Well if it is there a couple of fixes depending on the problem, when you power up if there is a very faint display, barely visible in a bright room so try it in as dark a room as possible, then it is probably the LCD inverter which is a fairly easy fix. They cost usually less then 25 bucks, you can get one on ebay, just be sure to order the correct one for your compaq model. As I said the replacement procedure is easy, check out step by step directions on line, there are even some pretty good you tube videos on the procedure. Now it also may be the bulb (there is actually a fluorescent bulb in there) which can go bad. That too is replaceable. If that is the problem, you will not see any signal at all. Good luck and let us know how you are progressing.