I am having a really annoying problem with my video settings on my computer.  

For a while I was having steadily slower, and slower operating SPEEDS.  I am also having a problem playing games on my pc.  Every time I WENT into a game the screen would get way darker, to the point of not being able to see anything properly.  But then I would exit the game and the color would correct itself.

I have an ATI gaming card, with its control center. I couldnt adjust the gamma or contrast of the game, but I could on the DESKTOP.  Yesterday I downloaded an updated VERSION of the control center and my computer started running even shitier.  So TODAY, I took all of the ATI  software off my computer, and voila, my computer is running up to speed and crruuisin!

I have minimized all of my of my graphic software to Adobe Gamma, and the basics for my monitior and  card.  I still can not adjust the gamma or brightness during gaming.

I need to know if there is anything I can do, because I dont want to run ATI software again.  Or, am I just not doing anything correctly?

Sorry if this was long