Problem with Toshiba Satellite Pro 5205-703 laptop display

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So you can't access your BIOS either?

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Not from the POST screen :( and not from anything other than the app that they provide that runs under winblows only :(

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It's called "Power Management" tool on mine, but whatever.

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Yeah, why doesn't this surprise me in the least?

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So yours doesn't go to half-brightness any more when booting something other than windows?

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Nope, it works like a dream now in GNU/Linux or Windows, I remember this driving me crazy when I first started using it. Unfortunately, I'm at home now and won't be able to muck around with my laptop until I'm back at work tomorrow.

I'll get back to you on this tomorrow. I'll put it back into the old mode and follow the breadcrumbs in the opposite direction and document the process.

FYI I've got the Style Bay filled with the extra battery as well.

--stack

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Ah, guess I'll have to find a service center near me, north of Boston?

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Haha, and you know what they will say to you when you tell them what you're trying to accomplish? "I'm sorry, sir, but Toshiba Corp doesn't support Linux. As far as we're concerned, your issues with our laptop do not constitute a problem. Have a nice day and thank you for choosing Toshiba."

--stack

Hmm, it is indeed the 'Monitor Brightness' slider that does it for me, under the 'Power Save Mode' tab. When I do this, the brightness stays low after it switches, and does not brighten back up when I get a Windows desktop from a cold boot.

--stack

Here is a link to a toshiba webpage that supports linux unofficilay ofcourse
http://newsletter.toshiba-tro.de/main/
The only problem for u is to find the european modem that coressponts to your model ( eg. 5200-701 ) see the hardware specs for details the only thing changing is the model number . Anyway you will find someting I am sure.

ps. the inverter in my case would change brithness every 1-5 minutes even after I got to the desktop

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Originally Posted by stacksmasher

Hmm, it is indeed the 'Monitor Brightness' slider that does it for me, under the 'Power Save Mode' tab. When I do this, the brightness stays low after it switches, and does not brighten back up when I get a Windows desktop from a cold boot.

--stack

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So it sounds like it's writing to the BIOS then, because this behaviour remains the same when you boot to Kroppix where there are none of those tools. And when in windows, you move the slider for the monitor brightness up to the max, which on mine says is "8", then click "OK, or "Apply" then "OK", then the monitor remains at full brightness throughout the boot process, whether it's windows or Kroppix?

If so, that's what I would have expected to happen when it's working "normally". Unfortunately mine starts at full brightness, then goes to "half" brightness after so many seconds during boot, then goes back to full brightness after getting to the desktop. With booting Kroppix, it never goes back to full brightness. I've even tried changing all the "battery" options to full power at all times with the same results.

And also unfortunately, as someone else pointed out, it's going to be very difficult to convince a repair center that it is a problem. :x


Thanks,
Marcel