We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Laptop screen broken how do I connect to tv

Options
mamaduke
mamaduke Posts: 281 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
edited 3 June 2011 at 10:17AM in Techie Stuff
Hi my son dropped his laptop & now the screen is broken.
We have a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV but as the laptop screen is blank we cant change the settings, how can we overcome this please?

It is an Advent 5431.

Comments

  • Phillh_2
    Phillh_2 Posts: 12 Forumite
    Hi, what make and model laptop is it?
    Pretty much all laptops allow you to change the video output source by using the FN key in conjunction with one of the 'F' keys, usually F5.
    It depends on the laptop but you should see an icon in the shape of a monitor on one of the 'F' keys which will be the one you need.
    To change the source simply hold down the FN key and press the relevant 'F' key, give it a few seconds and the image should appear on the TV, if not, press again until it shows.
    Hope this helps
  • mamaduke
    mamaduke Posts: 281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks, it is the F9 key that has that image so he is off to try it now :)
  • Phillh_2
    Phillh_2 Posts: 12 Forumite
    Just looked up the spec of the laptop and F9 is the wrong key, F9 is to enable/disable the touchpad.
    The one that is needed is F4.
  • mamaduke
    mamaduke Posts: 281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hi yep we just discovered that, sadly the F4 key has no effect either, do we need click anything on the screen after pressing the FN & F4 keys?, all it says on the TV is HDMI no input, the laptop screen has nothing visible at all.
    Thanks for your help so far :)
  • LucianH
    LucianH Posts: 445 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Does you're laptop boot up automatically into a use account or do you have to "login". I'm not sure, but the fn key may only work if the display drivers are fully loaded - I'm sure some other experts can help here (I've got nothing to test my theory on).
    Never let it get you down... unless it really is as bad as it seems.
  • Phillh_2
    Phillh_2 Posts: 12 Forumite
    You may need to press FN & F4 a couple of times for it to go to HDMI output.
    Is the laptop booting up properly? Do the activity LED's flash?

    Do you have to enter a password on the laptop to login? With some laptops you have to log in before you can change the video output.
  • mamaduke
    mamaduke Posts: 281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    He has logged in as best he can (having no screen its a bit difficult), all the usual lights are appearing in the usual order so it appears the laptop is working OK apart from the screen.
    Off to try a few more times then throw it in the bin lol.
  • mamaduke
    mamaduke Posts: 281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Yeah its fixed thank you so much for your help :j:T:j
  • LucianH
    LucianH Posts: 445 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Another thought, does you TV have a d-sub vga input? This may be the default for the laptops external monitor. If it does, try getting your hands on a cheap cable (or borrow one) to see if that works.
    Never let it get you down... unless it really is as bad as it seems.
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    Don't throw it in the bin. I typically charge £100-£120 including the cost of the screen to fix such a thing. Its not beyond the capabilities of those happy to wield a screwdriver.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.