Okay, I cracked the screen on the  laptop. I ORDERED a replacement screen thru eBay, after removing the cracked screen and verifying the specs. My new screen bolted right in, and the wires  plugged right in. PROBLEM is that I can only view the screen with a flashlight!!!! I am still pretty inexperienced in these matters, having only rebuilt my old Dell C600 Latitude and this 'custom' desktop I am uding right now. Any advice would be appreciated ... Thanks!!!Was the monitor you purchased thru Ebay new or used?Do you know if your back LIGHT and inverter are okay,or were they changed too?The monitor was new, and in came with the inverter. I even hooked up the old inverter to try and troubleshoot the problem. How can I test to check the backlight thing? I don't think I replaced the backlight ... Do those typically go out when the screen gets cracked?Look at these 2 links.It could have easily ruined the backlight/lamp.

Dell   Inspiron E1505   15.4   MSLDELL154W

http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx?ProductCCFL=MSLDELL154W


http://www.lcdparts.net/agnCCFLlamp.aspx?gclid=CImijsnwvJgCFQa-sgodrz2lZQActually, the backlight was in the new screen, so I assume that IT works ... I went ahead and located an inverter for $32 to the door. Hopefully, that'll fix the problem.!!! Thanks!!!Hope it works out for you. Okay, new inverter - NO DIFFERENCE!!! Checked out replacing backlight, but it came installed in the new screen (along with ther new inverter). Is the cable for the backlight possibly disconnected at the motherboard? If thats possible, then I could just tear out the guts, couldn't I? THANKS!!!I mean, open it up and re-attach the cable/wire ... Does ANYBODY know where I could locate a SCHEMATIC? Dell won't help since the 'extended warranty plan' wasn't purchased ... AND, come to think of it, they may have SABATOGED IT!!! Right before the screen got cracked, my Mother ( who I am doing this for ) let Dell into the computer REMOTELY when she was having issues with the computer going into what she thought was sleep mode ... her warranty had JUST expired too ... HMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

I have my desktop computer screen, couldn't I plug this moniter into that laptop and read the settings? Or will I have to configure the laptop to be 'plug and play' or read from the EXTERNAL moniter??? ANY help is appreciated!!! thanks!!!