How to fix blank screen on dell laptop - Dell INSPIRON 6000 CENTRINO 1.7GHZ,512mb,40GB,DVDRW,XP (086216118098) PC Notebook

First diagnose. See what is causing the blank LCD screen.

Problem heading states Dell Inspiron 6000 Notebook PC.
That is what I am going to base this solution on.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/manuals?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml&SystemID=INS_PNT_6000

Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the laptop.

Connect the VGA monitor to the VGA port, on the back of the laptop.
Example of a VGA cable, and a VGA connector,

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

You can use a CRT monitor (Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor if it has a VGA cable.
Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the laptop on.

By default the display should show on the external VGA monitor.
IF not;

Press, and hold down on the Fn key, and at the same time tap ONCE on the F8 key.
Still no?
Holding the Fn key down, tap again on the F8 key.

No display at this point means you have a bad graphics chipset.
I'm willing to bet you have a display on the external VGA monitor.

Display on the external monitor means you have a problem with;

A) The Video Cable
B) Inside the Display Assembly.
(LCD screen, or Backlight, or screen Inverter)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/sm/index.htm

A) Video Cable:
The video cable connects the motherboard to the LCD screen.

The video cable connector on the motherboard side, also has a small wire that comes off of it. This wire is a Ground wire.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-Dell-Inspiron-6000-Video-Cable-flex-15-4-LCD-H5897-/200708659466?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebb2b190a

(The above is for reference purposes, and not advertising)

Looking at the video cable;
1) The Top Left connector (Yellow colored) connects to the back of the LCD screen.

2) In the middle of the video cable you see a small Blue tab connector. This connects to the screen Inverter.

3) At the Bottom Left of the video cable, and at the end of the Black cable, you see the connector that connects to the motherboard.
Black connector with a small black Ground wire coming off of it.

This is how the video cable looks installed,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/sm/display0.htm#wp1006390

Scroll down to the illustration under the heading - Removing the Display Assembly.
Here you see how the video cable's Black connector, connects to the motherboard. (1 and 2)
{ Hinge Cover and Keyboard is removed }

You also see the small Ground wire connection.

Scroll further down to the illustration under the heading - Removing the Display Panel, and under the number 9.
Here you see how the video cable's Yellow connector, connects to the back of the LCD screen. (2 and 3)

{ Display Panel removed from Display Cover }

You also see the pull tab connector (1) that connects to the screen Inverter (4)
{ View of screen Inverter, a small circuit board,

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004P2YWBC/?tag=bigfly316-20 }

Diagnoses of the Video Cable:
1) Start off by removing ALL power to the laptop. Remove the AC adapter (Charger), and Battery.

2) You should follow Anti-Static Precautions.

3) Hinge Cover, and Keyboard removed, see if the Video Cable's connection to the motherboard is tight.
DO NOT assume by a visual inspection. Use your fingers, and make sure the video cable connector is seated tightly in the motherboard connector.

Just by repeated opening, and closing of the laptop, the Video Cable could have been pulled on. The video cable routes under the Left Hinge.
The video cable could also be pulled loose, on the back of the LCD screen.

Again, do NOT assume.

You will not see a slight disconnection of this cable, at the LCD screen side. Physically, make sure the video cable is plugged in tightly, to the back of the LCD screen

A LOT of times that is all the problem is. The video cable connection is loose at the motherboard side, and/or the back of the LCD screen.
(LCD screen = Display Panel for Dell)

A2) Observe the sheath of the Video Cable, on the motherboard side. Does it appear damaged? If so the tiny wires inside the video cable sheath may be damaged also. (Stretched/Broken)

At the minimal cost of the video cable, shown in the Ebay link above, you may just want to replace it.

B) Inside the Display Assembly:

Primer;
An LCD screen cannot produce light by itself. It needs an additional light source,

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Vikuiti1/BrandProducts/secondary/optics101/

A Backlight is the additional light source.
A Backlight can be a CCFL, (Or 2 of them), or a series of LED's.
The Dell Inspiron 6000 uses 1 CCFL,

http://www.lcds4less.com/DellLaptop__dell_inspiron_6000__laptop-screens.html

If your laptop appears to boot up and the hard disk LEDflashes, then the problem is probably a back light fault. This can be a faultyinverter or a faulty CCFL lamp. Please click on this link and follow myinstructions to identify the fault and possible fix :- http://www.fixya.com/support/r3598095-faulty_laptop_lcd_screen