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Re Windows ME - Monitor brightness problem

Oct 27, 2004 8:48PM PDT

Hi all, I'm not sure if this is a hardware problem or a Win ME display properties problem.

My friend has a made up computer box running Windows ME. She uses a Compaq monitor.

She has just started to have problems with the display going dark, and she has to punch up the contrast and brightness to maximum.

However, she doesn't have to do this for everything. Her desktop displays normally and so do any applications she uses, like Microsoft Word.

The problem only appears when she plays a Golf game, Tiger Woods 2004. The splash screen is ok, and the game and menu options screen, but playing the game is when her display darkens.

Also, strangely, the display darkens when she plays some web site games at;

http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/games/

(this is a UK based tv company that has a number of small but fun on-line games, Happy ).

But normal web surfing is not affected.

What can be happening here? Any idea, is it a Monitor problem or video card? (She doesn' know what type of card she has), or could it be a software problem.

I should be grateful for any thoughts.

Mark

Discussion is locked

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Re: Re Windows ME - Monitor brightness problem
Oct 27, 2004 11:41PM PDT

It seems like the display output of the game itself. Check the game setting for video and set them to what you like then save and/or keep it for your player. Sometimes, the darkness level is call "gamma", but it maybe called something else in various gasmes, play with setting until happy.

good luck -----Willy ":)"

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Quite normal
Oct 28, 2004 2:33AM PDT

As Willie says you can increase the brightness in the game.
But if the game doesn't allow this you can use software to increase the gamma reading of the graphics card. Most graphics cards have this - I have an Nvidia card and can set this for individual games. If your graphics card didn't come with such software I can give you the name of a free program that you can use.
Peter

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Re: Quite normal
Oct 28, 2004 6:33AM PDT

Hmm,

Thanks for all this advice. My friend isn't really a computer expert and I'm not available to go over to her home and try these different things out.

I will have to think carefully about this and see if I can talk her through the game sttings on the phone, and check if she has Gamma settings through Display Properties.

I may come back to you on your offer about the gamma reading software Pete.

I was just wondering if this was a sign that her video card wasn't up to the job, or was failing.

Thanks again, Happy


Mark