Laptop Question - Display to dark on battery power

[Garibaldi]

A friend recently got a new laptop and I've been helping him set it up. One thing we noticed is that when you put it on battery power the display darkens significantly. This makes it harder to view. Is there a way (in XP) to increase the brightness of the display when it is on the battery? He's not concerned about the shortened battery life as a result. BTW this is a Compaq Presario R4000

[Conquest10]

Fn+F8

[Garibaldi]

That will adjust the brightness while on the battery?

[Conquest10]

No, that raises the brightness of the screen. There's a seperate setting for when its plugged in and when its not. You'll have to change it by using Fn+F8.

[Garibaldi]

If I'm on the battery and I use Fn+F8 to up the brightness will it keep that new level for subsequent times that I use the battery?

[Conquest10]

Yeah, it will keep that setting.

[guns1inger]

Actually, it will probably revert next time you turn it off and on again. To change it permenantly, adjust the power saving settings in the control panel.

[Garibaldi]

Actually, it will probably revert next time you turn it off and on again. To change it permenantly, adjust the power saving settings in the control panel.

I looked in the Power Management settings in the control panel and I'm positive there is no section about the brightness control - I checked a couple times to be sure. Maybe I'm just missing something

[adam]

Same thing happens with my laptop. It gets brighter as soon as you unplug the power cord which seems backasswords to me. I've tried everything in Power Management too with no luck.

Its a Dell btw.

[Garibaldi]

Same thing happens with my laptop. It gets brighter as soon as you unplug the power cord which seems backasswords to me. I've tried everything in Power Management too with no luck.

Its a Dell btw.

I would try this Fn thing, I think it will work. If that doesn't do it for you then go with the BIOS

[redwudz]

If you haven't tried it, go to Control Panel > Power Options > and set it to Home/Office Desk if it's set to Portable/Laptop. That usually cancels most power saving modes, including darkening the screen. You will dissipate the battery power quicker, though. That's the downside.

[guns1inger]

Some laptops have a seperate utility suite from the manufacturer that gives greater control than Window's generic tools. My Toshiba has a much more comprehensive power saving utility than windows, including screen brightness and a dozen other things.