Notebook Screen Contrast Drifts to "washed out"

Notebook Screen Contrast Drifts to "washed out"

Ok this might be a hardware issue, and at first it seems so, but I think it's a software control thing.

The issue is the screen on my HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea notebook as of a couple of months ago. The contrast would shift overnight, when the machine had had the lid closed and was in whatever state that represents (sleep, hibernate etc I don't know) and this would become very apparent when completing forms - the boxes you were supposed to type entries into would be invisible - washed out, white. eg the slider tool at right edge of each window. At worst I couldn't see the grid in Excel. The screen appears bright too, but it's the contrast that's a problem. Using most software isn't an issue most of the time, editors, pictures etc. This PC doesn't have have a contrast button that I can see (it does have brightness buttons). I have been through some lengthy procedure I found in what HP decribe as "help" - don't want to do that again as it was very difficult to find, operate and had little apparent effect. I usually close the n/b lid and unplug the psu (external mains psu, also charges battery) overnight, but run during the day from external power. The problem has occurred when I left the n/b mains power on overnight.

Can anyone explain why this happens sometimes ? What should I do to fix it in short term, and preferably fix this pesky problem for good ?

Dumb_Question
17.April.2013
HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RAM

 

Is your Graphics driver up to date?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=4217063#N565

 

-> cipher

Thank you for your help suggestion and link. It's quite likely that my graphics driver is not up to date, unless one time that updates were loaded and my notebook was annoyingly restarted included that particular update. I will check, install if necessary, and report back. (this driver is a couple of years old, and I have only had this notebook for a few months, but it's a possibility)

Dumb_Question
17.April.2013
as from HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RA

 

the link posted by cipher recommends 2010-12-03 , Version:8.15.10.2189.
I have version 8.15.10.2202, dated 25/08/2010

Before I goahead and install the version recommended in cipher's link I' like two questions answered.

Does version X.2202 represent a higher issue than version x.2189 as 2202 > 2189 ?

I am confused about the dates of issue, because of the use of American style dating. the version I have is dated 25 August 2010. Is the date 2010-12-03, 12 March 2010, or 3 December 2010 ?

Dumb_Question
18.April.2013
HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RAM

 

I'm not sure what dating convention they are using, however software updates/revisions/upgrades etc. move from smaller to larger numbers.

Example: version 1.0.0 is not as new as version 1.0.1 of something.
The third digit generally refers to very minor changes, the second to more substantive changes, and any change in the first number is a major revision.

In this case your version is newer, BUT I find it odd that HP doesn't have it on their site. I do see the driver you have being posted for the HP 630 Notebook Intel and a HP 430 Notebook...

Can you look in the Windows Device Manager under System Devices and check the chipset you have?

 

-> cipher

Thank you for addressing my questions. The date formats I quoted in my message are exactly those produced by dxdiag (which also shows chipset information), and the link to HP.

The chipset info I obtain is Intel (R) HD Graphics (Core i5) [dxdiag]

I attach a screenshot of device manager>system devices in case you can see anything there that's more useful. I can't, except under System Devices > Display Adapters where it gives "Intel (R) HD Graphics"

A re-boot seems to have improved things (my computer required some updates to HP adviser and AVG)

Dumb_Question
19.April.2013
HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RAM

 

Is the laptop getting good air circulation from below? The vents unblocked?
I mention this because you say it takes overnight for the condition to present.

I would install the recommended driver, 2010-12-03 , Version:8.15.10.2189, 78.05M, from HP's site, make sure the laptop is getting good airflow and see what happens...

 

I have been monitoring the processor temperatures in my notebook using CoreTemp, as recommended by MG. This program seems only to give information on the temperature of the processor cores. The hottest I have seen it is 75% of max permissible. (I do not want to use speedfan, which seems to give information on more different parts of the computer, because I don't know what it actually does to the fan speed)

Overnight, the lid is closed and on battery power only.

However, I fear that my notebook may not be as well ventilated as might be possible. When in use, it sits on my lap (possibly the word laptop is overused if this is a problem !) probably obstructing the ventilation holes in the bottom (if that's what they are). These ventilation slots are what the notebook usually rests on overnight, it has the original rubber feet sitting on a carpet. The other ventilation holes in tne sides of the case are unobstructed, but possibly not clear internally.

Thanks for your advice about airflow & which driver to use, Cipher.

Dumb_Question
20.April.2013
HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RAM

 

Any improvement with the other driver?

 

-> cipher
Thanks for your suggestions.
No I have tried the driver that you suggested.
I did act on on suggestion by some helpful person (I can't remember who or where) that I change the settings in the Intel(R) HD Graphics control in the system tray (properties>colour enhancement) to contrast=50, gamma=0.7 [I think they were 100, 1.0 previously) and this rendered things tolerable, and I've got used to these settings now

Dumb_Question
3.June.2013
HP Pavilion dm4 1050ea - windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - 8GB RAM