Windows 10 – Dark screen after coming out of sleep mode (another solution)

[jkqz]

It seems a common problem after upgrading HP laptops to Windows 10 is that after 'waking up' from sleep the display is at (below?) minimum brightness.  Some users report that the brightness +/- keys also no longer function, and as the display is too dark to see, the only immediate remedy is a power cycle, and a workaround is to set the device to hibernate instead of sleep.

I would reply with my solution in one of the following threads, but unfortunately they are all locked because they haven't had a reply in a few weeks:

• Windows 10 Dark screen after coming out of sleep mode 
• Screen is dim after sleep since Windows 10 upgrade 
• Pavilion Touchsmart 23 screen dim after sleep since Windows 10 
• Brightness on wakeup 

Apologies for starting a new thread, but I think my findings may help some people - I hope they do.

After upgrading to Windows 10 (from Windows 7), I had the same problem, although in my case the brightness +/- keys continued to function and would restore the display brightness to what it should be, so it was only a minor inconvenience.

Then, after a hard disk failure, I reinstalled Windows 10, let Windows Update find the graphics driver, and no longer had the problem.

I few days later I installed Catalyst Control Centre and let it install a slightly newer version of the graphics driver.  Then I had the same problem again.  I did not find a disabled 'Generic PnP Monitor' in device manager that Coozcelt had, enabling which seems to have resolved the problem for some users.  However, I rolled back the graphics driver to the version Windows Update had installed, and the problem was resolved.

My graphics device is AMD Radeon HD 7500G.  The driver that works (from Windows Update) is version 15.200.1055.0.  The driver has the issue (from AMD CCC) is version 15.200.1062.1004.

So if you have this problem, and other suggestions do not resolve it, I would try installing the graphics driver version from Windows Update instead of whatever version you currently have.  I think you can do this by selecting 'Uninstall Driver' in Device Manager (the system will revert to a generic VGA driver for the time being), then use Windows Update to find a driver.  (Create a 'Restore Point' first!)

Perhaps someone with authority could provide or link this information in the threads referenced above, as I think it could help some people looking for a solution to what appears to be a common problem?

HTH.