I have just tried the laptop out, and its working-connecting to the internet with no issues, but there is a difference. The laptops brightness option panel has changed, and is available only from the mobility options. I believe the previous brightness panel was available through personalization, but this option in personalization has disappeared. I may be wrong, but I know for definite that the vista brightness panel I used before does not look the same as it did. In the control panels mobility options, the full brightness is good and likely matches what windows allows as default, but I dont think its as bright as I was able to turn it to before. The intel gfx display options elsewhere for the board have not been removed from the system and are still available through the control panel. Could it be a co-incidence?

ah, that was it-the brightness setting via the power option. The full brightness setting via mobility is only half of what the brightness setting is via the power option, and I can still turn it up to max as before. So ignoring as to why windows has more than one place for brightness settings (!), it looks like its a co-incidence after all. The system will be replaced soon enough,the casing binned, keeping the hdd and dvd drive. Im less sure about the screen and board-if the cables are regarded as only part of the board, perhaps I could sell the other for small change. thanks :)