External VGA on Smashed laptop?

danielgent · 10-20-2009, 07:10 AM

Hi there,

Someones given me an HP G60 laptop thats been dropped down the stairs. The LCD is completely smashed. When I turn it on the fans spin and power lights are on but nothing comes on the screen (and there are no beeps). When I take out the RAM I get 3 beeps from POST, so it must not be completely screwed. I've taken out the Optical Disk Drive and Hard Disk drive and tested them in my PC (using diagnostic software and the SATA connections) and they are both fine. When I plug in an external display via the VGA output nothing appears on the monitor, even when I press fn+F4 (the external monitor button).

So my question is, can I just plug an external monitor in and expect the display to show on that or do I have to change some settings in the BIOS first? (which I can't do as the screens smashed). I could take an old screen out another laptop and connect it to test but I'd rather not if the laptops definitely done in!
Is this laptop completely wrecked or is there hope yet? I had a look on the HP website but I can't find anything in the manuals about the beep codes. Any idea where I could get the info? Do all HP laptops use a certain BIOS and thus I can find the beep codes that way?

Much thanks for your help,

Dan Gent

Madcatz · 10-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Which G60 do you have? there are about 40-50 different G60 models.

As for the BIOS beep codes, they usually use the same bios, but not always, best way to find the beep codes is to do the troubleshooter on thier website and it will take you to the bios beep codes and what they mean.

But since the computer decided to take a trip down the stairs, its very possible something may have gotten unplugged, quite a few HP's have the external port connected by a wire, I would suggest checking and making sure everything is still plugged in.

danielgent · 10-20-2009, 01:02 PM

the G60-116EA, sorry i should have put that in my post

thats a good idea about the troubleshooter. i'll check that out now!

thats good news then about the port possibly being connected by an external wire. its definitely worth me taking apart then and reassembling.

Thanks for the help Madcatz

10-20-2009, 07:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
danielgent Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20 OS: Ubuntu	External VGA on Smashed laptop? Hi there, Someones given me an HP G60 laptop thats been dropped down the stairs. The LCD is completely smashed. When I turn it on the fans spin and power lights are on but nothing comes on the screen (and there are no beeps). When I take out the RAM I get 3 beeps from POST, so it must not be completely screwed. I've taken out the Optical Disk Drive and Hard Disk drive and tested them in my PC (using diagnostic software and the SATA connections) and they are both fine. When I plug in an external display via the VGA output nothing appears on the monitor, even when I press fn+F4 (the external monitor button). So my question is, can I just plug an external monitor in and expect the display to show on that or do I have to change some settings in the BIOS first? (which I can't do as the screens smashed). I could take an old screen out another laptop and connect it to test but I'd rather not if the laptops definitely done in! Is this laptop completely wrecked or is there hope yet? I had a look on the HP website but I can't find anything in the manuals about the beep codes. Any idea where I could get the info? Do all HP laptops use a certain BIOS and thus I can find the beep codes that way? Much thanks for your help, Dan Gent

10-20-2009, 07:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,424 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: External VGA on Smashed laptop? Which G60 do you have? there are about 40-50 different G60 models. As for the BIOS beep codes, they usually use the same bios, but not always, best way to find the beep codes is to do the troubleshooter on thier website and it will take you to the bios beep codes and what they mean. But since the computer decided to take a trip down the stairs, its very possible something may have gotten unplugged, quite a few HP's have the external port connected by a wire, I would suggest checking and making sure everything is still plugged in. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

10-20-2009, 01:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
danielgent Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20 OS: Ubuntu	Re: External VGA on Smashed laptop? the G60-116EA, sorry i should have put that in my post thats a good idea about the troubleshooter. i'll check that out now! thats good news then about the port possibly being connected by an external wire. its definitely worth me taking apart then and reassembling. Thanks for the help Madcatz