Very specific problem - Booting my computer without a screen

[matt77]

Ok, so I am new to this forum and I have a very specific and complicated situation with my old laptop running on Windows 7. I will try to explain it as clear as possible, I can handle myself pretty well with computers, but I'm not exactly good with the computer langage. So here it is.

I had a HP laptop for a couple of years and a few months ago the screen broke, but I was still able to access the computer by pluggin it on a screen. However, every time I had to start the computer, I was not able to see any image from both the screen and my laptop screen (of course) until I reached the 'Log In' Menu. So basically, I had to wait on a black screen a couple of seconds until I reached the Log In Menu, and then the information would appear on the screen.

Unfortunately, this is an old computer and there are some problems here and there. Recently, the computer shut down by itself and ever since I am not able to reach the "Log In" Menu, so both screens (my laptop and my TV screen) are not showing the information. It looks like there's a page asking me some information to continue, but I can't see it.

I tried CTRL + ALT + DEL to skip it, I thought it was probably a "Start Windows Normally" kind of page, I tried pressing ENTER too, or just wait. I tried a lot of things actually, but it seems like my laptop is stuck before going to the Log In Menu, and I can't access the information.

SO, my question is: Is it possible to skip the launching process by doing something to go directly to the Log In Menu? I hope I made myself clear, I know it's not a common problem that everyone can answer.

One of my theory is that maybe I had a virus, and my computer is stuck on a 'Blue Screen' so that's why I'm not able to do anything. I'm just trying to find out if there are some things I can try to launch my computer and access the Log In Menu directly (without a screen).

Thanks in advance and don't hesitate if you have additional questions, I understand this might not be very clear.

 

[bigmck]

There was another guy on here last night who when booting, he could not see anything until he got to the Desktop. He was trying to do as you are and get to the Boot Menu. It turned out that he had two screens connected and because of that he could not see the Boot Screen as it was loading. I am guessing this is your problem also. You have two screens hooked up and for some reason, which I don't know, you can't see the Boot Menu. -- I just thought I would point that out as to the reason you can't see it. == Here is an article to disable your Laptop Monitor so you can use your TV monitor and see the Boot Menu.
How to Disable a Laptop Monitor to Use a Regular Monitor | Chron.com

 

[matt77]

What exactly do you mean by "you have two screens connected"? This might be the problem and it might actually help me to see the booting menu. The problem is that I can't access the computer at all, so I'm not sure I will be able to do what they suggest on the article you shared.

'Step 2
Right-click the Windows desktop and select "Screen Resolution" from the drop-down list. If both monitors aren't already displayed in the new window, click the "Detect" button.'

Thanks I will try to read more into it, this is an old laptop, it has a lot of pictures, music, documents I did not have the time to backup, it's not the end of the world if it's broken, but I sure would like to access the Log In Menu.

 

[bigmck]

What exactly do you mean by "you have two screens connected"? This might be the problem and it might actually help me to see the booting menu. The problem is that I can't access the computer at all, so I'm not sure I will be able to do what they suggest on the article you shared.

'Step 2
Right-click the Windows desktop and select "Screen Resolution" from the drop-down list. If both monitors aren't already displayed in the new window, click the "Detect" button.'

Thanks I will try to read more into it, this is an old laptop, it has a lot of pictures, music, documents I did not have the time to backup, it's not the end of the world if it's broken, but I sure would like to access the Log In Menu.

Didn't you say you had your TV screen attached to the laptop? That is two screens. You need to disable the laptop screen to see the Boot Menu on the TV screen.

 

[matt77]

What exactly do you mean by "you have two screens connected"? This might be the problem and it might actually help me to see the booting menu. The problem is that I can't access the computer at all, so I'm not sure I will be able to do what they suggest on the article you shared.

'Step 2
Right-click the Windows desktop and select "Screen Resolution" from the drop-down list. If both monitors aren't already displayed in the new window, click the "Detect" button.'

Thanks I will try to read more into it, this is an old laptop, it has a lot of pictures, music, documents I did not have the time to backup, it's not the end of the world if it's broken, but I sure would like to access the Log In Menu.

Didn't you say you had your TV screen attached to the laptop? That is two screens. You need to disable the laptop screen to see the Boot Menu on the TV screen.

Oh ok, yes I understand what you mean. Unfortunately it's not so easy when you are stuck on the Boot Menu and you can't see it, I will continue to try some experiment.

