Monitor is very dim

The "inverter" has failed, causing the screen to be very dim.
Is it cheaper to take the monitor to a "TV Repair Shop",
or to buy a brand-new monitor?

Most of these settings are done through a software panel - check this site for your specific ASUS monitor : http://www.service.asus.com/#!downloads/c1wax

To isolate your laptop problem, first thing you should do is use an external monitor to check if the video chip is OK. You need to press Fn + F4 or F5, F6 depends on your laptop model to activate the display on your external monitor. If your laptop works fine with the external monitor, then your laptop LCD or the inverter(small board that controls the voltage that is sent to the LCDs backlight) went bad.
Inverters is the problem that is easy to fix, you just have to get the correct inverter for your laptop model and your problem is fixed. One way to test inverter is to check it with voltage meter if it is giving the correct voltage.
To check your LCD, use a flashlight. Shine it to your LCD, if you see a faint image then in most cases it is the backlight that needs to be replaced. If you don't see an image even when shining the flashlight then it is most likely the inverter and it should be an easy fix.

http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/X58L/#support_Knowledge

Don't know why I did that.

Asus Support. Those two words don't even belong in the same sentence. (Neither does Toshiba Support, or Acer Support)

Notice the large statement?

NEED SERVICE?

(In otherwords GOT MONEY?)

Rant over.

Janet,

The problem will be;
1) Graphics chipset
or,
2) Video Cable,
or,
3) screen Inverter,
or,
4) LCD screen

I'm betting it's the economical, and easy to replace - screen Inverter.

Laptop on, shine a bright flashlight at the LCD screen of the laptop; and shine at various angles.

See faint images?
Backlight is out, or screen Inverter is out.
90 percent of the time the fault is the screen Inverter.

Moving on........

A) Graphics chipset:
Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the laptop.
The VGA port is on the Back of the laptop.

This is a General example of a VGA port (Connector), and VGA Cable,

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

Scroll down a little for 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.

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

Hold the Fn key down, and at the SAME time; tap once on the F8 key.
The F8 key is the Display Toggle-Over key.

(User Manual indicates not all laptops, may use the same Function keys.
Whatever Asus.
The Display Toggle-Over key has LCD on it, surrounded by a rectangular line. Has a small monitor icon to the right of it )

Display on external VGA monitor? No?
Hold the Fn key down again, and tap once more on the F8 key.

No display on external VGA monitor, indicates a problem with the graphics chipset.

Display ON external monitor, indicates a problem with the;
1) Video Cable,
or
2) screen Inverter,
or
3) LCD screen

Perform the 'flashlight test'. No faint images go on to the external VGA monitor test.

Post back in a Comment.
We'll go from there.

Regards,
joecoolvette

(There are NO service manuals available, to the public.
Thank Asus for that. To procede though can be done.

This will require a partial disassembly of the laptop, to include removing the Keyboard, and Palm Rest Cover.

Together we can accomplish this if needed.

May do something I never do, and that is because of no Service Manual available. May ask you to buy a replacement screen Inverter, and replace it.
Need other information above FIRST.

Average cost is around $25 to $30.
The plastic frame in front of the LCD screen is the Display Bezel.

The screen Inverter is located behind the Display Bezel, and mounted to the bottom of the LCD screen assembly.

(Clip or a Philips head screw)

Average example,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Genuine-NEW-Original-Asus-X58L-laptop-Series-LCD-Inverter-08G21VJ10107-/290873311574?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b9668156

Doesn't require removing Keyboard, and Palm Rest Cover.
DOES require removing all power. AC adapter (Charger), and Battery.

Are you sure that the display is not set for external monitor only? Also take bright flashlight and shine on the display. If you can see the images then the problem is with the back light and usually caused by a bad inverter. Some times you can get the back light or inverter bu most times it is easier and cheaper to replace the entire display.

Hello,
2 things could be happening here..The good: the screen has just been dimmed and needs to be adjustedThe bad: The back lights are failing and need the screen needs to be replaced.

This can be a few things first see if the fans and hard drive are spinning. If neither is it normally means the motherboard has failed and needs to be replaced.

After that if both are on and spinning shine a flashlight on the screen. If you see a dim image of the desktop it means the back light had died and needs to be replaced.

If the image is not dim and both are on try connecting an external monitor to the laptop. If you don't see anything on the external monitor either it means the laptops video card has failed and needs to be replaced. However if you do see an image on the screen it means either the laptops LCD cable or the LCD itself needs to be replaced.

is it lcd? shine a flashlight at different angles to see if you see anything ( very dim pic)

hi..the reason for your problem is u might have
have turned off your display button.once u turned
off your display button u will not get any display.
The display button will be available on the top next
to the power button.
check it out..
thank u..
rate me..

Try shining a flashlight or a lamp on the screen and see if you can faintly see the Windows desktop in the background. If you can then the problem is the backlight. Laptop screens have a light that shines from behind the screen and lets you see the display. If this is a laptop computer it will need to go in for service. If this is a monitor for a desktop computer you can try turning it on and off a few times, or leave it unplugged for a few hours and try it again but failing that it also needs service.