Screen cracked need to connect external monitor as defaulty FN+F4 does not do anything

Hi Melissa,

perhaps your monitor has packed up, try connecting it to a TV see if the problem persists

Hope this works!

Simon

Connecting an External Monitor or Data Projector
You can switch to an external monitor or data projector by two methods. 1. Connect the external monitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and the laptop. The video information will automatically switch to the external monitor. 2. If you power up the laptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor by pressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make and model laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCD screen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fn key plus one of the function key a few times. Here is a list of key combinations for some of the laptops :- IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7 HP and Compaq = Fn + F4 Toshiba = Fn + F5 Dell = Fn + F8

Connecting an External Monitor or Data Projector
You can switch to an external monitor or data projector by two methods. 1. Connect the external monitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and the laptop. The video information will automatically switch to the external monitor. 2. If you power up the laptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor by pressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make and model laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCD screen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fn key plus one of the function key a few times. Here is a list of key combinations for some of the laptops :- IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7 HP and Compaq = Fn + F4 Toshiba = Fn + F5 Dell = Fn + F8

You can switch to an external monitor or data projector by two methods. 1. Connect the external monitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and the laptop. The video information will automatically switch to the external monitor. 2. If you power up the laptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor by pressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make and model laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCD screen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fn key plus one of the function key a few times. Here is a list of key combinations for some of the laptops :- IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7 HP and Compaq = Fn + F4 Toshiba = Fn + F5 Dell = Fn + F8

The Fn+F4 button toggles between the LCD and external monitor.
From LCD only or both LCD and external monitor or external monitor.
only. Press the Fn+F4 keys again to toggle the various screen selections.

Connecting an External Monitor or Data Projector
You can switch to an external monitor or data projector by two methods. 1. Connect the external monitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and the laptop. The video information will automatically switch to the external monitor. 2. If you power up the laptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor by pressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make and model laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCD screen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fn key plus one of the function key. Here is a list of key combinations for some of the laptops :- IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7 HP and Compaq = Fn + F4 Toshiba = Fn + F5 Dell = Fn + F8

You can switch to an external monitor or data projector by two methods. 1. Connect the external monitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and the laptop. The video information will automatically switch to the external monitor. 2. If you power up the laptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor by pressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make and model laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCD screen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fn key plus one of the function key. Here is a list of key combinations for some of the laptops :- IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7 HP and Compaq = Fn + F4 Toshiba = Fn + F5 Dell = Fn + F8

Connecting an External Monitor or Data Projector
You can switch to anexternal monitor by two methods.1. Connect the externalmonitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and thelaptop. The video information will automatically switch to the externalmonitor.2. If you power up thelaptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor bypressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make andmodel laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCDscreen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fnkey plus one of the function key. Here is a list of keycombinations for some of the laptops :-IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7HP and Compaq = Fn + F4Toshiba = Fn + F5Dell = Fn + F8

Yes you can.
You can switch to anexternal monitor by two methods.1. Connect the externalmonitor to the laptop's video port, power up the external monitor first and thelaptop. The video information will automatically switch to the externalmonitor.2. If you power up thelaptop first then you can switch the video output to the external monitor bypressing the Fn key and one of the Function keys, depending upon your make andmodel laptop. You can also toggle between the external monitor or both LCDscreen plus the external monitor or back to LCD screen only by pressing the Fnkey plus one of the function key. Here is a list of keycombinations for some of the laptops :-IBM ThinkPad = Fn + F7HP and Compaq = Fn + F4Toshiba = Fn + F5Dell = Fn + F8

If you don't see anything at all and it has not been dropped or banged it maybe something as simple as the Video out selection. Look at the keyboard and locate the [FN] and the [F4](Actually look for the key with a small video screen on it which is usually the F4 on HP machines). After turning the computer on press and hold the [FN] key then press the [F4] Key. There are 3 modes programmed into the video selection. Computer monitor, Computer monitor and External Display and External Display only. What happens a lot of the time is someone may have accidentally pressed this combination of keys and the video is actually redirected to the external monitor only option. If this does not help and you can connect the computer to an external monitor and use that key combination to get the output to that screen then the problem is most likely the Back light for the monitor of the screen itself. Both can be replaced. HP can provide the back light part at a reasonable price. For the screen itself I recommend you go to someplace like E-Bay and purchase the replacement. Make sure you look at the sellers past record so you don't get taken. I DO NOT recommend using Craig's List for anything.