YMMV but, while my screen was going bad, it got dim and I could see it if I set it up the right way.
Two things: I got up early in the morning so my eyes were used to the dark.
Second: On mine the blue ring-light would come on every time I’d press a button. But when I had it plugged in and charging it wouldn’t do that. Without that bright light the menu was pretty easy to read (before it died completely.)
Mine is a Sansa Clip like one of the group of four on this page:
https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4303/
While the display was dying I took some notes on the menu tree, but they were focused on using the radio and recording the radio.
If your device looks like mine, reply and I’ll post the notes.
You may want to try the user manuals too, this might help you locate yours:
