Dark Screen on Linux Laptop

[Radio Fixer]

Well I was doing well until I tried to reduce the screen brightness using the Fn +F2 key and it did but has gone all the way to black

Whatever I do now I cant get a picture back!

Help appreciated   thanks Gary

[ppppenguin]

What Fn F2 does depends on the model of laptop and on the operating system. I assume you've rebooted. Unplug mains and take out battery to force a hard stop. It shouldn't hurt the system but it may complain at restart. Or connect an external monitor. Or try Fn with every possible key.

[ppppenguin]

Somebody has been here before you: https://askubuntu.com/questions/342070/f...does-it-do Mint is derived from Ubuntu so should be similar.

Also:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/com...using_the/

[Radio Fixer]

Before asking for help Jefferey I did use the hard stop to no fix.
I have tried all the suggestions in the links and none fixed it.  So might have to try a cable to the monitor on this PC.
Or would a Linux reload do it?

Time for a walk 

thanks Gary    

[ppppenguin]

A Linux Re-instal should fix it. I just hope you can see the boot screen so you can select the instal options. You can run Linux live from the USB stick without installing which is a less severe thing to do.

Really need to find out what shortcut keys do in Mint. Once you're back working again this may help: https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=399876 I have to admit that I'm struggling to find what F2 Alt-F2, Ctl-F2, Shift-F2 etc might do.

This isn't directly relevant but is a useful guide: https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.co...html#ID1.6
Ignore things like font support unless you are actually having problems.

[Mike Watterson]

Crtl Alt F1 is a terminal. You can delete a users GUI settings from there or even (re)install a desktop.

Also an external screen is unaffected by brightness setting.

A re-install might not change it! See can you see BIOS at boot!*

On a Dell here Fn F12 increases brightness, on a Lenovo E460 Fn F6 increases it and on my newest Lenovo the brightness keys do nothing, so I added a utility in the task tray.
Or if Fn key mode is reversed then F1 to F12 may or may not be special laptop functions.
This is a maker's thing and can't be configured in Linux or Windows. Special functions are preassigned and either work or don't. I set the Laptop bios so by default the Function keys give F1 to F12 without holding Fn key.

You never need to re-install linux unless you deleted part of it.

Always create more than one user, so you can fix stuff using the other one.

Install at least Mate and Cinnamon Desktops. You can pick at log on time.

Some Macs running Mac OS let you set brightness to zero and it stays that way forever (even if battery flat) till you do the key press to increase brightness. This is a laptop issue, not really a Linux issue.

[Radio Fixer]

Dont know exactly how I fixed it but I'm working again     

The Start up menu was as normal.  Put the USB Mem stick in and booted from that.  Lots of stick flashing and up it came and then when I hit F3. Brightness it did.  Went to do a Linux install but it seemed to know I didnt need it as very short and then the Desktop was as before with Firefox and Thunderbird configured as before.  Have taken out the USB stick and it boots up fine.

I find it a little odd that no where does it say I am using Mate and the Version? Where do you get the Cinnamon desktop from and is it easy to include with what I have.

Leave the Function keys alone !

thanks Gary

[ppppenguin]

Well done. When I boot Mint Cinnamon there's a startup window that tells me what version I'm running. This can be closed or you can tick the box so it never appears. Don't know about Mate.

The easiest way to instal Cinnamon is to download that version of Mint and instal it. It is possible to download other desktops and switch between them. I've not tried it. Go to the software manager, search for Cinnamon and download it. I'm not sure how you switch between different desktops. I've read that there can be odd problems with the file manager when doing this. Mate and Cinnamon use different file managers. I think they also use different video players (Cinnamon uses VLC) which may mean that it won't get the file associations correct.

Since you're not yet using this PC for actual work, there's nothing to stop you downloading and installing Cinnamon. If it runs well and you like it, then keep it. I'll be able to help you from my own experience if you're using it.

[Radio Fixer]

Thanks Jeffrey

Tomorrow maybe, nuff for today. Time for a beer me thinks

Gary

[Mike Watterson]

There is a Software Manager in Menu and on Control panel. It will let you easily install more stuff.
Add more Mate themes too, and Microsoft Fonts.

Also go to Appearance on the Control panel to have a nicer theme than default. You can make Mate look like Win98, XP, Vista, Apple Mac or whatever.

Menta and Oxygen Icons IMO are nicer than default Mate (Oxygen Icons via Software Manager). You can also download themes and Icons. The Software Manager lets you install Cinnamon (which I have) as well as other desktops. But I find Mate best.

Backgrounds in Appearance will be slow to do anything as it builds thumbnails of all the massive HiRes desktop wallpapers.

Fonts lets you set system DPI. A lower DPI lets you fit more on a screen. A higher DPI makes fonts bigger. Unlike MS Windows it can go less than 100%.

Windows on Control panel lets you turn off Snap and use Win Logo key with mouse to drag a window, if the Compact Menu is the one on the Places bar. Unlike Windows there are at least 3 kinds of the equivalent of the Start menu. One of them uses up the Win Key.