Member Avatar for marlenyl

My monitor is dark, I have played around with the brightness and contrast buttons but it doesn't work. I have also changed the monitor to see if it is the monitor that is messed up. But does the same thing. I have read that it may be the video card. I just need a second opinon before i go out and buy another video card.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jonsullivan

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Brief, ordered plan to isolate a dark screen (so no unnecessary parts are bought). described the symptom; and pointed toward hardware and software angles. The steps below are arranged so each result tells you what to try next.

  1. Check the monitor itself: confirm the power LED and open the monitor OSD (menu). Use the OSD to restore factory defaults.
  2. Swap cables and inputs: try a different video cable and a different input on the monitor (VGA/DVI/HDMI). Inspect connector pins and the PC port for bent pins.
  3. Observe the monitor OSD versus the desktop: if the OSD is normal brightness while the desktop is dim, the monitor backlight is likely OK and the problem is the video source/cable or drivers. If the OSD is dim or barely visible, suspect the monitor backlight/inverter.
  4. Boot behaviour test: watch the screen at power-on/POST (or enter BIOS) before Windows loads. If the image is bright at boot and goes dim only after the OS loads, this points to drivers or OS-level calibration. If it’s dim right from power-on, that points to monitor hardware or the video output hardware.
  5. Cross-test hardware: connect the monitor to a different computer and connect a known-good monitor to the original computer. If available, test using the motherboard video output (after removing the discrete card) to check the graphics card.
  6. Flashlight test and safety note: in a dark room, shine a bright flashlight close to the screen—if you can see a faint image, the backlight is failing. Do not open CRTs or power supplies yourself; high voltages are dangerous.

If tests point to a failed backlight/inverter, repair is often costly on older panels; replacement is usually the practical option. If tests point to the PC (drivers/gpu), try safe mode or a bootable USB environment to rule out OS-level changes before buying parts.

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Member Avatar for jo2995

Yeah, its probably the video card or motherboard. Try switching around the parts to, err... switch them around, then see if your monitor works with the other video card or motherboard. Please try the video card first, much easier. Probably video card, maybe motherboard, definitly not software. Good luck.

Member Avatar for jonsullivan

My monitor is dark, I have played around with the brightness and contrast buttons but it doesn't work. I have also changed the monitor to see if it is the monitor that is messed up. But does the same thing. I have read that it may be the video card. I just need a second opinon before i go out and buy another video card.

I have had same problem ..i think its the Gamma setting on your computer.. if you go to appearance and personalization setting in control panel then look for maybe adobe gamma wizard setting?..box should come up taking you through steps when you get to box that sez " You can choose to work a different white poiunt than your monitors hardware setting" you should choose same as hardware.. as it may have been changed over few years with software u have added. so click on same as hardware and your screen should brighten up instantly.

Member Avatar for jonsullivan

it should be 1) control panel (if your on windows)..2) apperarance and personalization 3) adobe gamma- there go through the steps on the adobe gamma window ..or it might just be gamma window.. But its the white point setting on your computer that needs to be reset to same as hardware on your computer. hope that helps its real simple.. u dont need to go into the computer deep to find it.. it should be part of the main appearances n personalization page.. just look for gamma settings if your on a completely diff comp to mine. but thats almost certainly whats the probl;em.

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