Dell Laptop Display Dims with AC Power Connected

Hi,
This problem occurs with a Dell Smartstep laptop, and seems the opposite to
the norm. Typically the settings allow for the LCD display to dim slightly
when under battery power in order to conserve energy. But in this case it is
the opposite. When using battery power, the display remains bright, but when
connected to AC power with the adaptor, it immediately dims. Three different
AC adaptors have been tried and each with the same results. The battery was
weak and going south, and after replacement with new the symptoms are still
the same. There was a period of several months when the problem did not re-
occur. But now it has begun again. Any suggestions as to what might be the
problem?

XKSS2002 wrote:
Hi,
This problem occurs with a Dell Smartstep laptop, and seems the
opposite to the norm. Typically the settings allow for the LCD
display to dim slightly when under battery power in order to conserve
energy. But in this case it is the opposite. When using battery
power, the display remains bright, but when connected to AC power
with the adaptor, it immediately dims. Three different AC adaptors
have been tried and each with the same results. The battery was weak
and going south, and after replacement with new the symptoms are
still the same. There was a period of several months when the problem
did not re- occur. But now it has begun again. Any suggestions as to
what might be the problem?

All my (3) Dell laptops have independent settings and memories for
backlighting with and without AC power. There is nothing stopping you from
setting the backlight to be dimmer when powered (e.g. when viewing in a
darkened room) and brighter when on battery power such as outdoors. The
settings may be defined in your BIOS, in the Dell Quickset application if
you have that and/or just by whatever you last set it to when you used it in
that power situation. There should be nothing stopping you adjusting the
values in any of these places and for a temorary override just fit FN+UP or
FN+DOWN to adjust to your requirements You'll have to repeat the adjustment
under AC power and battery power separately - changing one won't affect the
other.

Try checking in the BIOS and see what the settings for the AC and Dc are
and adjust accordingly
"Tiny Tim" wrote in message
...
XKSS2002 wrote:
Hi,
This problem occurs with a Dell Smartstep laptop, and seems the
opposite to the norm. Typically the settings allow for the LCD
display to dim slightly when under battery power in order to conserve
energy. But in this case it is the opposite. When using battery
power, the display remains bright, but when connected to AC power
with the adaptor, it immediately dims. Three different AC adaptors
have been tried and each with the same results. The battery was weak
and going south, and after replacement with new the symptoms are
still the same. There was a period of several months when the problem
did not re- occur. But now it has begun again. Any suggestions as to
what might be the problem?

All my (3) Dell laptops have independent settings and memories for
backlighting with and without AC power. There is nothing stopping you from
setting the backlight to be dimmer when powered (e.g. when viewing in a
darkened room) and brighter when on battery power such as outdoors. The
settings may be defined in your BIOS, in the Dell Quickset application if
you have that and/or just by whatever you last set it to when you used it
in that power situation. There should be nothing stopping you adjusting
the values in any of these places and for a temorary override just fit
FN+UP or FN+DOWN to adjust to your requirements You'll have to repeat the
adjustment under AC power and battery power separately - changing one
won't affect the other.