Hmm...non-monitor related brightness issue (screen colors-related)

[Brian_S_A+]

My friend had an old PCI video card (didn't know what type) and when he ran his PC at 256 colors or lower, the monitor became extremely dark. He replaced the card with a TnT2 32MB card and at 16bit and 32bit color everything is fine, but at 256color mode it darkens (AKA no change). It's an Athlon 850 and I don't know the MB type. He said also when it boots everything is extremely dark until Windows uses a few drivers are loaded and then everything is fine. He is using WinME with latest drivers for his stuff.

Thoughts? Anyone else experience this before?

--Brian