Toshiba brightness problem

[Frank K]

Sorry for that erroneous message!

I have a Toshiba Satellite C55-A, Serial # YD263314Q, that has a clean install of Windows 7 - 64 bit and I can not adjust my screen brightness. The Fn keys don't work even after doing a BIOS update to v 1.8 and installing the Value Added Package 1.4, which shows the Fn keys for brightness as F6 & F7.

Any help appreciated as the screen is very tiring to use at the default brightness setting

 

[DavidJT]

Does the monitor not have a row of keys at the bottom that you can press to change its setting ?

 

[Frank K]

The keyboard has function keys (Fn keys), but the ones for brightness don't work, nor does it have any other way to adjust brightness (in Power settings or Personalization or Display, for instance). I spent about 6 hours searching for a solution, including the Toshiba support website, and this seems to be a common problem with no solution so far.

Something is missing from Win 7 that needs a driver or other software from Toshiba to implement because prior to the clean install, with all the factory software, this worked.

I've also updated the BIOS and installed some Toshiba service accessories that I hoped would find the needed software, to no avail.

 

[DavidJT]

I asked you if the monitor has menu buttons at the bottom.
I very much doubt your problem has anything to do with drivers.
It is a problem with that can be solved directly with the monitor setup..

 

[Frank K]

Do laptops have monitor buttons? Mine don't and I thought that was a misperception on your part.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Did you install EVERY driver available from the Toshiba site? Those function keys require software support before they will work.

@DavidJT, Toshiba Satellite is a laptop, they don't have controls on the display 😉

 

[Frank K]

The list of downloads doesn't show anything that looks to be related to this problem, except the Power Setting Utility, which I installed, but it didn't add the ability to adjust screen brightness.

Toshiba Satellite model C55D-A5304, Serial # YD263314Q (note corrected and full model #).

 

[ex_bubblehead]

The list of downloads doesn't show anything that looks to be related to this problem, except the Power Setting Utility, which I installed, but it didn't add the ability to adjust screen brightness.

Toshiba Satellite model C55D-A5304, Serial # YD263314Q (note corrected and full model #).

Well, that wasn't the question. Did you install every single driver listed? If not, do so. They're there for a reason and it isn't always evident just which one is the one that will activate your function keys.

 

[Frank K]

None of the other options look like drivers. See http://support.toshiba.com/support/driversResults?freeText=1200007434&osId=31, maybe there's a driver download in there that I didn't recognize.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Ah, I see now. You should have included the entire model # to begin with, would have saved lot's of time. That specific model originally shipped with Windows 8.1 and Toshiba did not produce any Windows 7 drivers. You're out of luck if you want to continue to run Windows 7 on that particular laptop.

 

[Frank K]

BUT, it did work before the clean install!

I don't know who originally did the conversion, Fry's or my local dealer, but someone got me a full working version with Windows 7, including screen brightness adjustments, along with all the Toshiba extraneous ware that bulked up the HD.

By the way, I did the clean install because I was going to dispose of the laptop, but my wife decided that she wants to use it, now it looks like it's going away, anyway.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

BUT, it did work before the clean install!

I don't know who originally did the conversion, Fry's or my local dealer, but someone got me a full working version with Windows 7, including screen brightness adjustments, along with all the Toshiba extraneous ware that bulked up the HD.

By the way, I did the clean install because I was going to dispose of the laptop, but my wife decided that she wants to use it, now it looks like it's going away, anyway.

Then you'll need to go back to them as they seem to have tracked down drivers for Windows 7 that Toshiba did not produce. The only other alternative is to identify each piece of hardware individually and track down compatible drivers on your own.

 

[Frank K]

Thanks and sorry for causing the extra confusion with the model info.

Frank