Suddenly I have severe black-smear and everything is displayed much darker

[Smeagle]

Hi,

suddenly, starting today, the image in HTC Vice is much darker than it used to be. Black now is really 100% black. Before black was a little noisy dark gray. Colors are very nice now, more contrast, but there is a big problem:

I now have severe "black smear", mainly for blue. Gray/dark Objects on a black background leave behind a long blue smear and thin lines are barely visible once you move your head. It looks like going from black to grey or grey to black takes a long visible delay.

I did not change anything, was there a SteamVR Update or automatic Driver Update for HTC Vive?

Thanks,
- Oliver

[Polysorbate]

What you're describing sounds similar to when the GPU color settings are adjusted improperly. If you update/reinstall your video card driver and pick "clean install" it will reset color settings.

[Smeagle]

Thanks, I'll try!

[Smeagle]

Hi,

nope, didn't help. First I tried to install an older version of NVidia drivers, did not change anything, so the problem was not the latest NVidia Driver installed 2 days before.

Than I reinstalled the latest NVidia driver as "clean install", this did not change anything. Still got that problem. :( Thanks anyway ;)

How can I see when a new SteamVR version got installed? Can't even see which version I have, click on "show update history" does absolutely nothing.

Ho can I go back to older SteamVR Versions and/or HTC Vive drivers?

Should I try to change to beta branch of SteamVR?

[Orange bite]

Would it be possible if you can upload a video of your problem? Maybe other experts can help you.

[RED-FROG]

Are you still using "Direct Mode" on the headset?

Other than that,
could you post the steamvr.vrsettings.cfg file? (\Steam\config\)

[Amylion]

I have the same problem.

• Nvidia driver 375.57, clean install after DDU
  
• Windows 10
  
• no changes in steamvr.vrsettings
  
• direct mode

[Smeagle]

Hi, I can't get a good video of this. Tried to take a video through the lenses, but it is visible only in dark scenes and I can't get it on video, too dark... :(

Yes, I use Direct Mode. I found some "hacks" saying, it should be possible to change brightness by disabling direct mode, change brightness (works) and the re-enabling Direct Mode. But as soon as I re-enable Direct Mode, Brightness is too low, again.

I post my steamvr.vrsettings at the end of this message.

Thanks,
- Oliver

{
"audio" : {
"offPlaybackDevice" : "{0.0.0.00000000}.{29e62f19-93a8-4b19-a4a1-96ae511ee493}",
"offRecordDevice" : "{0.0.1.00000000}.{ecb6095c-254e-4749-ad6c-56b04c96a5a9}",
"onPlaybackDevice" : "{0.0.0.00000000}.{732bf830-2e41-4cd3-9bdc-571825d894f8}",
"onRecordDevice" : "{0.0.1.00000000}.{6a2871e8-bf9b-46d4-beb1-c8c8bbed59c9}"
},
"camera" : {
"enableCamera" : true,
"enableCameraForCollisionBounds" : true,
"enableCameraForRoomView" : true,
"enableCameraInDashboard" : true
},
"collisionBounds" : {
"CollisionBoundsColorGammaA" : 80,
"CollisionBoundsColorGammaG" : 166,
"CollisionBoundsStyle" : 1
},
"keyboard" : {
"TutorialCompletions" : 1
},
"perfcheck" : {
"heuristicActive" : false
},
"revive" : {
"PerfHudMode" : 0,
"QueueAheadEnabled" : true
},
"steamvr" : {
"CycleBackgroundImageTimeSec" : 3600,
"background" : "#0D0D0DFF",
"basestationPowerManagement" : true,
"directModeEdidPid" : 43521,
"directModeEdidVid" : 53794,
"mirrorViewGeometry" : "0 0 1080 600",
"playAreaColor" : "#FFFFFF47",
"powerOffOnExit" : true
},
"userinterface" : {
"StatusAlwaysOnTop" : false
}
}

[Darius6]

It's most likely a display driver issue. I had the same thing happen to me after I updated to the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

[Smeagle]

I already tried to go back to an older driver and do a clean install, not helping... :( What did you do to fix it?

[Hollowcell]

I'm having a similar issue. I'm wondering if it has something to do with Nvidia driver problems talked about in this thread?
http://steamcommunity.com/app/250820/discussions/0/305509857567483674/

I was worried my HMD was starting to crap out, so to see a few people with similar problems is a good sign.

[Amylion]

The problem is not rare, but common for almost everyone with Nvidia. Most just don't notice it.

[Polysorbate]

OLED pixels told to turn "black" will turn completely off. This offers better blacks, but a side-effect is that when they're slow to turn back on. To prevent this, until now I think both Vive and Rift configure the minimum brightness to be one step above zero.

I haven't noticed it myself, but what you're reporting suggests that one party involved has reset the minimum brightness to be "0" brightness (off) instead of "1" (almost off).

Whether this is a Rift/Vive-specific issue (updated firmware, etc) or a Nvidia issue (updated driver), I believe I know an old workaround that should restore the old behavior, but I haven't noticed this problem so I haven't needed try it myself. I know this used to work but might not anymore. If you want to give it a try, here's the way to do it:

Open SteamVR's settings menu and disable Direct Mode. Open the Nvidia Control Panel and select "Adjust desktop color settings". Your Vive should now appear as if it's a regular monitor. Select it. Increase the brightness slider 1 tick, which should be "51%". Click apply and then close Nvidia Control Panel. Now go back to SteamVR, open the settings menu, and re-enable Direct Mode. Doing this will make the Vive stop being detected as a regular monitor and instead as a VR headset again. Although it will no longer appear as a configurable display in Nvidia Control Panel, your adjustment should still stick and the minimum brightness will be raised slightly, preventing "black" pixels from turning truly black and shutting off.

It's very important to have Direct Mode enabled during normal use. I've read reports of people disabling Direct Mode and afterwards being unable to re-enable it for some reason, so try the above at your own risk.

[Smeagle]

Thanks for that tipp, but sadly this works no more. No as soon as you switch back to Direct Mode all changes are lost... :(

I have removed and reinstalled The Vive, tried several older NVidia drivers etc. but no working solution up to now... :(

[Smeagle]

There are very few games (I only know of Racket NX, in the very befinning it is extremlely visible) where this is very visible... As soon, as the image is "bright" you won't notice this. So it may be possible, it's like this for everyone, but they don't notive the change? Colors really got better, but I really hate that smear...... Would like to dieal the brightness to my taste myself.

[Amylion]

I just reinstalled Vive hardware and Nvidia driver:

• Removed all Vive USB devices, unplugged Vive USB cable
  
• Restarted into Windows 10 safe mode to deinstall Nvidia driver using "Display Driver Uninstall" tool
  
• Clean install of Nvidia driver 375.70
  
• Reboot
  
• Plugged Vive USB cable in
  
• Windows installed several USB drivers for Vive
  
• Started SteamVR
  
• Windows installed a new display! This step never happened before the black smear issue, at least as far I can remember.
  
• Black smear still there. Very noticeable in "The Unwelcomed"