I misplaced the stylus for my M275 Gateway tablet, and the OEM replacement is way to pricey. Is there another brand/type that's compatible, or are they model specific?

I suspect it may be a problem with the video cable coming from the convertible tablet, up through the hinged support for the LCD screen, AND/OR the screen Inverter.

I would like you to connect a VGA monitor, to the VGA port on the back of the convertible tablet. The VGA monitor will now be an External Monitor.

[ Looking at the rear of the convertible tablet, start at the Left side.
Vent, USB port, Monitor port. The Monitor port is the VGA port ]

The VGA monitor can be a CRT type, (Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor with a VGA cable.

Notebook OFF, monitor OFF, connect the VGA monitor to the M275's VGA connector. (Port)
Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type, allow it to warm up.

Turn the notebook on.
By the factory default settings, whatever is shown on the convertible tablet's internal monitor, should now be shown on the external monitor.
(VGA monitor)

If not, press, and hold down on the Fn key (On the bottom row of the Keyboard, all the way to the Left), and tap once on the F3 key.
(Top row of Function keys. The F3 key is the Display Toggle-Over Key )

No graphics shown on the external monitor? Hold down on the Fn key again, and tap the F3 key again.
There are at least three options available;

1) Convertible tablet's internal monitor - ONLY
2) Convertible tablet, AND external monitor
3) External monitor - ONLY

If graphics are fine on the external monitor, you have a problem with the video cable, and/or the screen Inverter. At this time we will bypass the LCD screen, and come back to it.

At the bottom/middle of the tablet's LCD screen, is the Hinge. The Hinge Cover is 'T shaped', and has one single Philips screw holding it on.
If you remove the screw, and the Hinge Cover, you will see two wire harnesses.
One Black, the other White.

See that these two cables are plugged in tightly to the connector.

After checking this step come back in a Comment, and state your findings.

Regards,
joecoolvette

[ Additionally;
Here is the Service Manual (Free) for the Gateway M275 Convertible Tablet,

http://www.tim.id.au/blog/tims-laptop-service-manuals/#toc-gateway

Where it states - Gateway 400, go down to the second line, and across to M275. Left-click on M275.
This is a PDF file. It may take up to 30 seconds before the first page comes up.

This is as far as I got. hope it helps: http://www.driverfiles.net/Notebooks/Gateway/Gateway-M275/download/page,sh,31472,223,19,.html

here is the link for the drivers you should need http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Gateway/M275/3501734nv.shtml

the link below should download the button drivers for windows xp on your laptop. if you like you can navigate through gateways support section and find all of the drivers that you need.
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=19587&dscr=Gateway%20M275%20Button%20driver,%20version%205.01.2600.2156&uid=254270972

you can replace the glass by taking it too the nearest glass store as long as the screen still works

For your tablet to function again, you'll need the WACOM tablet driver which is NOT provided by Gateway, since they do not manufacture the tablet themselves.

You'll need the following drivers from the GATEWAY site to fix your button issue:

9524572.exe - Gateway M275 Button driver, version 5.01.2600.2156

and from the WACOM site you'll need the Tablet PC driver.
-Go to www.Wacom.com
-Select your location and language on the right
-On the next page, choose downloads from the top navigation bar
-In Step 1 scroll down and pick Tablet PC
-In Step 2 choose your operating system
-Follow the download instructions provided on the site from there

it is look like your laptop does not have the light runing on your screen , open the screen and chek the smal part under de scrren is in the midle of screen with 3or2 smal cable on 1 side and 3or2 that difer from brand to brand smal the other side  wich is conected to the light sourece, that is the problem change that part and will be ok.

i can hook you up with a copy of the tablet dvd that has the drivers as well.

You can purchase replacement hinges and hinge covers here: http://www.mundocorp.com/m275.html They may be a bit of work to replace. But short of replacing the hinge assembly, it doesn't sound like that is going to move.

try removing the battery and then booting without the battery attached