If you have the ATI x300 video card installed, is this happening when you are on battery power?

Take a flashlight and shine it at the screen. If you can see icons, you probably need your LCD screen replaced. That happened to me with a 2500 while it was still under warranty, so Dell repaired it and had it back to me in about 3-4 days.

would that possibly be the same problem for an inspiron 1100, or would there be something different associated with that lap top?

I think it certainly wouldn't hurt to check. My understanding is that it can be a typical problem with LCD monitors. I had had my 2500 for about seven or eight months when it happened, so the original monitor may have been defective.

I say try it anyway (shining the flashlight on the screen) just to check - it's not like you're taking anything apart or doing something potentially dangerous. If you see the icons, then you can bypass the whole issue of calling tech support. Good luck with it!