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On some laptops like desktops you have a bios setting to select the default monitor or video choice. I've had to access bios blind using a second computer to know when to press buttons and how to click.
If the thing normally boots to xp on this extra monitor then it should work.
I'd go though the bios with a camera phone in case you have to adjust bios blind.
If you have trouble getting the headless laptop to display on the monitor, look for a Fn key to manage display output. Many laptops I've used have had such keys.
Commonly they have images that look like little tiny monitors on them.
I have since replaced the back LCD cable, and inverter, on that Panasonic CF-48 which is now a test bed for the AntiX team. That Panasonic still has a floppy drive on it and was built in 2001.
I dug the laptop out... it's an old Toshiba Satellite Pro L20.
When I used a few years ago it turned on and I could use with an external monitor.
NOW: doesn't output.
The key to get display to send to external is Fn + F5.
I do this many times and can't get it to work.
Any advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefro
I'd go though the bios with a camera phone in case you have to adjust bios blind.
Which operating system are you booting off before you try the F5 key?
original was windows XP. should still be that.
i was guessing that the screen output maybe didn't work for the bootup part?
maybe something wrong with hard disc... so i had a bootable disc to boot mint linux
it would have already if it was going to be easy !!
THROW IT AWAY QUICKLY
you already spent more than the top is worth in your time wondering if it will work. it's worth no more than $50 on ebay. you didn't say it was a 64bit machine and that'll be a huge issue these days.
put it in the trash, please buy a (used) updated machine. or run XP (yikes xp? trash)
Last edited by X-LFS-2010; 06-05-2018 at 02:01 PM.
To get into the BIOS of your laptop it's most likely one of the F1 through F12 keys.
The splash screen should show which key it is to get into the BIOS.
While the laptop is booting up press down several times the F key and it should go into the BIOS.
It's been a while since going into my BIOS. I think it's either F2 or F11.
After a quick google search revealed that entering the BIOS on a Toshibia laptop is the F2 key.
Code:
Entering BIOS in Toshiba Tecra & Toshiba Satellite
Turn off your Toshiba laptop.
Wait 30 seconds and turn your laptop back on.
Press F2 key repetitively as soon as the Toshiba laptop begins booting until the BIOS menu screen appears.
Once you are in the BIOS set your machine to boot to the CDROM drive or the usb <which ever> medium you have Linux Mint on.
*****Make sure that the Mint disk or the Mint usb stick is already plugged in before you go into the BIOS.*****
Don't forget to save the changes before you reboot.
thanks for the replies guys. i know i've made loads of posts - i've been learning so much from your replies.
i have a few laptops.
linux mint was running fine - that was on a hp pavillion with 8GB ram.
i was trying to run on an old toshiba laptop i had lying around. the problem with that is that the screen is broken, when connected to a monitor, the monitor doesn't get any output. so am a bit lost with that one.
@Ztcoracat - many thanks for the replies - problem is that i can't get output to the external monitor to make the changes mentioned.
thanks for the replies guys. i know i've made loads of posts - i've been learning so much from your replies.
i have a few laptops.
linux mint was running fine - that was on a hp pavillion with 8GB ram.
i was trying to run on an old toshiba laptop i had lying around. the problem with that is that the screen is broken, when connected to a monitor, the monitor doesn't get any output. so am a bit lost with that one.
@Ztcoracat - many thanks for the replies - problem is that i can't get output to the external monitor to make the changes mentioned.
i'll sell on ebay if i have no luck.
You're Welcome:- Glad to hear that you are learning new things.
Sorry to hear you aren't able to get any output on that monitor.
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