MacBook pro not working after using external display

[kguay]

I have a 2008 MacBook Pro and it has been working fine up until now. I just watched a movie with it hooked up to an external display (mirror mode). I tried to use clamshell mode but realized that the speakers wouldn't work well with the computer closed so I opened it back up. It worked great for the movie.

I shut the computer, then opened it a few minutes later and the screen was blank. I tried doing a hard reset three times, but it didn't help. The computer powers on (I can hear the CD drive boot up), but nothing else happens. The Caps light doesn't even turn on when I press it. The indicator light on the front of the computer is dim when the screen is open, and bright when it is closed.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Have you tried any of these steps?

Mac doesn't boot

Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac​

If it is a pre-unibody MBP: MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

 

[kguay]

Thank you for the suggestions, but nothing has worked.

 

[robgendreau]

When I've had my MBP get stuck in display issues resetting the PRAM fixed it.

What displays on the external monitor when you hook it up?

Can you access it using screen sharing from another Mac?

What happens when you start it in verbose or safe mode? Or from your Recovery partition?