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Screen Automatically Dimming During Movies

I watch a lot of movies on my computer. My screen has been dimming (even though it's on the highest bright setting) after 5-10 minutes of no movement on the trackpad/keyboard. I tried to change some settings, but I'm not sure if I adjusted the right ones.

I've been having this problem with both movies playing from the internet and actual DVDs.

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on May 19, 2007 9:24 PM

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Posted on May 22, 2007 9:59 PM

The ones you need to change are in the battery settings. Depending on if you are running on the battery or power adapter open up "Energy Saver" which can be found under your batter icon. Once there, if you are running on the power adapter change the settings so that the monitor never dims or goes to sleep.
There should be no reason to reset the PRAM by the way. You can also set the battery settings to the same as the adapter but be aware that you will greatly shorten the time between charges. FYI.
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Question marked as Best reply

May 22, 2007 9:59 PM in response to Christine H

The ones you need to change are in the battery settings. Depending on if you are running on the battery or power adapter open up "Energy Saver" which can be found under your batter icon. Once there, if you are running on the power adapter change the settings so that the monitor never dims or goes to sleep.
There should be no reason to reset the PRAM by the way. You can also set the battery settings to the same as the adapter but be aware that you will greatly shorten the time between charges. FYI.

May 19, 2007 11:07 PM in response to Christine H

I watch a lot of movies on my computer. My screen has
been dimming (even though it's on the highest bright
setting) after 5-10 minutes of no movement on the
trackpad/keyboard. I tried to change some settings,
but I'm not sure if I adjusted the right ones.

I've been having this problem with both movies
playing from the internet and actual DVDs.

Thanks!


Weird, I don't think the Mac should dim the screen when playing a DVD.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Did you reset PRAM???

William

May 19, 2007 11:27 PM in response to Christine H

I watch a lot of movies on my computer. My screen has
been dimming (even though it's on the highest bright
setting) after 5-10 minutes of no movement on the
trackpad/keyboard. I tried to change some settings,
but I'm not sure if I adjusted the right ones.

I've been having this problem with both movies
playing from the internet and actual DVDs.

Thanks!


Watching Forest Gump, no dim on mine... Run Forrest! Even in Clam Shell Mode on my 50" Vizio.

William

Jun 20, 2007 5:20 PM in response to Christine H

I watch a lot of movies as well. What I do is go into power settings, and click on custom from the drop down menu. Then slide the 2 sliders all the way to the right. Then, whenever you are about to run a movie, just go to your status bar, click on the battery icon, and click custom on the drop down menu. The computer will never go to sleep or dim the screen whenever that is selected

Sep 12, 2007 8:04 PM in response to Christine H

I am having this same problem. I have adjusted my energy saver setting to never dim and my keyboard lighting settings to never turn off (when in low light conditions) and I have turned off automatic monitor brightness adjustment. yet, my keyboard lights still go off after a few seconds of not being used and my montor dims around the same time. as soon as i touch a button or the track pad both light back up. i don't understand why my settings aren't working.

I have a brand new macbook pro, os x 10.4.10, and have downloaded all updates.

Sep 17, 2007 10:07 AM in response to firefighter189

I have your answer! This has frustrated me since I got my MBP 2 months ago and even the idiots at the genius bar couldn't answer.

It's quite simple, these are the most basic steps required to make it work. I've also attached a link for a further write up and how to visually verify (aside from noticing your screen won't dim):

-Go to Applications and open Terminal (if you're not unix savvy no worry, this is very easy)
-type: pmset -g
-type: sudo pmset -a halfdim 0
-it will then ask for your password
-type: exit
-close the terminal window

You will not experience the stupid dimming issue=)

Enjoy!

Sep 29, 2007 7:05 AM in response to tomekinc

Strange. My terminal shows the halfdim setting to be at 0 [zero] already. I set it again as per your/gibbilicious instructions with no luck. The dimming keeps happening.

Which MacBookPro's is everyone writing in about. Mine is firstgen with Intel Core Duo, not Intel Core 2 Duo....

Might make a difference in the build/motherboard...

Screen Automatically Dimming During Movies

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