If what you're saying is that the external monitor is showing the same fault as the display panel, it's the mainboard that's faulty -- not the display panel.

No I am using an external monitor now, that works fine.  With my original screen/display panel there were no signs of life when I fired my laptop up - no back light, no colour - so I chanced it with another screen/panel.  With the new (to me) panel the back light comes on, colour comes to the screen but only as stripes.  If I plug in an external monitor that works fine and my display panel changes colours as I change web pages.  I was hoping I could perhaps just download a driver for the new panel...?

No, I presumed the old one would work with the newer display panel.  I don't have another data cable to try either. :emotion-6:

Should the datacable have been changed with the different panel, or are you just ruling that out as a faulty part?

LCD panels need no drivers - either they are supported or they are not.  Is the model you purchased known to have shipped with the 1300 system?

From your description I'd say  the screen is faulty.

The guy I got it off said his laptop was a Inspiron 1300 and his motherboard failed so he broke the laptop for spares.  What I didn't ask was how old it was...

Ah!! :emotion-42: Is there anything else I can try?  Can I change the driver?  If so where can I find one?

Thanks for your continued help!

The data cable is very often screen-specific and should be changed when a different model screen is installed, yes.