Very Dim Display on Dell smartstep 250N laptop: lcd display or backlight?

[amillindsay]

I have a dell 250N smartsep laptop. The monitor has gone extremely dim. Not completely dark, but very dim, almost like trying to look through a heavily tinted window. The computer works as normal otherwise.

I intend to hook up to an external monitor to determine if it's a monitor or graphics card problem.

Assuming it's the monitor, is there a way to determine if the problem is with the lcd display itself, or the backlight? And if it is that is there usually something that can be done without changing the entire monitor?

All suggestions are welcome, my warranty is up so I'm fully prepared to take apart the monitor myself.

Thanks

[nitestick]

well you may be able to see the backlight from the back so you can tell. usually it is bright white and i mean bright!!! it probably is the backlight. they can be replaced.

[Bruce]

Ive seen this problem before, i have an inspiron someone gave me that does this.If i boot it open i can get about a minute of video if i unplug the monitor from the vid card and plug it back in while its on, then it goes dim again.Ive changed the vid card and it did the same thing.

[amillindsay]

thanks

Anybody have any idea where I can get a replacement backlight...are they hard to find?

[Bruce]

poke around on ebay, thats ur best bet

[nitestick]

you're sure it's the backlight? don't replace it unless you are, we can't see your computer so we are just guessing, you have to read the posts and make your own diagnosis