Display DIMMED: Dell latitude D830; PCLOS & WinXP

[TO]

Well all of a sudden my display dimmed (setting is to dim after 10 minutes; but alas ...).
Laptop Latitude D830.
Nothing to do with PCLOS, of course, for my Windows XP (i have dual-boot) shows the very same problem; so it is obviously the hardware. Did i read somewhere that in the display there are 2 backLIGHTS ...?
Any ideas, ppl? Hardly able to see/ read the screen! Thx, rgds.

[GermanTux]

In most laptops there is a backlight, and an inverter.  If the display simply dimmed it's usually an inverter problem. 

I doubt it's worth fixing.  A local repair shop, though, may be able to do it for about $200.  Depending on whether Dell still makes the parts. 

[AS]

In most laptops there is a backlight, and an inverter.  If the display simply dimmed it's usually an inverter problem. 

I doubt it's worth fixing.  A local repair shop, though, may be able to do it for about $200.  Depending on whether Dell still makes the parts. 

Have had a LCD issue last year on a IBM/Lenovo R60, I have substituted (myself) the whole LCD including the inverter:

Surely I was 100% satisfied: http://www.screencountry.com/

 

[parnote]

Have had a LCD issue last year on a IBM/Lenovo R60, I have substituted (myself) the whole LCD including the inverter:

Surely I was 100% satisfied: http://www.screencountry.com/

 

AS,

Thanks for that link! My wife's Vostro 1000 had the screen go out some time ago. I've been hesitant to just throw parts at it, not for sure if it's the backlight or the inverter. Thanks to your link, I should be able to just replace the screen for less than $100 (excluding shipping), and regain the use of a decent computer!

parnote

[GermanTux]

+1 Thanks for that AS that's a great link. 

[TO]

NO, NOT AT ALL! Pls READ!
Important!
People, before going great lengths:
First check Computer Setups from BIOS boot-up: actually for the display my latitude D830 has  many "Video" Settings, one of which is "Brightness" (for the Battery regime); then another "Brightness A/C" for the regime on Mains through the adaptor ...
Default Factory setting for this is 8 out of 8; mine  -inexplicably WHY-  was at  2 /of 8 ...
Imagine! How simple!
Of course i discovered this AFTER replacing the invertor USD $3.85 from HKong (free shipping + a week or more later) = without result.
Then, just happened to TRY F2 key  =for the setup ...
Now i am up and going again. Never mind the internet instructions (one of which was terribly WRONG and incompetent, as if to spite!) and "pricetags".

[OldGuy]

I assume you have held down the function key and press the up arrow key?

Adjusting Brightness

When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power by setting the brightness to the lowest comfortable setting by pressing <Fn> and the up- or down-arrow key on the keyboard.
   NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable computer, not monitors or projectors that you attach to your portable computer or docking device. If your computer is connected to an external monitor and you try to change the brightness level, the Brightness Meter may appear, but the brightness level on the external device does not change.

You can press the following keys to adjust display brightness:

    Press <Fn> and the up-arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

    Press <Fn> and the down-arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

Taken from http://www.solano.edu/technology/data/D630/display.htm

[TO]

OldG - that's perfectly possible, isn't it?
First time hearing of such a FUNCTION; and indeed, one "touches" keys inadvertendly and "stuff" happens ...
That's why this Forum exists, for Seniors and Heros to advise us.
Thanks, everybody!