Laptop screen blank - any ideas?

[KJD]

My daughter has a Compaq Presario V2000 laptop, 4 months old, AMD processor, Windows XP, not sure on exact specifications. Tonight the laptop was working fine until it was left running for about 2 hours. When she retuned to use it the screen was blank and would not come back on. It normally goes into standby and when power button is pressed starts back up again. Tonight nothing.
I've rebooted several times - nothing. I inserted the recovery disc and restarted - nothing on screen so I turned laptop off and removed disc.
The laptop sounds like it's running normally. The battery was fully charged prior to going blank. Running off AC makes no difference.
It has updated AVG installed but I can't be sure how long ago it was run last.
Any ideas??
Please tell me it's not cactus - it has all her uni work on it and I just found out its not backed up  
Are there any other machines that have caused more grief to the human race than computers??
Thanks

[Rob Pomeroy]

Most laptops have some keyboard combination that switches the laptop panel on/off - particularly whilst working with an external monitor.  Have you tried that combination?  Have you tried plugging in an external monitor?




Cactus?

[KJD]

I've checked the user manual and can't find any reference to a keyboard combination. I haven't tried another monitor - I'll do that tomorrow after some sleep.
Sorry - cactus is a bit of Aussie slang for broken, damaged, no good, etc

[Rob Pomeroy]

Many laptops have a "function" or "FN" key, which when combined with another key (usually a numerical key) does various laptoppy (new word!) things.  If you see any odd little icons on the keyboard, above the number keys, this might provide a clue.  I'm not familiar with the laptop I'm afraid.

In the user manual, look under "screen blanking" or "external monitor" or something like that, unless the monitor is also cactus.




(Did I use the word right?)  

[KJD]

Thanks Rob, I'll try pressing some buttons tomorrow and see what happens.
Hey, with a few more lessons I'll have you sounding like an Aussie in no time.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Aw roight cobber, fur dinkum.

[hyperhedron]

sorry rob but that was crap ( im aussie as well )

[Rob Pomeroy]

Aw... shucks...

[hyperhedron]

dont worry you'll get better.