Monitor too dark....

What?............Oh, okay.............I was going to watch this Disney movie though..........

JUST KIDDING!


http://www.asus.com/ph/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_VivoBook_X202E/

1) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, attach a VGA monitor to the VGA port, on the laptop.
(Right side, all the way to the back)

Or you can use the HDMI port, and use an HDTV.
The HDMI port is on the Left side.

Turn the monitor/TV on.
Turn the laptop on.
Does a display show on the external monitor/TV?
No?

Hold the Fn key down, and tap once on the F8 key.
The F8 key is the Display Toggle-Over key.
Go to what you are using as an external monitor. VGA monitor, or HDTV. Hold the Fn key down, and tap the F8 key until you get what you want.

Have a display on the external Monitor/TV?
Problem is NOT the graphics chipset.
Problem is the Video Cable, or LCD/Touch screen.

Post back in a Comment, as to the results of the external monitor test.

Regards,
joecoolvette
F8 key is display toggle over

There are at least 3 display options;

1) Internal monitor of laptop ONLY
2) Internal monitor AND external monitor source
3) External monitor source ONLY

Hold the Fn key down, and tap once on the F5 key.
Hot key through until you find the setting you want.
Release the Fn key

Regards,
joecoolvette

To me this is a hardware problem.

Let's diagnose, and see Shunka_Reid.
Connect a VGA monitor to the laptop.

A) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the VGA port, on the laptop.

http://support.gateway.com/s/notebook/2009/gateway/nv/NV78/NV78lv.shtml

Number 3 - External VGA display port

General example of VGA connector (port), and VGA cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_Connector

Scroll down a little for the VGA cable example.

You can use a CRT type of monitor, (Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor if it has a VGA cable.
General example of a CRT type of monitor,

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-crt-monitor.htm

B) Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the laptop on.
By factory default settings, the display should show on the external VGA monitor.

IF not;
There are at least 3 display options available;
1) Internal monitor of laptop ONLY
2) Internal monitor of laptop AND external VGA monitor.
3) External VGA monitor ONLY.

Press, and hold the Fn key down, and at the SAME time tap once on the F4 key.
The F4 key is the Display Toggle-Over key.

Still no?
Hold the Fn key down again, and tap on the F4 key once more.

Do you get a good display on the external VGA monitor?
Post back in a Comment.

Also, has the laptop ever been cleaned on the Inside, to your knowledge?

Regards,
joecoolvette

Timothy, post the laptop manufacturer, and the laptop's model number. It's on the bottom of the laptop, Usually in a sticker, or white Service Tag.
This way I can guide you in more detail. Post back in a Comment.

A) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the VGA connector, on the laptop.

This is an example of a VGA Cable, and VGA connector,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

Could be on one of the sides of the laptop, or the back of the laptop.
You can use a CRT monitor, (Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor, that has a VGA cable attached.

B) Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the laptop on.
By default the display should show on the external VGA monitor.
IF not;

There are at least three display options available:
1) Internal monitor of laptop ONLY
2) Internal monitor of laptop AND external VGA monitor
3) External VGA monitor ONLY

Press, and hold down on the Fn key, and at the same time tap once on the Display Toggle-Over key.
Which one is it? Dunno. You didn't state what laptop manufacturer, and model number.

It is one of the F1 through F12 keys. Most of the time the F4, or F5, or F7 key. Has a monitor symbol on it, and sometimes a side arrow.

No display on external monitor still?
Hold the Fn key down again, and at the same time tap once more on the Display Toggle-Over key.

If the display still does not show on the external VGA monitor, you have a bad graphics chipset on the motherboard. Usually means motherboard replacement.
(There are problems with HP Pavilion dv2000 series, Pavilion dv6000 series, and Pavilion dv9000 series, in this area. There are other model series of laptops also, not just HP. There is a solution besides motherboard replacement)

C) IF, the display shows on the external VGA monitor, you have a problem with the Video Cable, or inside the Display Assembly.

I can help you find it, just need the laptop manufacturer name, and Model Number.
Post back in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Make sure the vga cable is in tight on the kav-60 and the external monitor.

Try the keystrokes to toggle the display. Normally you would Press and Hold the FN function key located at the lower left on the keyboard then hit the key F1 thru F12 that toggles the display. The correct F1 thru F12 key to hit will have LCD/CRT on it or it will have the icon of a display. The display toggles in three stages ( laptop only, external only or both laptop and external).

See if the problem is the graphics chipset before going any further.

If it isn't then the problem lies with the Video Cable, (Gateway = LCD Cable), or the Display Assembly.

The heading states Gateway LT2104u Netbook PC. This is what I'll be basing the solution on. However the main part of the solution, will apply to all laptops/netbooks.

1) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the VGA port (Connector) on the Left side of the netbook.

[ External VGA display port.
This is an example of a VGA connector, (Port), and a VGA Cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector ]

The external VGA monitor can be a CRT type, (Cathode Ray Tube. Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor that has a VGA cable.

2) Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the netbook on.

By default the display should be shown on the external monitor.
IF not;

A) Press, and hold down on the Fn key, and at the same time tap once on the F5 key.
(The Fn key is at the Bottom/Left of the Keyboard. The F5 key is at the Top of the Keyboard)

No display still?
There are at least 3 display options;

1) Internal monitor of the laptop ONLY
2) Internal monitor of the laptop AND external VGA monitor
3) External VGA monitor ONLY

You may have to hold down on the Fn key, and tap the F5 key more than once.

IF, NO display shows up on the external monitor, you have a bad graphics chipset.

[ Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.
Integrated Circuit,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit

The GPU is the graphics chipset,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPU

The GPU for a Gateway LT2104u Netbook PC is an Intel GMA950 ]

IF, display does show up on the external VGA monitor, you have either problems with the Video Cable, (LCD Cable), or the Display Assembly.

LCD Cable:

1) Connections;
The LCD Cable connects TO the motherboard, and TO the back of the LCD screen, in the Display Assembly.

IF, either connection is loose, you will have display problems.

Check both connections.
This requires partial disassembly of the netbook to access the motherboard side of the LCD Cable.

Also requires partial disassembly of the Display Assembly (Gateway = LCD Module) to access the connection at the back of the LCD screen.

2) Damage;
Observe the LCD Cable on the motherboard side. See if there are any obvious signs of damage to the LCD Cable's sheath.
The most susceptible area to damage is the area under the left Hinge.

However, the LCD Cable should be removed, and a continuity check of the cable should be performed with a multimeter, set to Ohms.

(By checking the connections, you are at a point anyway, that removing the LCD Cable should be no problem)

LCD Cable checks out OK?
LCD Module problem; (Display Assembly)

The LCD Module consists of the;
1) LCD Bezel,
2) Camera Module,
3) LCD Module Brackets, (Includes Hinges)
4) Microphone Module,
5) Wireless 3G Antenna,
6) WLAN Antenna cables, (Wires),
7) LCD Screen Assembly,
8) LCD Module Cover.

Primer:
An LCD screen does not produce light. It needs an additional light source.
A Backlight is the additional light source.

A Backlight can be a CCFL, or a series of LED lights.
(CCFL = Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp. Similar to Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses)

The Backlight for the Gateway LT21 series of Netbook PC's, is a series of LED lights.

There is no screen Inverter that is replaceable by the consumer.
The repair is to replace the entire LCD Module.

http://support.gateway.com/s/notebook/2009/gateway/lt/lt21/LT21sp4.shtml

To conclude:
If the problem isn't the graphics chipset, (Motherboard replacement), and it isn't the LCD Cable, the problem is the LCD Module.

Gateway LT21 series of Notebook PC's, Service Manual, (Free),

http://www.tim.id.au/blog/tims-laptop-service-manuals/#toc-gateway

Go to where it states Gateway 400. Drop down to the second line, (EC54), and scroll across to LT21 in blue.
Left-click on LT21.

This is a PDF file. The computer you are using now has Adobe Reader on it, which uses PDF files.
After you click on the file name (LT21) it may take up to 30 seconds, before the first page comes up.

{ You can save this Service Manual to your computer. This way you can burn it off to a CD disk, AND remove it from the computer to save harddrive space, and not have to temporarily download it again }

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Using the Display When you start the computer with an external device (such as an external monitor or projector) attached and turned on, the image may appear on either the display or the external device.
Press <Fn><F8> to switch the video image to the integrated display only, the integrated display and an external CRT monitor simultaneously, an external CRT monitor only, the integrated display and an external DVI monitor simultaneously, external DVI monitor only, and external CRT monitor and external DVI monitor simultaneously.

Try Booting To An External Monitor If able to...
If Display is Normal In It, Your LCD Display Panel Is Bad... The Circuit Board Attached to the Display Panel has Gone Bad...


But If You Hook It Up To External Monitor and It Doesnt Work...
Your Video Card/Chip is bad

does the fan work ok? and do you have a laptop holder for it or you just have it on a desk ....get a laptop holder for it if you do not have one and as for the rest goto the power mangment area on the computer and see if the monitor might be on stand by after a few min ...

Usually every laptop has the option of adjusting the screen brightness as you would want the screen to be pretty dim when running on battery to conserve battery life.
First thing to check would be just that.