laptop monitor display broken

[loveisuneven]

Ok, so i have a hp pavilion zv5000
i got a new laptop and gave the hp to my little sister
within a week she says the monitor is broken
and i had never had a problem with it before (i think technology hates her or something)

anyways
she gave it back to me and i've realized that the monitor is actually working, but it's just so dark its not feasible to be able to use it

the most i knew what to do was press the function button and the f8 button to try to increase the brightness, but that didn't do anything

does anyone have any suggestions?
because the harddrive and everything is still good
i just don't know what else to do other than buy a monitor and plug it in to the laptop
is that my only option?

[Broomjockey]

Pretty much. Sounds like the backlight in the monitor went, so it's still showing the picture, just not giving off any light. It'd likely be a couple hundred to fix, so if there's a spare monitor, use that instead.

[Sandman]

I agree with Broomjockey. I have seen the backlight go before.

[SarcasticJerk]

You could try finding a really cheap one being sold for parts on eBay, and swap the screens. Could be done as cheap as $50-100. Though I don't know if this is something you would be able/want to do.

[loveisuneven]

thanks everyone

yeah, i had someone else in person confirm that its probably the backlight

so other monitor it is!

(do not have the knowledge or expertise to do the parts swapping myself, nor the funds for someone else to)