Toshiba Satellite S401 Screen Help (in Off-topic)

I have a Toshiba satellite S401 and when I start it up the screen is extremely dark and I can hardly see anything. When I hook it up to a standard monitor though it works, the laptop screen itself still doesn't though. Does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Apart from increasing the brightness?

Ya, I have tried increasing the brightness but it doesn't help.

Sounds like your backlight is dead.

I think that as well...

Dang, I hear that is expensive to fix...

If it is the back light is there anyway I can fix it myself or do something else to make the screen brighter without spending a lot of money.

Do you have the laptop plugged in 24/7?

nope.

article titled how to deal with my busted laptop backlight on meatfilter.

Depends on how much hobby/technical stuff you've done before but it doesn't look too hard for someone with some previous experience.

Looks like you'll need a soldering iron.

heh.. metafilter that is.

It looks like it is do able if you have previous experience, but unfortunately I don't. Thanks anyways.

To be a little more specific the model is 2805-S401, and I have another problem with it that occurred at the same time. The on/off button no longer works, instead there is a little sliding switch on the hinge of the computer and the screen that turns it on and off.