Laptop Screen Shattered - Please Read for Details

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Zannah0I, Sep 10, 2008.

  1. Zannah0I

    Zannah0I Private E-2

    A few months ago, my innocent little Toshiba Laptop (Running VISTA PREM. HOME EDITION) was dropped on a concrete floor. The screen shattered to the point of not seeing anything - it only shows white and black cracks and such. Otherwise, it works fine.

    Well, I borrowed a friend's monitor to hook it up to, looked up all the appropriate information to get it to work, did all that, yadda yadda. However, the monitor only works in Safe Mode. :cry

    I'm a simpleton when it comes to most things, and I've given myself a headache trying to figure out how to "Override" the laptop's screen in normal mode. So, I'm stuck using Safe Mode. (Obviously, or else I wouldn't be able to type this.) :-D

    Here's a few more details or minor questions I have:

    1. I don't have the driver CD for the external monitor. However, it's a Dell monitor. If there is a website or something where I can look up said driver, please let me know.

    2. Also, the screen itself is very large resolutionwise, and I've tried fixing it so everything's not ginormous. Is this just a feature with Safe Mode, or not? If not, how would I change the size resolution once I get this problem solved? :confused

    I hope to have a solution as soon as possible, and am full of gratitude. :)

    Sincerely,
    Zannah
     
  2. The Shadow

    The Shadow Specialist

    It's one of those, "you need to be there" kind of things.

    There is a key combination on your keyboard that switches between onboard monitor (screen) and external.

    It's usually the "n" key, in blue and one of the keys on the top row of the keyboard.

    Forever, in safe mode, there are NO video drivers loaded. Windows will use the basic VGA settings of 640x480 (or some such).
    Yes, everything looks BIG!. That's just safe mode and you're not going to do anything about that.

    So boot up in regular mode with the external monitor connected and turned ON and use the provided key combination to turn on the external monitor port.

    I have a similar notebook with a badly cracked screen.
    I can sort-of see a picture but it's a mess.
    Replacing the screen would be more expensive than just replacing the computer.
    Or so I've been told.
    So the little computer continues to sit on a shelf in my shop.
    I may just wind up parting it out.

    Good Luck,
    The Shadow :cool
     
  3. thesunscreen

    thesunscreen Specialist

    try booting the laptop normally with the screen plugged in, then when it should be up and running press FN and what ever key looks like two little boxes, this will attempt to switch to external monitor. Drivers for monitors are never needed in any new OS ( a fact I'm sure will be challenged by someone) Good luck
     
  4. The Shadow

    The Shadow Specialist

    I just dug out my own Toshiba laptop, so I could refresh my memory about that key combination, and YES it's the "Fn" key at the bottom of the keyboard and the F5 key at the top of the keyboard, in combination.
    (Hold the Fn key down and then tap the F5 key)

    I suppose that F key could be different on different models, but that's what I'm seeing here anyway.

    The external monitor should require NO drivers and should work just fine if screen resolution it set at either 800x600 or slightly higher.

    Cheers Mates!
    The Shadow :cool
     
  5. Team Toshiba

    Team Toshiba Private E-2

    The Shadow's advice is sound. If you want to really make sure, hook up the monitor to another laptop and make sure that works.
     
  6. The Shadow

    The Shadow Specialist

    I love Toshiba Laptops.
    That's the only brand that I recommend to my own customers who want to go portable.

    I will never replace the screen on my own Toshiba, because, it's OLD, has only a 4 gig HD and very little ram. It runs Windows 98.

    But, if it were newer, and could run Windows XP, I would go to lengths to get that screen replaced.

    Cheers mates!
    The Shadow :cool
     

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