COMPAQ CQ61 LAPTOP PROBLEM, SCREEN BRIGHTNESS

[terrywade]

Please can anyone help me?

I've just purchased a Compaq CQ61 Laptop and after I charge the battery from the mains, I notice the screen goes very dull. The FN key will not increase the brightness, the only way I can get the screen bright again is by putting
it on sleep and back again.

All the settings are set to Full brightness, can anyone suggest a fix please?

Thanks

Terry

 

[dickcruz]

there might be some funky compaq software installed on there that you might need to get rid of.

 

[terrywade]

Any idea what and how I get rid of it, this problem is driving me nuts!

I really don't want to send the laptop back to Compaq as they are quoting a 3 week turn-round
which appears far too long!

Thanks

Terry

 

[dickcruz]

Well you want to take all their software off because it usually consumes too much and slows your computer down.

 

[terrywade]

Thanks will try that.

This freeze on the brightness on my laptop screen has happened several more times this morning.

Terry

 

[dickcruz]

yeah dude, sounds like something funky. you should use something like ubuntu live dvd and run it and see whether the hard buttons and the soft commands from the display settings are able to change your brightness settings, because then you'd know that it's something funny with windows. If the sleep command resets the signal then it probably is a windows related issue. You can save yourself time if you figure out what the problem is. Worst case scenario, you'd have to reinstall windows.

 

[terrywade]

Thanks, I've now removed the HP Assisant program, I'll see how things go.

Could it possibly be a hardware fault inside the laptop?

I'm reluctant to send my laptop back to HP, 'sods law' is that I will be without the laptop for
ages, then get it back having the same problem, or are HP repair centres OK I wonder?

Terry

 

[dickcruz]

wouldn't be able to say. it doesnt look like its a hardware problem. Are you able to change brightness before windows boots up ?

 

[terrywade]

I'm not sure how to do that? The laptop hasn't gone dull since I removed HP Assistance, fingers crossed.

I've actually done numerous searches on the internet asking if anyone else has had similar problems,
but no luck with that.

HP customer services weren't helpful, they told me to go back to the supplier of the laptop, Currys Electrical Online,
they didn't have a clue, and told me to send the laptop back to them?

I would just like to talk to a HP specialist, but this appears impossible, as I can't get by HP CS....they tell me to go back to the supplier!

A shame you get these sort of problems with a less then 3 week old product!

Terry

 

[dickcruz]

 

[terrywade]

No joy...............just had laptop on charge with the lid closed, open laptop lid and screen dull again, FN keys
not increasing brightness....only way to get laptop screen bright again is by putting on/off sleep!!

Any further ideas anyone please?

Thanks

Terry

 

[John Phoenix]

I have the same laptop and love it.

I don't think getting rid of all your HP software is the answer. In fact I have read that reinstalling the HP QuickLauch Buttons software may fix the problem. If this software is responsible for the Fn feature working properly, you would be shooting yourself in the foot to uninstall all HP software.

The best way to do this I suggest is to try a factory restore from the Recovery Manager software found in the Start menu. Use the option that lets you restore the operating system from the recovery partition Not from a CD.

This will delete any software you have installed since you got your laptop, so backup your files if needed first.

After reinstalling the Operating System, use the HP Updates and the windows updates to update your PC.

Reboot and see if the problem is solved. If it is not, contact HP tech support for help or if you still have the receipt you might be able to take it back to the store and exchange it for another one.

Yes, HP does have some programs on the laptop that you may not need or never use, but some are very useful, especially if your new to computers and HP laptops. Never remove groups of software just because someone tells you to.

If you want to find out what is safe to remove or what programs you need/will use or don't need/will not use, research the program on the web and understand what it will do for you and why first.

 

[John Phoenix]

I'm not sure how to do that? The laptop hasn't gone dull since I removed HP Assistance, fingers crossed.

I've actually done numerous searches on the internet asking if anyone else has had similar problems,
but no luck with that.

HP customer services weren't helpful, they told me to go back to the supplier of the laptop, Currys Electrical Online,
they didn't have a clue, and told me to send the laptop back to them?

I would just like to talk to a HP specialist, but this appears impossible, as I can't get by HP CS....they tell me to go back to the supplier!

A shame you get these sort of problems with a less then 3 week old product!

Terry

I didn't notice this post before.

Call HP back. You have a year warranty on the laptop. Some tech support people are better than others. It is not the companies fault that sold you the laptop.. they are just a middle man, they have nothing to do with the function of the laptop..

I cannot believe someone at HP told you to do this. Sounds like they were being lazy and didn't want to do their job. Call HP Back and if that tech support person cannot help, ask for his supervisor and get a reference number for the call.. in case you need to call back another time.. they use this number to look up your support information to see what solutions have been tried before.

If the supervisor cannot help, ask for His supervisor and so on. Someone will be able to help you get the problem fixed or they will send you a new laptop. I know you don't want to be without the machine for a while but if they make it good.. it might be worth it in the long run.. that's about your best option if reinstalling the operating system will not work as I suggested above.

It may be helpful if you call during the day and talk to an American. At night, they default their tech support to their Indian tech support people. I have had no so good luck with these people.

 

[Informaticus]

Hi guys,

I have the same laptop and the same issues. It's not just about the screen darkness... Also if you want to plug an external monitor or a video projector.. it won't work unless you put it back to sleep and up again... It is a bit frustrating.. I've also discovered another issue - the battery doesn't charge properly. It might be because of the heat or something.. but it used to charge whenever I plugged it in. Now it only does it if it want's to :lol: It does get charged eventually... but I have to wait ages or turn it off or something.