Two failures account for most 'dead' screens: backlight strips on TVs and lamps in projectors. Both are owner-fixable.
TV backlights
Symptoms: sound works, faint image visible with a flashlight, no picture. Backlight LED strips fail from heat. Buy strip kits matched to your TV's model number and panel size (32/43/50/55" kits differ). Replacement takes 45–90 minutes: remove the panel, swap strips, test before full reassembly. Always handle the LCD panel by its edges.
Projector lamps
Symptoms: dim image, color shift, or shutter refusing to open. Match the lamp model (e.g., ELPLP96). Compatible lamps deliver 80–90% brightness for a quarter of OEM price. Let the cool-down fan run every time — it doubles lamp life.
Preventive care
Clean TV vents and projector filters quarterly; dust is what kills these parts.
Find your model in our TV backlights and projector lamps collections.