Inspiron 1150 screen shuts off after a few seconds

Hi,
So..... here's what happens when I push the start button...........
The computer boots, the screen comes on for about 10 seconds, and appears to fluctuate slightly in brightness. After that it goes black (fast..... it doesn't fade away), and remains so. However...... if I look at the screen at a certain angle, I can read what is on it. (Although it's very difficult to see, it is there.)
Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong here?
Thanks again,
..... john

 

Dead backlight. Small chance of a dead inverter, too, but I'd bet on the backlight. You can replace the backlight on its own, or replace the entire screen; the former is a bit of a pain, but the latter is a bit more expensive. Still, at < $40 for a new display (just hunt eBay a bit), you might as well just replace the whole thing.

 

Hi Commander,
Thanks for replying.
Could it be something else, like a look video card connection or ??. Sometimes it (the screen) will stay on for an hour or so, flickering most of the time. Sometimes it will not stay on any longer than a few seconds. The length of time it stays on also seems to be dependent on how high I have the illumination setting (the intensity).
.... john

 

As far as I've seen, the variation in runtime isn't unusual for dying backlights... I had a ThinkPad with a bad backlight that would work fine as long as you kept it at the lowest brightness, but would crap out as soon as you went over 1/2 or something.

I mean, it could always be something else totally random, but I'd say it's unlikely.

 

Thanks Commander,
That's pretty much what I'm seeing. It will work for while at low illumination, but as soon as it gets above the half mark the screen goes blank, every time. So, you would start with the backlight first?
.... john