Win 7 Brightness doesn't work after graphics update

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Level 1

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Win 7 Brightness doesn't work after graphics update

Hey,

I have a late-2010 MacBook Pro running Bootcamp 4.0 with Windows 7 64-bit. My graphics card is the nVidia GeForce 320m. I looked online recently and found that there was an update available for my graphics card (previously I had the one that comes with bootcamp, which is from 2009 I believe--quite outdated you see). So I installed it, hoping for better DX11 support, etc... It installed fine, but now my display is stuck on 100% brightness, when before I could adjust it with the F1 and F2 keys. When I try using the keys it shows the Apple popup with the slider moving, but the brightness doesn't change. I went into Control Panel > Power Settings and tried adjusting it from there, with no luck. The nVidia Control Panel doesn't have any satisfactory controls to do this either. It must be, of course, that the driver update changed things, but I'm not sure how to rectify the situation. I uninstalled the Apple Driver-Display from Control Panel and then re-installed from the Bootcamp files, but it didn't help. I've heard some talk about Apple Cinema Display, but I'm not sure if that's the same thing as the Display and whether I should be looking for a driver for it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

MacBook Pro, Windows 7

Posted on Jun 9, 2012 4:55 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 20, 2012 4:22 PM in response to Phaethom

I am in the same situation...

The only solution I found is to return to the previous driver (the one that comes with bootcamp 4.0).

It is very annoying because those drivers are from 2009-2010 wich is very old and they are affecting a lot the performance of the macbook pro in games.

I know we are not "suppose" to install "non-apple" drivers, but is there a way to install the latest nVidia driver without having this little problem that is VERY annoying.

I had to return to the previous drivers because I was starting to get blind....

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Answer 2

Sep 1, 2012 10:34 AM in response to Phaethom

hey just wondering if either of you guys have found a work around for this? i'm having the same issue here. i've had to roll back to previous drivers which isn't good

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Sep 1, 2012 10:54 AM in response to svsweeney

The only optionall of you have is to check Apple to see if they have included a newer driver for your Vid card in the newest BC support download. If not then you are stuck with the old driver.

Or you could just go out and buy a Real Windows computer to run Windows on.

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Answer 4

Phaethom Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 2, 2012 6:15 PM in response to Phaethom

I've come to the same conclusion. I tried installing different versions of the driver, but they all introduced some problem or other. It seems the only way to have everything work correctly is to use the old driver they provided. Too bad, really. Especially because I tried installing the Windows 8 preview, and unless the release version has more compatibility (unlikely), it won't work on my MacBook Pro.

For my next computer I'll follow Shootist007's advice and just buy a PC. I haven't been impressed by my mac, and OS X needs a little more work IMO.

Sorry I couldn't provide more help to anyone with the same issue! It seems Apple released this computer with an outdated driver and then abandoned support for it.

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Answer 5

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Sep 2, 2012 6:24 PM in response to Phaethom

Well in all honesty Apple doesn't support MS at all. The only reason they included any drivers fopr Windows is so people that need Windows, like most of the world, can buy a Mac and run Windows on it to some degree.

If they didn't allow Windows to be installed they would lose a lot of sales.

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