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Now my backliting isnt working. Does it ever end?

Discussion in 'Dell Latitude, Vostro, and Precision' started by akwit, Sep 23, 2010.

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  1. akwit

    akwit Notebook Deity

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    Before I take this g-d forsaken Latitude e6400 and throw it has hard as i can off my 15th floor terrace, out onto a busy Manahttan street, id like to know if someone can help me figure out why my backlighting has suddenly stopped working.

    I hit Fn and the backlight key and the box comes up, I select on and nothing.
    I tried turning it on through DCP Systems and Devices box and that doesnt work either (alreayd saying its enabled).

    Any ideas?

    Apologies for the angry post...im just tired of all the problmes I have experienced with this laptop.
     
    akwit, Sep 23, 2010
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  2. ygohome

    ygohome Notebook Deity

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    There is a setting in the BIOS too I believe. Check that out. Maybe it is over-riding what the DCP settings are.
     
    ygohome, Sep 24, 2010
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  3. akwit

    akwit Notebook Deity

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    Why would it just suddenly happen out of nowhere though?
     
    akwit, Sep 24, 2010
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  4. stackcheese

    stackcheese Newbie

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    Did it fix it?
     
    stackcheese, Sep 24, 2010
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  5. akwit

    akwit Notebook Deity

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    The BIOS? I dont know how to access that...
     
    akwit, Sep 24, 2010
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  6. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Press F12 when a message to do so pops up on the BIOS splash screen. This gives you a boot order menu but one of the options is the BIOS setup.

    I would also look into the Windows power management settings. However, i do wonder whether it's a hardware problem.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Sep 24, 2010
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  7. akwit

    akwit Notebook Deity

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    Backlight is on in the bios.

    Whats the next step?

    What am I looking for in the windows power mgmt setting? I dont see naything there related to the backlight.
     
    akwit, Sep 25, 2010
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  8. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    There's an option for the display to turn off. However, the minimum I see is 1 minute.

    However, if you can't get the BIOS screen to show up on the internal display then it's nothing to do with Windows and the problem must be in the power supply to the backlight. What display do you have? If my memory is correct then the 1440 x 900 panels always had LED backlights while the 1280 x 800 changed from CCFL to LED during the production run. If you have a CCFL backlight then maybe the inverter has died. Under this situation you should be able to see a feint image on the screen.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Sep 25, 2010
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  9. akwit

    akwit Notebook Deity

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    John-

    What do you mean by me not being able get the bios screen to come up? Im lost now; what does getting the bios screen to come up have to do with the power supply to the backlight?
    I did get the bios screen to come up and under "backlight" it says that its on.
    I have the 1440x900 panel.

    If the inverter has died, i would see a feint image of what, on which screen?

    Sorry man, but im totally confused.
     
    akwit, Sep 25, 2010
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  10. GKDesigns

    GKDesigns Custom User Title

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    By backlighting, do you mean the display or the keyboard? Sounds like you've seen the BIOS screen at bootup, so presumably your display is working.

    Note that if the ambient light sensor is set to auto somthing or other, the keyboard backlight does not come ON unless the ambient lighting is low enough according to the sensor.

    GK
     
    GKDesigns, Sep 25, 2010
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