Laptop Monitor LCD whiting out

[Yugl]

Laptop: XPS m1530

Problem: The laptop's screen is blank (But lit up) when I use the laptop without an external monitor. With an external monitor, the correct image displays on the external monitor and the laptop itself. However, removing the cord for the external monitor makes the laptop's screen slowly whiteout.

[Yugl]

Update: It's gotten worse. My computer blacked out and shutdown while playing FFXI. The laptop seems to have progressively become slower. If I use safe mode or safe mode with network, I'm fine. Otherwise, the somewhat freezes upon logging in, so I imagine the problem is with a program that is starting at launch, but I don't know the issue. Also, is anyone familiar with a way to get around the "Microsoft cannot verify this license" issue while using safe mode? Worked when I was using normal mode, but safe mode brings up that error. My intuition is that safe mode doesn't load some feature that is responsible for microsoft word registering the license.

[Kryssan]

Hm; well with the initial post I'd say it was just a setting issue (display on one screen vice both), but with shutdown issues during gaming you're probably looking at overheating. Doesn't explain logon crashes though, shouldn't be overheating that fast (unless it isn't being turned off/cooled down between these periods?). And yeah, safe mode doesn't load quite a bit of libraries; wouldn't surprise me if the registration was part of that.