screen problems with dell laptop

[moreandmoreprob]

Ok, I need everyone's help on this. I bought a Dell Laptop about year and a half ago if not longer. I had a few minor problems with it here and there, until about 4 months ago. One day my boyfriend had it at his house and he told me that he shut it off to go to work on night and when he returned to turn it on, the backlight flikered like it was going to turn on but never did. You could see the screen if you put a light up next to it. One morning we woke up and the light was back on. Over night. It worked good for about 2-3 weeks and then it was turned off and the light never turned back on. It will flickers like normal and flash on for about 10 seconds, then nothing. Does anyone have any ideas to what problems might be going on. Please I could use any help and advice on this one. Thanks