Brightness option completely missing, Display Adapter claims Code 43

[Err0r000]

Oh boy, where do I start?

Well! Yesterday, I felt like hooking up my laptop to a TV for the sake of seeing if I actually could connect the two with a HDMI cable (as instructed by HP themselves). Shut off my laptop, shut off the TV, turned on the TV and set it to the right source, then booted up the PC- "No signal." I attempt to project the PC screen over with F4 (not holding the Function (Fn) key down, as that does not bring up the "Project" menu). It is glad to tell me that "Your PC is not able to project screens. Please update your driver or video card". That's fine, I'll try that. A few minutes later, and I have Device Manager open, opting to have Windows search for updates under Display Adapters for my Intel HD Graphics 5500. It claims that there are no updates. Okay, but there's still a caution sign next to Intel HD Graphics 5500 and it claims to have a Code 43 error.

I go to the Intel site, look up some things, and find out that there are customized drivers for my laptop after getting an error stating that it could not install. Makes sense. After a bit more searching, I manage to find the correct driver. Even though it stated that the drivers on my current machine were newer (that wouldn't make any sense, I thought, since how else would I have the drivers I have now (unless they're private or something...?)), I replaced the driver with the latest version on the HP site for my PC (This one right here). I restarted as asked.

It was at this point, I think, that I noticed brightness was completely missing. The F2 and F3 keys refused to change the brightness and the sliders under Power Options were missing, too.  Now, several hours of infuriating trial and error and a System Rollback (to 2/27/17, far before the driver change) later, it still refuses to work. My poor eyes are screaming (I'm a bit sensitive to light, aha...) and now Fn + Esc refuses to work (had to pop out the battery, but whatever, my other hotkeys still work).

How do I get the driver I had before? I attempted to reinstall the so-called "latest" driver, only to have it tell me that it was older than the one I have on my HP Pavilion, but they're the same...? I backed out of it after that, but... what?

The Code 43 error is still present. Not fun.

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Since you probably need it, PID is N5R49UA#ABA.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The only suggestion I can offer would be to see if running the system restore utility fixes the problem.

Pick a restore point to a time before you decided to hook up your TV to your laptop.

Otherwise, you may have to back up any files you don't want to lose and do a factory reset of the notebook, since you have already tried to reinstall the graphics driver without success.

[Err0r000]

Ack, when I said "System Rollback," I meant "System Restore". Sorry, I can't remember all these function names off-hand. As previously stated, I rollbacked/restored to 2/27/17. I attempted to connect the TV and PC on 3/12/17 (yesterday). I haven't checked to see if there are any older restore points.

[Err0r000]

Quick little update. Last one before that is 2/21/17. Do I revert to this one, then? I've already gone back before.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Sorry I missed that part of your post where you already tried that.

I'm thinking if that didn't work, going back further won't help.

How about installing the original graphics driver and see what happens...

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp71501-72000/sp71919.exe

[Err0r000]

"This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software."
An error message is better than frying the whole thing somehow, I guess. But that's the message I got after it tried to install itself.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Wow. 

This is getting kinda crazy.

Try this one then...

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp73501-74000/sp73573.exe

[Err0r000 · Accepted solution]

Aha! Turns out I had forgotten (and just now remembered) that prior to me attempting to use the HDMI cable, my father, in trying to assist me with a long line of adapters and cords, had installed a driver of his own. Turns out that the J5Create USB Display Adapter he had installed was interfering with the brightness options. Didn't get to install the driver you suggested (download speeds were dropping severely, it's just that time of day on this shared network), but I believe that it wouldn't be needed, now that the problem is solved. Thank you for your assistance!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad you are back in business.

You are correct...No need to install different drivers.