[Caveman]

I was having this (or a similar) problem with my toshiba satellite P205 laptop. screen would go faint (backlight off?) if the screen was open past 90 degrees, i could work it back and forth and it would be better for a while, but i would always end up closing it more and more to get it back 'on'.

its only 18 months old, out of warrantee, couldn't justify spending 250 to repair (was quoted $250 by toshiba service center). I opted to open the case and do a jiggle test. i only had to remove the speaker cover panel, and the piece of trim (between it and the keyboard). (actually the cable to the speaker trim panel became disconnected, and i had to pull the 4 tiny screws that held the keyboard on and reattach it) found that the wire bundle next to the left speaker is kinda pinched, and when jiggled (pushed in) screen works great... whew

looks like there isn't enough room in there for that cable to move with the screen opening - kinda pulls on it??, anyhow, i cut off a 1 inch by half inch piece of the plastic speaker cover panel, to the upper right of the left speaker near the hinge, and put it back together, screen now operates way past 90 degrees, and if it goes out, a quick wiggle of that bundle has it going again.

i took a pic to post my handiwork here, but image was really poor, cameraphone.

i wouldn't suggest doing this to your equipment, i was on the verge of taking a hammer to it, and figured it couldn't get much worse

good luck