Similar to your issue, a Dell Latitude I had the pleasure of using was once attached to a second monitor and after a dozen or so uses with that second monitor, running that laptop without the second monitor wouldn't display anything.
In a low light room, without direct sunlight, I stumbled upon seeing the log-on screen, the display was lit up just enough to see the shut down button -try different angles-. After a shutdown (this is going to sound strange) holding the laptop -with lid closed- 6 inches from the floor and dropping it, (no carpet) powering up the computer and wouldn't you know it, display decided to show up.
I'm not saying for you to do this, I'm only conveying my experience with a similar issue. If you are going to drop it, you may want to make sure you faintly see the log-on screen before doing so. I had to move my head in so many different angles before my eyes adjusted to seeing the screen. That's all I got.