I found a monitor on sale 1/2 off...
http://www.bargainstock.co.uk/Product.asp?pid=481

Hope this helps!

The backlight inverter is faulty, the lamp should still be good if it powers up.

I am in North London, and a call out in Croydon from here will be expensive (with part about £100+).
If you are in Croydon better to find a repair near you or replace the monitor.
Even getting a service near to you the repair wont be below £60/£80 that is the price for a new 17" TFT.

If you go at PC World repair centre in Croidon, for example, you will have the job done for £68 plus part (Chrismas special price).
That is about £80.
An unlicenced repairman, in the best case will charge you £50 or so.

You can order a new 17" TFT from PCWB for £.82 inc., then sell on ebay for spares (£20 or so) the old screen.
See PC WORLD BUSINESS RECOMMENDS
Acer V173b
If you go to a staples near you , you can buy a new 17" for £73 :
Item Code 394010, that is roughly the price for a repair.

Yes you are right and its the inverter or the inverter coil (backlight) which is going and i think the coil because it power up for a second or two, take it to a computer repair shop they will probably be able to fix it fairly cheap if its the coil!!! I live in the uk so here is an address and phone number for you in croydon.

PC Servicing London South
PC Servicing London South
Tanfield Road,
Croydon,
Surrey
CR0 1AL

Tel: 020 8681 8693

kind regards

Contact expert ginko, he is in England like you, most experts are in the good old USA

Its going to cost you more to repair it then whats it worth, you can find a 17 lcd monitor now for under $175 as this would be the cheaper route still