My MacBook screen is dimly lit on start up and I have to hold down the Function key and tap the F2 key to bring the screen up to appropriate brightness levels. I can't find an application in System Preferences that will allow me to permanently reset the brightness level. What's causing this problem and how do I fix it?

Please try to give as much detail as possible. Model/year is useful, so I'm going to have to take a blind leap.

On the function keys along the top row of the keyboard, you should see two keys that looks like a sun. On my keyboard of a 2013 MacBook Air, it is F1 and F2. While holding down the "fn" key (bottom left had corner) press F1 and F2 to adjust as you wish.

The other way is: Settings --> Display then click on the Display tab, from there you can adjust the brightness.

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Press fn (function key) and F2 key.

Locate the Fn (Function) key on your keyboard. It may be on the bottom left side with dark blue letters. Locate the two "brightness" keys near the top of the keyboard. These will be in the "F" keys, possibly if F6 and F7. They should have little sun pictures or something similar to indicate brightness. Hold down the Fn key while pressing F7, or whichever "F" key your laptop uses to increase brightness. Tap F7 repeatedly until you reach the desired brightness. Fn must be held down as you continue to tap. Hope this helps.

Examine the keyboard. There should be a symbol on most of the function keys (F1, F2, etc.). Look for one that looks like a sun or lightbulb, either with an arrow pointing up or with the sun/lighbulb filled in. Hold the 'Fn' key, and tap the up/bright sun/lightbulb key a few times. The screen should increase in brightness.

If you cannot find the specified keys, you may be able to adjust brightness from inside Windows. Right click on the battery icon in the taskbar and open 'power options'. Look for a sun and moon with a sliding bar between them. You might also be able to adjust brightness by customizing your desktop (right click on the desktop and look for the proper menu).

Hold the f2 key down and keep it down... It will bring you to the bios which will allow you to boot in safe-mode or by using rescue cd or partition in your hard drive. Your hard drive may have problems or has crashed.

1) Adjust the screen intensity with the appropriate function key.
2) Bring up System Preferences / Universal Access. Make sure the "Enhance contrast" slider is all the way to the left, and that the "Use grayscale" checkbox is unchecked.

maybe you need make a configuration in settings f2 or f12 to avaliable the vga port out

don't 'hold' the function and f2 key together. only hold the fn key down and tap the f2 key. I am assuming this is the key combo which toggles your video out options. make sure this is the right key combo. I thought 'fn' and f4 were the two for video. Every manufacturer uses a little different schematic, but just look closer at the symbol on the f2 key. you may just be toggling the wireless on and off.

Does the logo or flash screen come up when you first start the computer? Can you access your BIOS? There is sometimes an option in there as well which tells the laptop where to route the video signal. If its set to CRT, theres your culprit, toggle it to either LCD or CRT + LCD

Hope this FIXed-YA, Please leave us some feedback so we can know whether your problem was solved to your satisfaction.

Press and hold the f2 key try it also with the fn key depressed while tapping f2.

The keyboard has function keys just like the Dell. Hold down the FN key and tap the key that has a little sun + or - on it.