XPS M1530 Video

Can the screen specifications be identified from the SN or other number? Best way to get fixed is to extend out of warranty warranty? How much does this usually cost? New laptops are $400 - similar specs.

Depends on the screen you have.  If it's a standard CCFL backlit screen, could be the inverter is bad - or the bulb, or even the mainboard.  You'd need to do some diagnostics with a VOM to determine.

If the screen has an LED backlight, it doesn't have a conventional inverter.

Inverters are sold used by parts resellers but aren't sold new separate from the screens.  If you determine the inverter is bad, remove the old one (it's behind the screen) and locate the exact same part (don't assume all 1530s use the same inverter - they don't;  the inverter is specific to the screen and a Samsung screen may use a different inverter from a QDI screen, etc.).

The service manual is below - look for the "remove display panel" instructions to locate the inverter.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1530/en/SM/index.htm

The screen type will be listed in the BIOS setup (F2).  No $400 notebook will have the specs your 1530 does - at $400 the CPU will be slower, the screen smaller or lower resolution, etc.  Yes, you can buy an M1530 equivalent for under $1000 but it'll be more like $700-800, not $400.

I have a similar problem you have, did you fix your laptop? and if so, how you did it?