why has my laptop screen gone black whilst using it?

[clarelouise]

Does anyone know why my laptop screen would go black whilst using it?
It is 3 months old and the warranty ran out 3 days ago.
It is still under general guarantee but don't know if I am covered.
I was playing a game and suddenly the screen went black.
It is a DELL INSPIRON 1300.NOTEBOOK.
Turned it off and back on again and still black but I could hear windows starting up in the background.
Please does anyone know what it is.
I just want to know ,as Dell offered me a while ago an extended warranty and I have to take it out before wednesday.
I wil play it crafty and take out the warranty if it is covered by the fault in question.
I just want to know if the warranty doesn't cover it,what the problem could be and how much it will cost me.
Many many thanks for any replies.
much appreciated.
clare.

[Ethel]

Try pressing FN with F5 of F6.

[finnyfaddler]

Try the simple things first.

Hold down FN and F5, or F6. It might work!

[wideboy]

Have you tried starting in Safe Mode using F8 at startup?

[clarelouise]

i will give it a try.
Many thanks.
Much appreciated.I will let you know.
clare

[clarelouise]

finnyfaddler what is FN by the way?
Do you mean letters F and N?
Then at same time hold down F5 or F6?
clare

[maviscoull]

FN is the function button. it could be that you have knocked the brightness settings by mistake. the wee lad i work with at school did this to his laptop and he thought his laptop was duffed. his one is not a dell and i havent really used it but if i remember his FN button was near the bottom to the left of keyboard and there is a little " sun " up near the top left corner on another key. hold down the FN button and try pressing the " sun " button to see if your screen lightens up. worth a try ! let us know how you get on.

[wideboy]

In the same vein, laptops also have a key with a monitor symbol on it (a square/rectangle) for use with a projector. Using the function key with this key switches the display - maybe it has been switched in error.