fn (function) and then a key on the keyboard (maybe an arrow key) to adjust the brightness?

Sometimes these are independent of the Windows power saving/brightness settings.

Hi Dawson

Yes – I found that option and tried it. It does change the brightness, but the problem is that the max is now not very bright.

Cheers

Simon

Is the power saving setting on a battery saving mode? (click on the battery icon bottom right)

This might mean it is still trying to save power over the max brightness setting wh
En using battery only.

Man in ‘I’ve messed up my wife’s laptop by looking at porn and getting a virus’ shocker.

Are there any other hardware switches on the laptop to switch between battery longevity and speed?

Is there some 3rd part display software running i.e. Intel/Nvidia etc that has its own power saving/brightness controls?

have you tried System Restore?

Thanks for the help folks.

I did see a restore settings on the battery part of the Control Panel, but I was worried about what else that would reset. I don’t wont to make things worse!

Doghouse for you, then. 😀

My old Dell used to do that, saves on the battery usage.

Cant help with the pron and virus thing 😉

Man in ‘I’ve messed up all over my wife’s laptop by looking at porn and getting a virus’ shocker.

Are you sure the screen doesn’t just need a good wipe down 😉

Are you sure it wasn’t always like that and you’re panicking over nothing?

I was playing around with e linux based memory stick with a program which overrides windows yesterday. Would that have caused this problem?

Highly unlikely.

On my Dell you can change the brightness with Fn + up arrow?

Well folks I managed to fix the problem by taking the battery out and then starting again.

Thanks for all the help offered. I am out of the doghouse 😀

taking the battery out

Has the screen gone very dark?

Not a good start to married life Mr R 😆

Have you tried switching it off and on again.

Oh wait you did and it worked.

Well exactly John hence my need for the collective help of the good people of STW 🙂

I did switch it off and on and that didn’t work, but taking the battery out did!