My laptop wants to sleep.

[The Backlash Cometh]

I went traveling over the weekend and my laptop is still on vacation. When I boot it up I can hear the log-in frame come on, but the screen stays dark. With good lighting I can just make out the screen which asks for my password. I have to shut down and restart it a few times before I can get through. After boot-up, if I don't start to work, and if the screen saver shuts the monitor, I can't turn it back on without rebooting.

Already tried clearing history and I ran superantispyware (took some doing because something was preventing it from running) and uniblue registry. Everything checked out.

I thought, maybe, it has something to do with using the hotel wireless. Maybe something changed a setting, because I'm more successful getting through if the wireless connection is left open.

Anyone hear of this problem happening on a Dell laptop?

[RC]

1. You have a hardware problem.

The light that lights up the screen is not coming on. It usually is either the light tube itself or the high voltage power supply for it. Both are in the lid, screen part.

The supplied the clue here: "With good lighting I can just make out the screen which asks for my password."

It can be fixed, but is it worth it?
In the meantime you can use an external monitor. That makes portability an issue though.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Thanks. I was afraid of that.

[ChromeFoundry]

3. The odd part is...

It seems, from your description of the problem, that the backlight works fine unless the laptop's power-savings settings turn the monitor off. Then it doesn't want to turn back on.

Is this correct?

If so.. try setting your battery power options to never turn the monitor off.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. It happens at start up too.

Are you familiar with the keyboard configuration for a Dell inspiron 1520? There are three boxes which look like miniature padlocks to the left of the on button. I know the one in the middle is for Caps lock. But the one the left, that one, if it goes off briefly when I power up, I know the monitor will light up properly. But if the small padlock button stays on. I know I'll hear the start-up chime, but I won't be able to see the screen where I'm suppose to input my password.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I agree with RC...it does sound like a hardware problem.

I'd check the ribbon cable / flex circuit that supplies power to the screen. Constantly opening and closing the lid could break the wire/copper traces and make for a intermittent operating condition. Try moving the screen forward and back to see if there's one position where the screen turns on..if it does, even momentarily, I think it's a good chance that is where the problem is.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Thanks, I'll check it out the next time it happens.

[ChromeFoundry]

7. More info on the repair...

http://dwiel.net/blog/howto-replace-a-screen-invertor-on-a-dell-1520/

HTH