 

[bigmck]

Does your TV monitor work? Can you use the computer with the TV screen? If so, you should be able to read the link I gave you and disable your laptop display.

 

[matt77]

Does your TV monitor work? Can you use the computer with the TV screen? If so, you should be able to read the link I gave you and disable your laptop display.

I'm sorry if I was not clear, yes my TV monitor does work, but I cannot use the computer with the TV monitor, this is where the problem is. There's nothing appearing either on my laptop monitor or on the external TV monitor, so it is not possible for me to do the Step 2 on the link you sent. (Which require to access the desktop menu from what I read).

Right now I'm on my other laptop which is fully functional, but I can't do much on the broken laptop except trying to skip the Boot Menu with my keyboard and a black screen.

I hope this is a bit more clear.

 

[TrustMe]

On some laptops you have to hold down the Function key (Fn) and press one of the F1 to F12 keys to get an external monitor to work. Look on all your F keys and see if one has a picture of a monitor. On my laptop I have to hold down the function key and then press F10 once to get the external monitor to work. If I press F10 a second time (while holding down the function key) the external monitor goes black and the laptop screen is on. If I press it a third time the picture is back on the external monitor.

Do a google search of your laptop's model number and see if it works this way.

 

[matt77]

On some laptops you have to hold down the Function key (Fn) and press one of the F1 to F12 keys to get an external monitor to work. Look on all your F keys and see if one has a picture of a monitor. On my laptop I have to hold down the function key and then press F10 once to get the external monitor to work. If I press F10 a second time (while holding down the function key) the external monitor goes black and the laptop screen is on. If I press it a third time the picture is back on the external monitor.

Do a google search of your laptop's model number and see if it works this way.

Yes I can see that it's F4 on my laptop but it doesn't seem to work when I try it.

In fact, after I tried a couple of times I started hearing a beeping sound when I was pressing keys on my laptop, which is probably not a good sign.

It looks like I might have a virus and I can't get through the Boot Menu. That's what I think at least.

 

[matt77]

Just a thought here, I can still use my CD player, let's say I try to put a Windows 10 Installer CD in there, is it possible to install Windows 10 and still have access to my files afterwards? I guess it's possible, but I'm not sure I will be able to install Windows 10 without a screen to look at ...

Like I said haha, just a thought. I'm a bit desperate at this point but I guess I will bring the laptop to an expert and see if I can retrieve the hard drive.

 

[TrustMe]

Do you have access to another computer? This is a live version of Windows. It runs from your computer's memory and does not installs or write anything to your hard drive. When you shutdown your computer, it is completely gone.

Download a Windows 8 or 10 version and put it on a USB flash drive or burn it to a DVD. Do you know how to work with ISO files? I would use the 32 bit version since you said the laptop is old. The only catch is the old laptop has to be able to run Windows 8 or 10. If it is to old, then don't bother trying this.

Boot from the USB or DVD and see if it shows up on your external monitor. If it doesn't, then try the F4 key. If it works, then you can use this to save all your personal files.

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

 

[matt77]

Yes I have access to another laptop.

I'm pretty sure the broken one was running on 64-bit from what I remember, I say it's 'old' but it was given to me 4 years ago, and it was not a new laptop at the time, so maybe 5-6 years old max.

I think I can work with .ISO files, I remember using them here and there, I can read some tutorials thanks to the internet. Basically I have to 'burn' an ISO of Windows 8 on a DVD?

When I would open my broken laptop and insert DVD, the software would run automatically? I hope that it does and 'skip' the Boot Menu, so I can start seeing on my screen. I will try F4, if it doesn't work it's going to be difficult to install Windows 8 without seeing anything.

And just to make sure, if I do this there's no chance I lose my personal files by installing a new version of Windows? I have already made a switch to Windows 10 on another laptop, I know you keep the files, just want to make sure because the whole point is to keep the files.

Thanks by the way.

 

[TrustMe]

The live version of Windows does NOT install Windows on your computer. It runs from your computer's memory and is gone when you shutdown.

Before you try anything, I would try and backup your personal files first. Take the hard drive out of the laptop and put it in a USB drive enclosure. Then plug the drive enclosure into a working computer and backup you personal files.

If you are not comfortable doing this, then I would take the laptop to a professional.