Gateway notebook 400VTX knowledge assistance

Recieved a replacement power supply today, for a gateway 400VTX notebook,
and I can start the system, hear startup sound, but screen contrast is
almost ziltch. I can almost make out the Gateway logo on the screen when
starting the system...

I found the green keys. Pressing the fn key and repeatdly pressing
brighness (up arrow) has no effect upon the display is there contrast
control?

Do I hold down the FN key or is it a toggle?
Do I hold down the brigness or press it several times?
Is there a contrast control?

Have not plugged in a external monitor, but wondering if I need to change
a setting in Bios for an external monitor?

JR the postman

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:57:29 +0000, Postman Delivers wrote:

> Recieved a replacement power supply today, for a gateway 400VTX notebook,
> and I can start the system, hear startup sound, but screen contrast is
> almost ziltch. I can almost make out the Gateway logo on the screen when
> starting the system...
>
> I found the green keys. Pressing the fn key and repeatdly pressing
> brighness (up arrow) has no effect upon the display is there contrast
> control?
>
> Do I hold down the FN key or is it a toggle?
> Do I hold down the brigness or press it several times?
> Is there a contrast control?
>
> Have not plugged in a external monitor, but wondering if I need to change
> a setting in Bios for an external monitor?
>
> JR the postman

Attached a LCD Monitor and it has a good image, but I am not able to
adjust the notebook's screen...

JR

Hi!

> > Do I hold down the FN key or is it a toggle?

Hold the FN key while making the adjustment.

> > Do I hold down the brigness or press it several times?

Press it several times. Some notebook computers will "understand"
holding down the key as a request for the same setting to be adjusted
repeatedly, but many don't.

> > Is there a contrast control?

Active Matrix displays on laptops usually don't have a contrast
adjustment. The old dual-scan or HPA panels usually did. (Oddly
enough, many desktop panels with Active Matrix screens *do* have a
contrast setting.)

> Attached a LCD Monitor and it has a good image, but I am
> not able to adjust the notebook's screen...

I would check to make sure you got the right power supply if you still
cannot adjust the display. If it is not the right supply, it might
still "work" but the system won't run properly and could be damaged in
the long term.

Since many laptops use a design where a single voltage comes into the
system and is converted to the various voltages needed (using what is
known as a DC-DC converter), functions that don't work after a power
supply failure could be a result of a failure in the DC-DC converter
board as well.

William

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:33:44 -0800, wm_walsh wrote:

> Hi!
>
>> > Do I hold down the FN key or is it a toggle?
>
> Hold the FN key while making the adjustment.
>
>> > Do I hold down the brigness or press it several times?
>
> Press it several times. Some notebook computers will "understand"
> holding down the key as a request for the same setting to be adjusted
> repeatedly, but many don't.
>
>> > Is there a contrast control?
>
> Active Matrix displays on laptops usually don't have a contrast
> adjustment. The old dual-scan or HPA panels usually did. (Oddly enough,
> many desktop panels with Active Matrix screens *do* have a contrast
> setting.)
>
>> Attached a LCD Monitor and it has a good image, but I am not able to
>> adjust the notebook's screen...
>
> I would check to make sure you got the right power supply if you still
> cannot adjust the display. If it is not the right supply, it might still
> "work" but the system won't run properly and could be damaged in the
> long term.
>
> Since many laptops use a design where a single voltage comes into the
> system and is converted to the various voltages needed (using what is
> known as a DC-DC converter), functions that don't work after a power
> supply failure could be a result of a failure in the DC-DC converter
> board as well.
>
> William

* * *
Replcement is same as required, printerd on bottom of unit...

I snapped a hinge pin moving the scren around, and have an idea the
inverter might be bad, after taking it apart... The screen moved odly,
and was quite wobbly, not firm in its adjustment...

I have now ordered, a used inverter, and two new hinge pins... Maybe
that will make it run better...

JR

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:34:18 +0000, Postman Delivers wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:33:44 -0800, wm_walsh wrote:
>
>> Hi!
>>
>>> > Do I hold down the FN key or is it a toggle?
>>
>> Hold the FN key while making the adjustment.
>>
>>> > Do I hold down the brigness or press it several times?
>>
>> Press it several times. Some notebook computers will "understand"
>> holding down the key as a request for the same setting to be adjusted
>> repeatedly, but many don't.
>>
>>> > Is there a contrast control?
>>
>> Active Matrix displays on laptops usually don't have a contrast
>> adjustment. The old dual-scan or HPA panels usually did. (Oddly enough,
>> many desktop panels with Active Matrix screens *do* have a contrast
>> setting.)
>>
>>> Attached a LCD Monitor and it has a good image, but I am not able to
>>> adjust the notebook's screen...
>>
>> I would check to make sure you got the right power supply if you still
>> cannot adjust the display. If it is not the right supply, it might
>> still "work" but the system won't run properly and could be damaged in
>> the long term.
>>
>> Since many laptops use a design where a single voltage comes into the
>> system and is converted to the various voltages needed (using what is
>> known as a DC-DC converter), functions that don't work after a power
>> supply failure could be a result of a failure in the DC-DC converter
>> board as well.
>>
>> William
>
> * * *
> Replcement is same as required, printerd on bottom of unit...
>
> I snapped a hinge pin moving the scren around, and have an idea the
> inverter might be bad, after taking it apart... The screen moved odly,
> and was quite wobbly, not firm in its adjustment...
>
> I have now ordered, a used inverter, and two new hinge pins... Maybe
> that will make it run better...
>
> JR

___

Update system is running well, screen is good, replacing the inverter...
Hing pins were also purchased on e-bay and now I have a better coffee
crusier to toy about with...

I am going to install SimplyMepis 7 to see how Linux will run as a dual
boot in this notebook...

JR the postman