Posted by: prankster March 2, 2011
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This sounds dumb, but did u try adjusting your brightness using brightness Fn key?
If yes try following
1. Make sure you've not set a power setting that automatically turns down the brightness to a minimum level to save battery power.
2. Shine a flashlight at the screen. If you can see the information on the screen when it's illuminated by the flashlight, then you've probably got a blown backlight. (Havent tried this one yet, lol)
3. if you're OK with a soldering iron and opening up your laptop. Googling "Dell 8600 CCFL" (Cold Cathode Flourescent Lamp) and you'll come across dozens of resources on everything from buying the right $12 replacement backlight, to detailed instructions on how to replace it.
src:http://ask.metafilter.com/88416/Laptop-display-is-suddenly-very-dark
If yes try following
1. Make sure you've not set a power setting that automatically turns down the brightness to a minimum level to save battery power.
2. Shine a flashlight at the screen. If you can see the information on the screen when it's illuminated by the flashlight, then you've probably got a blown backlight. (Havent tried this one yet, lol)
3. if you're OK with a soldering iron and opening up your laptop. Googling "Dell 8600 CCFL" (Cold Cathode Flourescent Lamp) and you'll come across dozens of resources on everything from buying the right $12 replacement backlight, to detailed instructions on how to replace it.
src:http://ask.metafilter.com/88416/Laptop-display-is-suddenly-very-dark