[NancyS]

I haven't even figured out if this is a hardware or software problem, but my favorite photos look ugly and my eyes are worn out from reading the text.

symptom: display is consistently far too bright even when its hardware control is at the darkest setting, and it's fuzzy to varying degrees (it changes randomly) at all settings of font smoothing. Probably coincidentally, my months old DVD-RW needs to be cleaned every few burns. Other than that everything is working flawlessly.

things we've done:

1. started up from 10.3 on a separate drive, OS9, the Tiger installation CD, and in safe mode - no change
2. changed the battery & reset cuda; reset the NVRAM - no change
3. removed unnecessary peripherals and 3rd party system preferences - no change
4. tried 2 other monitors (with built-in cables) - no change
5. tried another graphics card - no change (to the brightness/contrast)
6. re-calibrated the profile in the "Displays" preference pane
7. the program "Gamma Control" will increase the contrast and black level to 150%, which makes things better but still too bright
8. ran rember (gui rapper of Memtest version 4.13), with 3 loops -All tests passed

What should we do next? I don't want to take to be repaired if it's a software issue or a user installable part.

Thanks
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System Profile

Mac OS X version 10.4.9

Hardware Overview:
Machine Name: Power Mac G4
Machine Model: PowerMac3,5
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 933 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
L3 Cache (per CPU): 2 MB
Memory: 1.25 GB
Bus Speed: 133 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.3.3f2

[shining-nickel17]

The F14 (-) and F15 (+) keys on your keyboard adjust display brightness..

[NancyS]

The F14 (-) and F15 (+) keys on your keyboard adjust display brightness.

I can't seem to get that to work. Universal Access is enabled, but not sticky keys or slow keys. Adjusting the brightness that way would be much more accurate, and easier too.

The thing is that the problem with the brightness exists even when starting up from the installation CD.

[rehoot]

You mentioned Universal Access. Did you check the setting for "Enhanced Contrast" which is used for the visually impaired? If that is set to anything other than "normal" you would get the effect that you described.

NOTE: the "normal" setting is when the slider is all the way to the left, not in the middle (at least on my PowerBook).

[NancyS]

Did you check the setting for "Enhanced Contrast"

Checked again - it was on normal.

I'm pretty convinced that it's hardware. :-(