HELP - did my cat just ruin my laptop screen?

Dell may replace it for you, but I dunno. Liquid damage isn't usually covered by warranties.

i'm gonna look, but i'm not hopeful

Pretty simple. You will probably need to google disassembly instructions, but you will either have one of two options:

1. Just have to dry off the display connection, as VF suggested or

2. Replace the screen

You'd essentially disassemble the computer enough to where you can access the display ribbon connection (usually just take off the top section that surrounds the keyboard), dry it all off, maybe use some (rubbing) alcohol to clean the connections and blow some compressed air at it to make sure it's dry.

If that doesn't work, get a new screen and do the same thing, but this time pop off the bezel and remove the LCD panel. Pop the new screen in, connect it up, reassemble.

Easy peasy.

This is all done with it unplugged and no battery, of course!

Package it up carefully, mail it to me, and I'll order a replacement LCD panel and do the work. Like I said originally, the panel usually costs about $70 to $90 depending, and it's about 45 minutes to an hour total work to get it replaced and cleaned/dried out.

I can't ask you to do all that! Why are you such a darned nice frog???

She's afraid you'll find her porns!

Honestly, I wouldn't even log in to the laptop. Just boot it up to make certain the BIOS starts and Windoze completes startup normally.

Don't mail it with the hard drive.