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Question

Laptop brightness changing automatically?

by Nov 11, 2012 9:50AM PST

I have an HP Elitebook 8570w with Windows 7. I noticed that the brightness of the display constantly changes based on what is on the screen. As far as I can tell there is no adaptive brightness on this laptop. The brightness changes all the time which is really distracting when trying to read stuff on the laptop. I created a separate partition and installed a fresh copy of Windows 8 and the same exact thing is happening. Any idea on how to fix this problem?

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Clarification Request
Did it always do this?
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 12, 2012 2:51AM PST

It's not clear in your post but if it started recently and other OSes do the same it sounds like a hardware failure.

Hope it's in warranty.
Bob

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It started when I got it.
by wiki131wiki Nov 12, 2012 3:27AM PST

It started when I first got the laptop a couple months ago, when it was running Windows 7. I installed a fresh install of Windows 8 to try to rule out any software conflicts, but the problem still occurs.

It might be hardware issue, but it's strange because I noticed the problem a couple weeks after I got the laptop. But I guess it could have been a defect straight from the factory. Any recommend steps before I contact the warranty department.

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Just one.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 12, 2012 3:31AM PST

You already tried 2 Windows. I find myself using Ubuntu to test drive hardware when I need to sniff out is it the hardware or software question.

Ubuntu boots from CD/USB so no install required.

But at this point I want to share my HP in warranty story. At 3 months I called in to hopefully resolve a minor bug in a BIOS. After 9 months I'm out one laptop and HP can't fix the bug because it's something they buy. That's quite a flimsy excuse and does not help that for 6 months they were unable to put the laptop back to working order.

I'm so put off by this that I suggest you return the unit rather than risk it going to their repair facilities.
Bob

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Answer
Brightness issue
by Nov 12, 2012 1:41AM PST

I am assuming that you have gone through power settings in control panel, that would be the first thing to take a look at.

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Power settings
by wiki131wiki Nov 12, 2012 3:28AM PST

I went through all of the power settings, and set it to never dim, just in case that was causing any issues. I see adaptive brightness in the power settings, but its turned off.

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