Help me see my BIOS using a monitor attached to VGA out on my laptop. Please?
September 29, 2010 4:52 PM   Subscribe

How can I force a laptop to use VGA out during boot up prior to windows loading so that I can get into the BIOS and change the primary display to be permanently the VGA out?

I have an old Dell Inspiron 8600 on which the screen has completely died. It's really broken. It's not coming back.

I have a used Acer screen (Acer AL2223Wd) which I've hooked up to the VGA out on the back of the laptop and it's working great. Just like having a new computer.

When I boot up, the screen doesn't register input from the laptop until windows starts up. That means I can't see BIOS screens.

In order to force the laptop to use VGA Out as primary display so I can see the BIOS, I need to be able to see the BIOS so I end up with a chicken and egg situation.

Any ideas how to force this?

Things tried:
Func F8 to toggle display prior to windows start.
Disconnected laptop screen so the only working display is on the VGA out.
Read the whole internet but can only find people with the same issue, no solutions.

Help?
posted by merocet to Computers & Internet (15 answers total)
 
Is it that it's not coming up at all, or going through the BIOS too quickly that it doesn't get to output to it just yet? Have you tried hitting the key to get into the BIOS and just waiting to see if it comes up? I'm just trying to figure out if you've given that a shot.
posted by deezil at 5:04 PM on September 29, 2010


Response by poster: I just tried that suggestion and got nothing. The computer was definitely in the BIOS as the usual key presses (BIOS password) did nothing.
posted by merocet at 5:37 PM on September 29, 2010


Turn it on with the cover closed (or turn it on and immediately close the cover, if you can't get to the power button otherwise). That almost always makes them fall back to VGA out, because they think you mean to use them in docked mode (with or without an actual docking station).
posted by pla at 5:41 PM on September 29, 2010


Response by poster: Hi pla, this one doesn't seem to work that way unfortunately. Keep the suggestions coming! Thanks!
posted by merocet at 5:54 PM on September 29, 2010


I don't know much about it myself, but have you tried changing your hardware profile settings? I'm assuming you are using Windows.
posted by UsernameGenerator at 5:55 PM on September 29, 2010




Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestion UsernameGenerator. The hardware profiles are something that are only used once Windows starts up (tells Windows which drivers to load/use). I need something that affects how the computer behaves prior to loading Windows unfortunately.
posted by merocet at 6:28 PM on September 29, 2010


It comes up fine in Windows though, UsernameGenerator

Anyone have this model (or same model vintage or a D810) that can tell the keystrokes that merocet can do to set the VGA setting the way it should be? I would, but I don't have one any more.
posted by deezil at 6:28 PM on September 29, 2010


Response by poster: That'd be great deezil. I'm kind of amazed that I still have one of this vintage but it's a surprisingly kickass bit of kit for a 7 year old laptop and I need it to stay that way for a few more months while I get the cash together for a replacement.
posted by merocet at 6:33 PM on September 29, 2010


Yeah, I was hoping that the hardware profiles in Windows would magically make system-level hardware changes. Maybe I need to learn a bit more about hardware detection, but can you explain why you need to change this in the BIOS? Is it a problem if you try to use other operating systems? Or do you just want the ability to fiddle with other BIOS settings?

I think deezil has the good method to try. We have a lot of old Dell laptops at my company. I'll try to see if there are any that would have the same BIOS menus.

This reminds me of when my cell phone screen died and I was trying to get it to send my contacts without being able to see the menus.
posted by UsernameGenerator at 8:56 PM on September 29, 2010


Response by poster: Yeah it's really about being able to access other BIOS settings. Thanks a lot for all your suggestions people.
posted by merocet at 9:03 PM on September 29, 2010


It's not just that the backlight died, right? When the LCD was still connected, did you try shining light on it at an angle and looking closely for the image? I had an inverter die on my Compaq laptop, and I could still a faint image.

If you wanted to teach yourself about video interfacing, you could try to take the LCD driver pins and connect them to the correct pins of the VGA cable connected to your external monitor. It's probably more trouble than it's worth, but think of the practical knowledge you would gain!
posted by UsernameGenerator at 9:20 PM on September 29, 2010


Response by poster: Yeah UsernameGenerator there was still a faint image. I bought a replacement inverter and installed it and had the same problem. Dug deeper into the screen and found a broken back light tube. In doing so I made the screen very sick and beyond repair for a sensible price. (8600c which I have has different screen to 8600 with sensitive parts in a different place. I was using 8600 instructions...)

Used nice monitor will be good with new PC when I get round to buying it and is cheaper than replacement laptop screen so makes a good interim use of cash. Only downside is the lack of BIOS availability but really it's a niggle more than anything else. I have a BIOS password that I have to type blind each time I switch on and if I mistype it then I get a bit lost in the error screens and have to restart the computer. Oh the wasted seconds!
posted by merocet at 9:36 PM on September 29, 2010


Maybe you can remove the broken backlight and make some holes or one big hole in the screen back cover panel so light can shine through? Or replace the backlight with a white sheet of paper (+hole in screen back cover). Then if there is a light source behind your screen you'll be able to "use" it.

A few years ago, when LCDs were still expensive, this technique was used to make DIY videoprojectors with a high resolution LCD.
posted by Akeem at 3:06 AM on September 30, 2010


Response by poster: Hi Akeem, yeah I could have done that up until the point where I really broke the screen. Not so much now. Would love to do that projector thing as a project some time though!
posted by merocet at 7:08 AM on September 30, 2010


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