After working normally for several years, my Inspiron 1100 display went dark but will come on normally if I press Fn+CRT/LCD BUT ONLY FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS then goes dark again. Tried holding F8 during startup and the correct page appears but then goes dark. It's impossible to investigate control panels or anything because display doesn't stay lit long enough. Never saw this problem before. Thanks.

Did you press and hold the FN function key plus the key that toggles the display? In your case it might be the FN+F8 if F8 is the key that toggles the display.

Shine a flashlight on the dark screen to see if you barely see the icons on the desktop. If so, then the LCD Inverter is bad.

Plug in an external monitor and see if the display shows up on it. It can be any kind of monitor even the old big fat crt monitors as long as it has a vga cable to connect to your computer's vga port. If the video shows on the external monitor that proves your video card is ok, ,but your lcd screen is bad. The video will show on most systems when you reboot without you having to do anything. Some systems will require you to hit the FN (Function key) + F1 thru F12. Hold down the FN key then hit the correct key for displaying on the monitor (F1 thru F12). The correct key will normally have CRT/LCD on it or it will have the icon of a display.

If you see no icons by shinning a flash light and the external monitor works, then your screen is bad. If you see no icons by shinning the flash light and nothing shows on the external monitor, then most likely your video card is bad.

If your video card is bad you will not see anything on the laptop's lcd screen or the external monitor.

Did she spill something on it? Have you tried to make sure it's not an issue with your bright and dark buttons or keys on the keyboard?

Shine a flashlight on the dark screen to see if you barely see the icons on the desktop. If so, then the LCD Inverter is bad.

Plug in an external monitor and see if the display shows up on it. It can be any kind of monitor even the old big fat crt monitors as long as it has a vga cable to connect to your computer's vga port. If so that proves your video card is ok. The video will show on most systems when you reboot without you having to do anything. Some systems will require you to hit the FN (Function key) + F1 thru F12. Hold down the FN key then hit the correct key for displaying on the monitor (F1 thru F12). The correct key will normally have CRT/LCD on it or it will have the icon of a display.

If you see no icons by shinning a flash light and the external monitor works, then your screen is bad. If you see no icons by shinning the flash light and nothing shows on the external monitor, then most likely your video card is bad.

No Display? If the laptop seems to boot up except the screen is black try this:
Shine a flashlight on the dark screen to see if you barelysee the icons on the desktop. If so, then the LCD Inverter is bad.

Plug in an external monitor and see if the display shows up on it. It can beany kind of monitor even the old big fat crt monitors as long as it has a vgacable to connect to your computer's vga port. If so that proves yourvideo card is ok. The video will show on most systems when you rebootwithout you having to do anything. Some systems will require you to hit the FN(Function key) + F1 thru F12. Hold down the FN key then hit the correctkey for displaying on the monitor (F1 thru F12). The correct key willnormally have CRT/LCD on it or it will have the icon of a display.

If you see no icons by shinning a flash light and the external monitor works,then your screen is bad. If you see no icons by shinning the flash lightand nothing shows on the external monitor, then most likely your video card isbad.

Have you tried to brighten it by the keys on the keyboard? Most times you have to Press and Hold the FN function key located at the lower left portion of the keyboard then hit the key that brightens the display.

If that does not work then try the steps below.
Shine a flashlight on the dark screen to see if you barelysee the icons on the desktop. If so, then the LCD Inverter is bad.

Plug in an external monitor and see if the display shows up on it. It can beany kind of monitor even the old big fat crt monitors as long as it has a vgacable to connect to your computer's vga port. If so that proves yourvideo card is ok. The video will show on most systems when you rebootwithout you having to do anything. Some systems will require you to hit the FN(Function key) + F1 thru F12. Hold down the FN key then hit the correctkey for displaying on the monitor (F1 thru F12). The correct key willnormally have CRT/LCD on it or it will have the icon of a display.

If you see no icons by shinning a flash light and the external monitor works,then your screen is bad. If you see no icons by shinning the flash lightand nothing shows on the external monitor, then most likely your video card isbad.

try to install driver again, if no go format the laptop and reload the OS. try it...... and tell me

Well, look for the Fn button after logging on your compute. this button is normally on the left bottom of the keyboard, press it continuously then press the F8 button once,twice if there is no change then three times if it fails again, remember not to releases the Fn button while doing this.

they there, it could already be a problem with the LCD if you stil have warranty call dell at 1 800 822 8965 - or try this hold down Fn then press the power button it will run diagnostics on your pc. if its still the same under diagnostics then it only means your LCD needs to be replaced.

if this helps please rate..

thanks
PJBHOi

Looks like the backlighting on the display has failed, sometimes it is just a lose cable, buy most often the LCD needs to be replaced.

to check the cable see the manual at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/ for how to get to the LCD cables (usually just under the cover that the power button is on)

Hey there SeanJohn79, have you tried hooking an external monitor to your laptop. You can move the video output back and forth, from external, LCD + external, LCD using Fn + F7. Hopefully this will allow you to see the necessary info for diagnosing the problem. Good Luck. Keep us posted! In case you are not aware, these are some display related key functions:
Fn + F3 = turn off lcd
Fn + F8 =Switch computer screen size
Fn + F12 =Hibernation mode, power for 4 secs releases.
Fn + F4 = Standby mode, press Fn key to return to normal
If you haven't tried switching some of these, give it a shot.

check your power cord and make sure it's plugged in all the way, and if it is, check your brightness setting.

Usually it's the Fn key + an arrow key. Make sure the brightness is up all the way