Try reseating the video cable and flashing the BIOS. If that fails, I suggest you contact tech support and have your LCD replaced if your system is still under warranty.

Not really a common problem but it does happen. You can download the BIOS update here and I suggest you use the floppy version if you have a floppy drive. If you dont, the hard drive version would be ok. All you need to do is download the file onto your computer. Run the file and it would automatically create the Flash BIOS disk that you need. Once created, boot from the floppy. and it would automatically update your BIOS. Be sure all external devices except the external monitor and the AC adapter are removed. Take out any PCMCIA cards as well and be sure battery is installed. Btw, at what point does the white screen occur? You mentioned that though you see the white screen on the LCD, you are still able to see video (windows) in the external monitor, is this correct?

LCD problems including the problem you have now happens in all brands of notebooks and not exclusively with Dell. Flashing the BIOS is just a troubleshooting step that could possibly solve the problem.

How do I go about flashing bios? Do I get that off the Dell site? Is this a common problem with laptops?

Thanks for the help, will have to try the bios tomorrow. Better get to bed...
again thanks

As I mentioned earlier, I suggest that you also reseat the LCD cable as well

I am still able to use the external monitor to operate the notebook. It is just the LCD screen that appears to have a problem. Will the bios update create any other possible problems? This notebook is 3 years old already and maybe needs to be replaced? Does this happen to other brands of notebooks or just Dell?