Screen dims when I unplug ... how do I prevent that? T40P

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llckll · #1 Post by **llckll** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:01 pm

Hey all,

Everytime I unplug my T40P, the screen automatically dims. When I plug it back in, it brightens up again.

How do I prevent the screen from automatically dimming when I unplug it?

Thanks,
llckll

jongordo8 · #2 Post by **jongordo8** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:09 pm

Its part of the power management settings you have established...double click on the IBM battery icon (battery maximizer wizard) on the taskbar and the options for changing it are right there.

Paul Unger · #3 Post by **Paul Unger** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:29 pm

Yeah, like jongordo8 said: open the "Battery Maximiser Wizard", right click on your 'active' scheme, click 'modify' to edit it, and use the drop-down menu to change your 'LCD Brightness' setting. By the sounds of it, you're going to want it at 'Level7'.

roberts5 · #4 Post by **roberts5** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:37 pm

Or you can change the settings directly in the BIOS.

llckll · #5 Post by **llckll** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:38 pm

why wouldn't i want it at level 7? i thought that was the brightest.

anyway, i changed the settings and it still dims when i unplug it.

is level 1 the brightest?

llckll · #6 Post by **llckll** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:39 pm

oops sorry... i thought i read, "you don't want it at level 7"

well, i set it to level 7 running on battery.

still dims when i unplug it.

StarTraveller · #7 Post by **StarTraveller** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:43 pm

I've noticed that as well and not just on ThinkPads.

It seems that the screen operates with two different brightness scales, one for AC and one for battery - and the latter is dimmer be specification to conserve power. That is, level 7 with AC is brighter than level 7 with battery.

I don't think this behaviour can be changed.

llckll · #8 Post by **llckll** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:46 pm

thanks.... i guess that's what it is.... unless someone else has more information.

Paul Unger · #9 Post by **Paul Unger** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:47 pm

I agree! I just tested it to try to prove you wrong, llckll, and I didn't want to believe it but . . . my screen dimmed and it was still at Level 7

My friend's HP does this--and drives him mad--and now I know my IBM does it too. Although it doesn't drive me mad: I had it set to dim on battery in BatMax anyway.

#10 Post by **Kyocera** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:58 pm

Try going to thinkpad configuration, display, LCD, see if the brightness when running on batteries is set to highest.

davidspalding · #11 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:10 pm

Depending on the model, there is a setting for screen brightness in BIOS for AC/battery operation. I believe the options are NORMAL (dims on battery) or HIGH. YMMV. Haven't seen this anywhere but in BIOS.

OOPS, don't listen to me. Open Access IBM ... Configure ... Manage your display ... LCD display settings ... options for both the brightness on battery, and screen expansion.

#12 Post by **Kyocera** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:16 pm

Let's see did I miss something here?

I wrote:
Try going to thinkpad configuration, display, LCD, see if the brightness when running on batteries is set to highest.

christopher_wolf · #13 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:18 pm

Ummm, I seem to have only one scale for changing the brightness on my T43, be it on battery or AC....Hmmmm

davidspalding · #14 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:33 pm

Kyocera wrote:Let's see did I miss something here?

I wrote:
Try going to thinkpad configuration, display, LCD, see if the brightness when running on batteries is set to highest.

Kyocera's right, but here's another way. Follow my "bread crumb" path, it might help ... start with your blue Access IBM button and go from there.

Chris: Hrm ... really? I forget, are you on a 42, or 43? Maybe it's only on certain models. I know that of Dells, HPs, IBMs, &c, only some laptops have this setting.

Note from Moderator: Do Not Post Images In This Forum Without A Warning In The Subject Line For Dialup Users.

Whoops, well, can't change the thread subj, so no screen shot for you.

StarTraveller · #15 Post by **StarTraveller** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:40 pm

Nice that you can actually change that behaviour. That might prove useful when summer comes around and the sun just makes it impossible to see the screen on the "Normal" setting.

I'd rather sacrifice 30-60 minutes of battery than being driven mad by the fact that I can't see what I'm doing, hehe.

#16 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:14 pm

Hmm..........
You guys have a different method of changing the LCD brightness than I would choose.

I click on the Green Battery Icon in the System Tray, choose View Scheme Settings, then choose Create New Power Scheme... button. On that page are all your power settings including LCD brightness.

Note: I have a T42. Regarding other models, YMMV.

davidspalding · #17 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:02 pm

We're talking apples and oranges here. In Power Manager you can set various LCD levels (1 - 7) based on power source. The BIOS setting is a general dimming when switching to battery power. Period.

I have a scheme based on the "Power Source Optimized" scheme, that leaves LCD level at 4 regardless of source ... so it doesn't make a drastic change (from 5 to 0) when I unplug. With my BIOS LCD setting to Normal, it dims just a little bit.

Click on my screen shot linked to earlier, and you'll see.....

#18 Post by **Kyocera** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:57 pm

A simple issue has become very convaluted.

The original poster: Everytime I unplug my T40P, the screen automatically dims. When I plug it back in, it brightens up again.

Both my T series have done this and it is remedied by four mouse clicks and you are at the LCD brightness when running on batteries function in the thinkpad configuration.

Sometimes it helps to read the original post several times to actually know what they are trying to accomplish.

#19 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:13 pm

You're apple and I'm orange.

I see what you mean now. I really hadn't noticed the Normal - High brightness settings before. FWIW, I believe whether one changes the LCD brightness from Normal to High or vice versa from the BIOS, Access IBM, or ThinkPad Configuration; the result is the same. I think in all three cases above the BIOS setting gets changed (I don't feel like rebooting just now to verify, but I have seen changes made in ThinkPad Configuration change the settings in the BIOS before).

I believe the changes made in Power Schemes or Battery Maximizer do not change the BIOS settings. I would consider this analogous to the volume control settings, where several volume controls affect the ultimate volume and actually work on top of each other.

davidspalding · #20 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:32 pm

Now you're seeing the light, erm, LCD.

Screen dims when I unplug ... how do I prevent that? T40P

Screen dims when I unplug ... how do I prevent that? T40P

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