Need help re failing LCD screen

The screen on my old laptop that I gave my husband (COMPAQ Presario 1277-not this one, a Toshiba Satellite) is failing; it won't stand up on its own anymore (he's been propping it up against the wall) and is visible only at an awkward angle now, almost closed, and keeps blacking out - How can I install a new external LCD monitor such as the COMPAQ 17 inch LCD (Item # 514310) available at Office Depot for $189.99, if I can't see what is happening on the laptop's screen after plugging in the new external monitor? According to the COMPAQs manual, I need to click Fn and then F3 to switch to the external monitor. Will just clicking Fn then F3 work? ---Also, the external monitor comes with a cable, but I don't know if it will be compatible with the computer or external port station. I had to get the extra ports for the external keyboard and mouse and printer.

No way can I afford a new laptop for my husband at this time, so I hope I can add an external monitor. We are on a fixed income.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Emilie
Port Orchard, WA

 

First, it sounds like the connector and/or inverter inside the laptop is failing/done so you could go to your local computer shop and have them replace it.
If you are bent on getting an external monitor there's a couple of things you need to do:
1) hook up the monitor to your laptop
2) power on, if you have a login password keep trying to enter it once you think it's at the login screen. If not, just wait until it's done loading.
3) press and hold Fn then press F3, this should change it to the external monitor if it's not automatically done.
Hope this helps.

 

The root of the problem is in the lcd latches. The two pieces of plastic which hold the screen to the laptop, is where you want to go. Usually on the back of the laptop below the hinges are two screws. Remove them and you should be able to take the screen part way out. You need to remove the plastic shrouds which cover the actual hinge. Usually a hinge is a bolt about an inch long which has a lot of washers on it, and then a lock nut. If you tighten them, the screen wont move as far. The loose hinges most likely caused the lcd inverter cable and backlight cable to become partially loose. This is causing your problems. If you can readjust and hook up these connections, you should be good to go.

K-TRON

 

Thank you K-TRON and NotYou. I guess I will take it to a computer shop if a new monitor doesn't work; I was wondering if a new monitor would connect if the connector to the LCD in the laptop has failed or is loose, or would that not have any effect on a new monitor? I think my husband would like a larger, brighter screen, and taking it to be fixed might cost as much as the new monitor?

Emilie
Port Orchard, WA

 

A new monitor would have no effect on the laptop monitor since the external monitor would hook directly into the GPU.
If it's the monitor that's shot then yes, it would cost as much as an external monitor to replace, but if it's just the connector it would probably cost <$50 w/ labor. Since he wants a bigger monitor then it wouldn't even matter, just get the external.