Surface Pro brightness bug

Anonymous
2013-02-19T02:05:17+00:00

The surface pro randomly brightens and dims even when auto brightness and dimming is completely shut off.  I contactedMicrosoft chat support and they said they are aware of the issue but its taking longer than expected.  I just wanted to post here to create more visibility and awareness of this annoying bug.  I hope it gets fixed soon.   Its most noticeable when an app launches or while beginning to watch a video.  From what I've heard it happens with RT too.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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Anonymous
2013-03-15T17:19:47+00:00

Great news folks! I was able to fix this issue!!!!! :-D

So the issue appears to be the Intel HD 4000 implementing 2 forms of battery saving contrast adapting. But we have no ability to change these settings by default.

So first of all make sure your dynamic brightness is turned off in your PC Settings and/or battery plan. Then...

Go Intel's site and download and then install the latest driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000.

I believe this is the correct link -

EDIT: Oops my link was for the 32 bit driver. This is the one you need -

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail\_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22375&lang=eng&wapkw=intel%C2%AE+hd+graphics+driver+for+windows+7\*+and+windows+8\*+%28exe%29

This should give you access to the Intel Graphics and Media Control panel when you right click and select Graphics Properties from the desktop.

Select ADVANCED MODE

GOTO > MEDIA > IMAGE ENHANCEMENT and disable "Adaptive Contrast Enhancement"

Then GOTO > POWER > Change POWER SOURCE to "On Battery" and make sure "Display Power Saving Technology" is disabled (that is unchecked).

Click APPLY and viola no more dynamic contrast annoyances!

YAY!

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Anonymous
2013-03-09T20:02:42+00:00

Greetings Gary,

Thank you for letting us know. Can you by chance get a video of it happening as this is something we are looking into.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-20T15:45:21+00:00

    When you open powercfg.cpl and go to the Change Plan Settings area, what are the brightness settings there?

    I notice that when I alter the brightness via the Charms menu while either plugged or not, those toggles move based on that and stay at that setting despite not opening that control panel applet and altering the settings there.

    So if I alter the brightness via Charms while plugged in (or not), that setting stores in the plan settings in powercfg.cpl. Does this also happen for you?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-20T17:16:58+00:00

    i've tried only adjusting via that control panel without touching the charms and it appears to have the same results.  I've tried making the brightness % all the same as with plugged in or battery.

    a guy in another thread with an RT uploaded the following video.  this is kinda the extreme version of it with brightness at the lowest setting.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLv2d1rrSTk

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfwinrt-surfgetstart/surface-rt-dynamic-contrast/6aacc12d-63fe-46e9-98db-3be74fdfbd11?page=6&tm=1361380602355

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-20T18:23:25+00:00

    Did you mess with that Sensors Diagnostic Tool mentioned previously? It has an option in there to set the max/minimum sensitivity level for the Ambient Light Sensor. I did not alter it as mine is working. The max is currently 25 with a minimum of 1.

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