The screen on my Dell Inspiron won't illuminate. The screen does display, but extremely faintly. Pushing the function and f8 keys does make it illuminate briefly, but then it goes straight to black again. I have tried removing the battery/ac adaptor and holding down the power button for a minute, but that hasn't fixed anything.

First of all, make sure you haven't turned video off. Is there an external monitor plugged in but not turned on? Did you press the Function key which transfers the display to an external monitor, or the one which turns the display off? Did you turn brightness or contrast all the way down?

If none of those solve the problem, you need to determine whether the LCD screen or its backlight are failing. Start the machine and illuminate the screen with a flashlight held close to the screen. If the backlight has failed and the LCD is okay, you will be able to make out a faint image. If the LCD has failed, you will see nothing.

If it's the backlight, you need to get a DC-DC converter board. Cheapest to get one on eBay and find installation instructions on the Dell website. If it's the LCD, also cheapest to buy on eBay and instructions are on the Dell website.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04 Support Dell US

Try running the restore software that is built into the computer on the protected partition; this is usually available by pushing the "F10" key upon boot up, that is, as soon as you see the dell logo on the screen, push the "F10" key. You could also try to boot the computer into "SafeMode" by pushing the "F8" key at boot up. Safemode will only offer a limited repair option but it will allow you access to diagnostic and repair options in windows.

Dell 1703fpi LCD monitor,

http://philadelphia-pa.americanlisted.com/computers/dell-1703fpi-17-lcd-monitor-vgadvi-usb-hub-50-phoenixville_21225579.html

I got that part Dan.........

What I need is what Model Number of Dell Inspiron it is.
This is on the Bottom of the Inspiron laptop.

Why?
Because I do not know if the Dell Inspiron laptop you have, has a DVI port, or a VGA port; for an external monitor......

Generic information while I wait.........

Example of Digital Visual Interface port, and corresponding cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

Example of Video Graphics Array port,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

Can be on the side, or back of laptop.

Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect the matching video cable from the external monitor; to the laptop.
Now turn the laptop on.....

By factory default settings, the display should now show on the external monitor. (Dell 1703fpi)
No?

There are at least 3 display options available;
1) Internal monitor of laptop ONLY
2) Internal monitor of laptop AND external monitor
3) External monitor ONLY

Press, and hold down on the Fn key. (Usually 2nd key from left on bottom row of keyboard)
AT THE SAME time tap once on the Display Toggle-Over key.

Which one is that? Dunno.
Laptop model number was not stated.
For a Dell Inspiron though, it's usually the F8 key.
(F1 through F12 keys at the top of the keyboard)

Hold the Fn key down, and at the same time tap once on the F8 key.
Still no?
Hold the Fn key down again, and tap once more on the F8 key.

IF, F8 is the correct key for Display Toggle-Over, and there is no display on the external Dell 1703fpi; then I suggest you have a problem with the video chipset; on the motherboard.......

Awaiting reply in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

While it is on, look very closely at the screen. If you can see the login screen but it is extremely faint. Then you have a bad inverter board. This piece is located typically in all the base of the display. Moderate to difficult to replace. If you have a monitor with a VGA, DVI or HDMI depending on what your laptop supports connect the monitor to the laptop and try toggling the display. Usually done with the function (fn) key and one of the F# keys. If you get a display then it is probably the screen itself that is bad. If you get nothing then probably the motherboard.

Run PSA Diagnostics by using FN + Power Button

Download and Install the Latest BIOS for Your Computer

First of all, check that the laptop is set to output video to the LCD. There should be a function key which will determine whether it is outputting video to the built-in LCD, the external monitor, or both. That should be holding down your "FN" key and hitting "F8." If it is on CRT ONLY, it should switch within 1-2 keypresses.

Secondly, take a good bright flashlight and shine it directly at the LCD panel from about 1-2 inches away. If you can actually see the graphics on the screen faintly in the background, your backlight is not turning on. The backlight is literally a bulb which lights up the screen, and they can burn out. It is repairable, and shouldn't cost more than $150.00 from a reputable repair shop.

safe mode is appear on the screen before the normal windows system. all you have to do is press F8 or Function 8 before the normal system comes up. This procedure is only for technical assistance, whatever any changes on safe mode is your decision. Good Luck!

Hi there.
Yes, if you can see a very faint image on the screen that indicates that the inverter or inverter coil has become defective and needs looking at or replacing.

Good luck and thanks for using Fixya!!

I was having the same problrm for my dell inspiron 1300. It is not FN + f5. It is fn +f8. Notice the Crt/LCD...

The F5 and F8 functions are normally used by Windows to shoose between C:\, Safe Mode and normal boot.

Setup is a function of the BIOS manufacturer and it could be any key but is normally F1 or F2 as the screen says in your case.

I don't know what your specific problem is but it is a new board and sometimes they don't survive the installation due to improper handling.
The almost universal use of CMOS technology makes some of the chips very sensitive to static discharge even with countermeasures in place to protect them.