screen broken, setting up monitor

I was playing video games, and when i was done i lent back not knowing my laptop was there, i lent on the screen and it closed. I thought it would be fine cause it felt like it closed as if i just closed with my hands. lol. But it didn't, the screen was black and if you close and open then it shows the screen, some times with static for about a second.

So I tried plugging in a monitor to keep using it, but the screen isn't recognizing the laptop, it says to plug it in pretty much. So how do I set up a monitor or fix the screen, the laptops a few years old now so about time for a new one, but for now i would still like to use a computer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

so i can just see a faint image if i put it in the right light. so the lcd is stuffed, but i still don't understand why plugging in external screen doesn't work.

 

Did you press the keys for external monitors? Try this.. take out battery, disconnect power. Press power button for 30secs then replace battery, power cord and turn on.

 

might just be the inverter....
and you usually have to hit something like function (F4)

at least, that is what it is on my keyboard.

 

FN + F4 should switch your screen into the external monitor.. What laptop is it?