Hi, I'm Adam, I'm known as Warwagon on the forum. For the past 19 years, I've been operating my own computer repair business. In doing so, I deal with the average computer user on a day-to-day basis.
Every bit of information I provide for people I do so with the lowest common denominator in mind. It's a common misconception that everyone who joins or browses a tech site is a techie. Some people are just looking for guidance. That is why for some, these tech tips may seem a bit too simplistic but they are educational for others.
Do you have a laptop laying around with a broken screen that you didn’t want to spend the money to get fixed?
Did you know that you can still use the laptop over HDMI if it has HDMI out on the side of the laptop?
Simply plug it into a TV or a monitor with an HDMI port. You should now see the laptop on the other screen.
Now we should tell the computer not to go to sleep when you shut the lid.
- Click start type power and click “Edit Power plan”
- Click “Change advanced power settings”
- Scroll down until you see “Power button and Lid”, drop it down, and drop down “Lid close action” set plugged in from “Sleep” to “do nothing”.
If you do not see "Power and lid close" you have to add it via a registry key.
- Click start and type cmd
- Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator"
at the command prompt copy and paste the following command
REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347\5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 /v Attributes /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
Now simply shut the lid and the computer will use the TV or monitor as its primary display.
Now just plug in a wireless mouse and keyboard (a bundle can be had for $16 at Walmart) into it. If you have a USB mouse and keyboard you can use that too.
Now you have yourself a fully working computer.
Happy Computing!
If you learned something today, great! If not, maybe share your own tech tip in the comments below!
FAQs
You can connect your laptop to a monitor or TV through a hdmi or vga cable. Try to select vga or hdmi dislpay mode in tv, depending upon the video output port of your pc. or connect crt monitor to vga out port of the pc if no vdo meance the pc is damaged during the burst.
How to use a laptop with a broken screen as a desktop? ›
You can connect your laptop to a monitor or TV through a hdmi or vga cable. Try to select vga or hdmi dislpay mode in tv, depending upon the video output port of your pc. or connect crt monitor to vga out port of the pc if no vdo meance the pc is damaged during the burst.
How can I use my laptop without a laptop screen? ›
Alternative Methods: Wireless Display
- HDMI Connection: If your laptop has an HDMI input port, you can directly connect it to your primary computer using an HDMI cable. ...
- Third-Party Software: Applications like SpaceDesk or Input Director offer additional features and compatibility options.
Yes absolutely! Most importantly never operate your devices with visible cracks in their displays as these can cause severe injury - either directly through contact with exposed circuits or through electric shocks where liquid gets into any electrical components inside the device.
How can I access my old laptop with a broken screen? ›
Use External Monitor to Get Data off
The laptop LCD screen is still working (only that it cannot display); you will need an external monitor to access the data. In this process, you need to use a VGA cable or HDMI cable, depending on the monitor you want to use.
How to force a laptop to use an external monitor? ›
Check your display settings: Make sure that your laptop is set to use the external monitor as its display. To do this, right-click on your desktop and select "Display Settings." Under "Multiple Displays," ensure that "Extend desktop" is selected.
Does a laptop work without a screen? ›
Yes. This is how I used my old laptop for several months after the screen died. I had an external keyboard and mouse as well, so I set Windows to not shut down when the lid closed and used it like a desktop.
How to format a laptop with a broken screen? ›
Save your data to a USB drive. Then reinstall Windows. You need some kind of screen to reset it. If you can't get any screen to work I would remove the hard drive and wipe it using another computer.
Can I turn my laptop into a PC? ›
To use your laptop as a desktop computer, you will need to connect several devices to it. If your laptop doesn't have enough ports to connect a monitor, keyboard, and other devices at the same time, you can connect a USB hub to a [Tell-if-Your-USB-Cable-Supports-High-Speed|USB 3.0 or higher USB port]].
How do I use my laptop screen as an input? ›
To use your laptop as a monitor, you'll need to connect it to the other device using either an HDMI cable or a VGA cable. Most modern laptops have an HDMI port, but if your laptop doesn't have one, you may need to purchase an adapter.
8 Tips To Fix Cracked Laptop Screen Without Replacing
- Inspect for Dust or Debris. ...
- Try an External Monitor. ...
- Fix the Dead Pixels. ...
- Update the Video Card Drivers. ...
- Fix Screen Burn-In. ...
- Check Screen and Backlight Connections. ...
- Seek Professional Assistance.
If your monitor and laptop or PC have one or two HDMI ports, you just need a single HDMI cable. If you want to connect two monitors but only have one HDMI port, use an HDMI splitter. Be sure that the splitter has the same refresh rate as the HDMI cable.
Can I mirror my phone with broken screen to my laptop? ›
Step 1: Download and install AnyMirror on your PC and Android phone. Step 2: Launch the application on your PC and connect your Android smartphone to the PC. Then, select the Screen Mirroring option and tap on the Ok button. Step 3: When the app detects your Android smartphone, you will see the following screen.
How to boot a laptop without a screen? ›
Step 1: Access External Monitor
- Hook up the external monitor and boot up the laptop. The external monitor MIGHT turn on by itself... or maybe not. ...
- Hit F8 to switch monitors. ...
- Tell the operating system to always use the external monitor. ...
- Reboot the laptop and it should boot directly onto the external monitor.
Another way to recover data from a damaged laptop screen is to use a bootable USB drive. This is a USB flash drive that has an operating system installed on it, such as Linux or Windows. You can create a bootable USB drive using another computer and a software tool, such as Rufus or UNetbootin.
Can you use a laptop as a screen for a desktop? ›
Absolutely, you can use your laptop as a monitor. Most Windows laptops support external display modes that allow them to be used as monitors for other devices. The specific method for activating this feature will vary depending on the model of your laptop and the device you're trying to connect it to.
Can you use a monitor if your laptop screen is broken? ›
Yes, if your laptop has a broken screen but still functions properly, you can connect it to an external monitor using an HDMI cable and use the external monitor as your primary display.
How can I use my laptop as a desktop? ›
Quick Steps
- Connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to your laptop's ports or a hub.
- Open the Windows Settings menu and click Display.
- Select "Duplicate" for multiple displays.
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- Click Chose what closing the lid does and select "Do Nothing."
How to close a Windows laptop and use the monitor
- Open the Control Panel by looking for it in Windows search. ...
- Click the dropdowns next to When I close the lid, under On battery and Plugged in. ...
- Click Save changes to apply your new lid settings.
.jpg "How to take a laptop with a broken screen and make it a usable computer (3)")
