HELP please

Lensflare

Lensflare

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Simon Everett
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Does anyone know how to turn up the screen brightness on a computer please? My computer has gone so dark I can't see what is on the screen, so I can't work any of the controls because I don't know where the mouse pointer is or what is displayed to choose from. I hope it is not going to need going into to something in the computer, because I won't be able to see to do it.

It is a Dell Vostro 1700 running Windows XP Pro - if that makes any difference.

Thanks - I know very little about computers.
 
Look at the top row of keys - there is probably a symbol that looks like a sun (two in fact, one smaller than the other).
Press and hold the Fn key (which will probably be on the bottom row somewhere) and repeatedly press the one with the 'bigger sun' to turn up the brightness.

If this doesn't work, it's possible your screen backlight is knackered.
 
Furtim said:
Look at the top row of keys - there is probably a symbol that looks like a sun (two in fact, one smaller than the other).
Press and hold the Fn key (which will probably be on the bottom row somewhere) and repeatedly press the one with the 'bigger sun' to turn up the brightness.

If this doesn't work, it's possible your screen backlight is knackered.
Click to expand...

Second thought, looking at one on the internet, the brightness keys look to be on the up and down cursor keys. Same principle through - press and hold 'Fn' while hitting the up arrow (if that's where it is).
 
And if you do need a new screen, looks like they're about £50.
I've changed them on a couple of laptops it is surprisingly straight forward (y)
 
If it's just the backlight that's gone (shine a very bright torch at the screen with the laptop on to see if anything is still displayed) then it could be the inverter that's blown (powers the backlight on older laptops). Slightly cheaper than replacing the whole panel but can be a bit awkward to do if you've not opened it up before.
 
Thanks guys - none of the Fn and arrows do anything (you're right, there is a sun on the up and down arrows) To be hoest I have never used the Fn button before, because I didn't know what it was for.

I have never seen the inside of a computer - to me it is a glorified typewriter. The amount I can do on one is surpassed by a 2-year old on their first attempt. I will try and get it repaired. One of my son's friends does computer repairs. It doesn't sound like it will be very expensive.
 
Have you got un- backed up data on there? If so try the torch trick. It will light the screen enough to copy your files.
Changing a screen isn't difficult just fiddly but better safe than sorry.
 
If you have or can borrow a monitor you can plug it into the black 15 pin socet on the side of your laptop then press the Fn + F8 keys to change displays, if it works it will confirm a dud screen and keep you going to get backed up, hope this helps.

Pete
 
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