Broken laptop screen backlit (not mine):
I'm guessing either the inverter or the CCFLs died. Both of those are really cheap fixes parts wise. The hardest part is replacing CCFLs because getting those LCD panels apart is a pain in the ass.
That looks like a Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad, you could also get the full screen assembly for usually less than $40 if you didn't want to DIY.