Display of Inspiron 1420 deems when I remove external power

It is normal for the screen to dim when running on battery. I am not sure if the key stroke is the same as my 1720 but what I do is press and hold the FN key and then my up arrow brightens the screen and the down arror dims it. On other models the keys are tied to some of the F keys. Look for 2 keys that have a picture of the "sun" on them, use them with the FN key and you can change the brightness when you are on battery.

Here is a LINK to the info within the User manual.

Hey, Thanks for your reply.

But I have tried adjusting brightness with this key Fn+up on battery mode. Brightness increases, but it never matches with the brightness while on the AC power mode. I have seen one more Inspiron 1420, but that works fine. Problem is with my machine or settings. What to do?

I just bought an Inspiron 1410 yesterday, and I have exactly the same problem as you guys have. Have tried many advance setting but still can't resolve the problem, I have to contact their technical support for on site service. Dell quality control has to improve.

Thank you so much for your help with this. I just got my Inspiron 1420 and had the same problem.  I followed your instructions and made the above changes in the BIOS and all is working now! Thanks!

I have had my laptop for months and this problem has annoyed me for that long. Thank you so much for your reply; It helped me to finally solve the problem. I can see my laptop screen! I can see. LOL.:emotion-21:

You are my hero.  It worked like a charm!  Very easy and exactly what I needed to fix the problem.

You are the best!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to post. You are not going to believe this story!!

I also purchsed a new inspiron 1420 for work 12-22-08.

Very soon I discovered the problem with the display when on battery power and could not adjust it with any of the available programs. I contacted Dell support and spent no less than a week fighting with them over the problem, when they determined that my hard drive was corrupt. They (technical support) could not adjust the brightness of the screen on battery power either. After another long battle they sent me a new computer.

Out of the box it also had the same dim screen on battery power! I was so discouraged, as I have to use this lap top on battery power for my work and there was absolutly no way to see the screen in battery mode.

As of today I have not only corrected the display problem on the "new" laptop, but also on the "corrupted" computer that is due to be returned.

Again thank you so much for your help!

I was suffering for about six months having the same problem, only that my laptop dimmed when it was plugged in and it brightened when it was running on battery mode.  I never thought of finding a solution until now and lucky me your recommendation worked perfectly!  Thank you so much!  I'm so happy! :emotion-2:

I had to join this forum just to say I cant believe how easy of a fix this was. I have been battling this problem(flashing screen then dim screen)  since my computer was brand new. I have dealt with the flashing screen vs. a dim screen because I need to actually see the screen.  What the heck is wrong with dell that they couldn't figure this out. I guess they only assemble these things, not actually work on them to fix problems. Anyhow thanks again.

Same issue with my 1420 for over a year - no setting changes fixed 1/2 power issue while on battery even with Brightness set @ 100%.

Fix was to go into BIOS by booting with F2 key down and getting Blue Screen. Scroll down to Video (return) then Brightness (without AC) (return) then key up using cursor from the preset level of 3 to a 10 (return) then esc, Dont for get to hit save and exit button.

That should get you so you can finally use your laptop on battery and SEE IT TOO!

Add me to the growing list of users who were frustrated with this issue for far too long. Finally, after a year of searching and troubleshooting, this BIOS suggestion finally came up in a Google search and whattdya know? Problem solved. Thank you!!! I'm no longer stuck wondering to myself what the point of having a laptop is if I can't unplug it from the AC adapter. And I'll never have to read someone suggest the Fn + up arrow combo and want to smack them silly for stating the obvious.

Dear Dell: Why is this NOT listed in the Help menu under Power Settings??? Had I not stumbled across this solution, I would have NEVER purchased another Dell again, which would have been a shame because I love everything else about this laptop. Shame on you!

Dec-26-2010

Thank you for this info.  I have been fighting this for the better part of a year.  Finally came upon this forum and you were spot on the problem.  Dell, of course, had no clue.  Thanks again.  Leo    Newport, OR.

Merry Christmas,,,, so glad my solution made your day.

Hey Dell are you out there? This solution was posted almost 18 months ago and you still haven't published your fix yet!!!

Tom - Milford, NJ