laptop screen shows no output with Linux 3.0.0-15-generic or 3.0.0-17-generic

[pyronordicman]

The system is an Asus UL20FT-A1 laptop.
Kernel 3.0.0-12-generic has no display issues, but 3.0.0-15-generic and 3.0.0-17-generic will not output to the laptop's built-in display. All of the above kernels work with HDMI and VGA outputs.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: linux-image-3.0.0-15-generic 3.0.0-15.26
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC269VB Analog [ALC269VB Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: user 3479 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf4000000 irq 43'
   Mixer name : 'Intel IbexPeak HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0269,10431133,00100100 HDA:80862804,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 15
   Simple ctrls : 8
Date: Mon Apr 2 22:58:18 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=7e7a99d3-65d2-4c53-b7b3-9b908746d16e
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111011)
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:a136 Suyin Corp. Asus Integrated Webcam [CN031B]
MachineType: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. UL20FT
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no User Name)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=2366925b-f3a9-4b4d-9a4d-156e77c356cb ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.60
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/18/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 223
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: UL20FT
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 0x00000000
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr223:bd02/18/2011:svnASUSTeKComputerInc.:pnUL20FT:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:rnUL20FT:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.name: UL20FT
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

[pyronordicman (peter-eldridge-bailey)]

Under 3.0.0-17-generic, I can change screen brightness, but all I see is a dark purple background.
Attempting to switch to a virtual console has no effect on the display.