advice on computer monitor please

searchlight123

hi
my friend has damaged his eeepc netbooks screen (running windows xp) completely. i think the netbook still works and would like to back up his data on that machine before it goes for repair.
i have connected it to my windows 7 acer aspire 5536 laptop via vga lead but how can i 'see' his computer on my screen please.
i thought it might come thru automatically but no such joy.
many thanks for advice.

Richard_T_

So your trying to connect a netbook to a laptop on order to use the laptops screen?

in some cases that may be a little tricky.
If you dont have a stand alone computer monitor, it may be easier to connect the eepc to a flat screen Tv using the VGA lead.
if you cant get a picture on the TV after selecting vga input, or pc input you should have a button on the eepc marked fn on one of the f keys you should have a symbol that looks like a square with rounded edges and another one with something that resembles a monitor (F8?) press and hold the fn key and tap the F key with the monitor logo on, then let go of both, you should get a picture on the TV screen if the tv has VGA in, and its selected on the TV ( input type )

NiftyDigits

Just take the drive out.

Quiet_Spark

You can't use the laptop monitor to view your friends screen.
You'll either need a proper monitor, flat screen TV that has a VGA input socket, or take the drive out as suggested by Nifty if you want to get the data back.

searchlight123

Many thanks for suggestions. I shall try my tv as that has a via socket at the back.

Strider590

Unless your friend had previously turned on remote desktop, then the only option is to take out the hard drive and put it into an external caddy.

prowla

Strider590 wrote: »

Unless your friend had previously turned on remote desktop, then the only option is to take out the hard drive and put it into an external caddy.

Nope - the option is to plug it in to an external monitor (eg. the TV with a VGA input they mentioned).

searchlight123

an update:
think i will have to go down the 'remove hard drive' option.
i tried connecting the netbook to 2 samsung tv sets i have with vga sockets and on neither could i get to see the netbook's screen. i tried toggling the function and f8 key (that shows a monitor symbol) on the netbook but could get nothing on the tv at all. i had changed the tv source to pc).
thanks for the attempted help.

Kernel_Sanders

bsod wrote: »

Is it worth repairing? Various shells on ebay if you want to try diy

That's what I was thinking, i.e. it must be under guarantee. My Asus Eee had smoke coming from the charger after 11 months and now overheats so I have to run it with an underfan and RAM cover removed. Battery lasts < hour and I'm really waiting for the charger port to give way as this is a known fault on these machines. Don't think my next laptop will be a Asus!

arriva

is this a solid-state hd type of eeepc or one with a traditional hard drive?
the removal of the solid-state hard drive from an old eeepc can be tricky as it has two separate ssd, one easily accessible from the back cover and one buried underneath the motherboard (needless to say the one under the mobo is the boot drive... ).