Monitor so dark can't See anything

Is it a laptop?  most likely the backlight in the LCD is broken. You will need to get a replacement screen.

It is a laptop but it is a HUGE laptop/desktop replacement. I did check the brightness. Is replacement from the manufacture the only option?  Thank you

Afraid so :(

A replacement screen is not the only option, backlights can be replaced by a good computer repair shop able to do component level repairs.
Unfortunately the one i'm aware of is MCS in  Luton, UK so may not be much help but you should be able to find someone to do it for you.

Usually if you can make out the desktop and the screen is dark the Inverter which powers the backlights has gone bad. This is an easier fix than a backlight replacement. Some of the symptoms of a bad backlight is a pinkish tone to the screen and a gradual dimming over time. An inverter failure is more sudden blackout of the screen.
There is one other possibility that most people don't check and that is the small switch that turns off the backlight when the screen is closed. Sometimes it gets stuck in the off position.
What model laptop is this exactly, there should be a sticker on the bottom with this info. I noticed you put DP8 in the TAG line, would it be a Sager DP8?

The small switch for the backlight is a small stem of plastic no bigger than a pin.  It used to get stuck down in it's hole all the time and I would have manually pull it out. I checked that.  There's no pinkish tone and there was a sudden blackout. (although I can faintly still see the intro screen.)

The computer is a Beyond One Laptop 3.2 ver 1.0
Model D800Bat-12 (doesn't say anything about a Sager)
Product code D800P

Well, Beyond doesn't manufacture their own laptops, the Sager brand is a possibility but I think it's more likely a Clevo laptop which also makes Sagers laptops. In essence there are only a few major laptop manufacturers that make them for all the other companies that sell them. I'm just trying to narrow down the model in order to find the inverter part for you.
Does this look like your laptop

Very similar. Only one DVD drive on the left with a floppy drive, MP3 player on the right. I don't see anything about Sager or Clevo, just says "Notebook Computer" but I swear this thing weighs in at about 35 pounds. It has 4 rubber feet on the bottom. Cost too much to do nothing about it.  Thanks for continuing to reply to this.

Ok, there are probably a few small differences but that is a pic of the  Sager 8890, which is also known as a Prostar 8814 and a Clevo D800P.
With the symptoms you are seeing I would suggest it is the inverter that is the problem.
To recap--> sudden black out of the backlight, can still view the desktop with a flashlight at an angle,
and one other thing to check. Does an external monitor work with this laptop?

I'm looking at the Clevo D800P's  manual and to change from the laptop lcd to the external monitor uses the keystrokes--> hold the Fn key and press F6.

Yes, external monitor works well...no need to hold Fn key/f6.  It starts up perfect without doing anything.  No need to use a flashlight.  If you get close enough and at an angle, you can see the screen saver or intro screen.  

Well that certainly seems to be an dead inverter. You mentioned that the lid  pin had been sticking at one point, have you played with that to ensure it's not broken. Depressing it a few times to see if you get a momentary flicker of light from the screen(no external screen attached)

No flickers when I press it. The dark screen stays the same too. I can still barely see the screen saver no matter if I press the lid pin or not.

I have been scouring the usual service manual sites to see if there is a manual for disassembly for this model but I can't find anything. The proper way to find the inverter replacement is to open up the screen and find the part number sticker on the inverter itself as it is matched to the screen, but I can't find a service manual.

Just to be sure there isn't something simple going on here, using the external monitor, use the Fn+F6 keys to toggle through the sequences for changing between the external and LCD, take a few seconds between presses to ensure the screen has a chance to respond.

Inverters (and backlights) can be bought secondhand, i've used technomart (http://www.techno-mart.co.uk/) in the uk previously

I have toggled back and forth.  External monitor works fine...back to the laptop, dark screen. No service manuals anywhere??? Hummm..

I would still say it's the inverter.
You may get lucky and have some screws under those little circular pads on the face of the screen, but if you are in doubt it may be worth taking to a service shop for them to check out, but I would only order a part like this once I had the actual part number on the inverter itself.
This isn't your laptop but this may give you an idea as to where and what the inverter is, and some technique on how to get at it.
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/category/replacing-screen-inverter/
If you aren't comfortable doing this then a reputable repairshop is the alternative.

There are screws under the pads. It should be easy enough for me to do myself with the above directions. As long as it is unplugged and I ground myself I'll live through it <wink> I will accept this as my solution albiet you worked WAY too hard on this for the points.  (I believe I have to wait for your next post before I "Accept as Solution") Thank you very much!

Also remove the battery

Just keep this open until you find the answer, no need to be premature in giving points.

ok, I'll advise

If you get to the inverter post the part number here

I just came across this great link for testing the inverter without opening the case, but it requires a higher end TRUE RMS multitester that can show a frequency range.
Check this out, you may have a friend with one of these testers.
http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htm

I would be surprised if it's not the inverter after all that I have learned here. I'll go ahead and crack the case.

I pulled it out.  There are several numbers on it.  Looks like Model D800INT-B
Other numbers:
EP (with a circle around it) 10v0a
94v-0 (with large digital numbers that follow 0332)
E157925 (alone)
I don't see another series of numbers.

sparkmaker. Looks like you were right.  This computer is a Clevo:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/100980943/LCD_Inverter_Backlight_Lamp_For_Clevo/showimage.html?

Here is a page with this exact inverter and also gives other compatible part numbers
http://www.clevoweb.co.uk/Parts/76-D800R-011.htm

That's the exact one.  $88.00.  They don't give them away, huh?

No, but it would have been much more expensive to have a shop repair it I bet.

You got that right. I'll order it today

It was ordered on September 3, 2008. Have you had any purchase from this company? (just trying to guess how long it takes.)

No, I haven't dealt with them personally. If it's coming from overseas it could be a couple of weeks.

o.k
I'll close this out once it's installed.

I have not received the part yet. I'll leave it open until the part comes in.

I still have not received the part. I have instructions to close this but I still need it open to determine if the part is the solution.

I received the Invereter and installed it.  No change.  The montor is the same before I took out the old inverter.  The monitor is still dark.

That's unfortunate, the only other thing I can see it being then is the backlight itself, these are like a very thin flourescent tube. It's best to get the same one but you can sometimes get away with a similar one, it my just not be as bright/even across the screen.

Well, I knew I was taking a chance because it was either or.  I don't know where the backlight is on this thing or even where to get one to change it.