drivers - Display a message on a monitor without using a laptop
2014-04
Thomas
Is there a cheaper, simple, smaller solution to having to use a laptop to drive my DELL LED monitor?
All I want it to be able to do is say "Congratulations SO & SO". Maybe if it had some cool color fades etc.? Something that would be small and simple and cheaper so I wouldn't have to surrender a laptop to the cause.
rob
The easiest solution would be to use an Android HDMI stick connected via an HDMI or HDMI-to-DVI cable. You can make a short video, install an appropriate video player app, and have it loop. Of course, these HDMI sticks will only work if your monitor has an HDMI or DVI input. If you need VGA or DisplayPort, you'll need to look at other similar solutions.
Alternatively, you could build your own Raspberry Pi-based system, use a Roku or Apple TV (or any other "home media player" device, etc.
Yet another option would be to create a video with your desired content, burn it to a DVD, and hook the monitor up to a Blu-Ray or DVD player (again, assuming you have the appropriate cable to connect compatible ports from each device).
LeFauve
The cheaper solution is probably a raspberry pi.
It can do what you want and more (playing video/sound, being reconfigured via network, ...) and if your monitor has USB ports you can power it directly without additional cable needed.
Also the pi is able to display on both HDMI monitors or TV and old composite video TV sets which can be handy.
Note: it won't work on VGA monitor but since you mention a led monitor, it should have HDMI or at least dvi (which is compatible with HDMI, just requiring a cheap passive adapter)
zildjohn01
My friend's laptop went through a car crash recently. Everything still works as far as I can tell, except the display, which is cracked beyond recognition. I've tried external monitors, including the Fn+VGA/LCD key, but it seems the VGA port also got messed up. I've taken it apart to look for trivial circuit board damage, which I didn't notice.
I managed to gain control with a USB autorun VNC install, but I'd still love to gain enough control to do a format and fresh install of Windows. Any ideas?
EDIT: I had no problem backing up the files through the network. I'd like to use the PC as a node in a render farm, so it normally won't be necessary to have it attached to a display. And it's bogged down with crapware, so a reinstall seemed like the natural thing to do.
Stephen Jennings
You can do an unattended Windows install. To get remote access after the install, you can either do the same VNC trick or turn on Remote Desktop as part of the install.
kpoehls
remove the hard drive, put it in a hard drive enclosure - IcyDock is a good one and use the usb connection to access the files from another computer
lc.
If you gained control with VNC, did you try changing the display settings from within windows (right-click the desktop, go to properties...)? It could be the Fn+VGA/LCD thing just isn't working right.
To be honest, I'm not really sure the point of formatting and doing a fresh install if you can't actually get at the system to begin with. If you're determined though, I'd just recommend pulling the hard drive, putting it in another laptop (or a desktop using a USB enclosure or a 2.5" -> 3.5" adapter), and just reinstalling from another system. Then use your VNC to complete the install and load drivers once you put the drive back.
PCurd
Really old fashioned way to do it but you COULD install onto two PC's simulataneously (such as onto a VM as well) and use keyboard shortcuts to control the install on the PC you can't see - with the one you can as a guide for what to press and when.
Use Hard Drive activity as an indication of when it wants another prompt.
Please note I'm not recommending this - an unattended install is a much better idea but this is another option if you get stuck!
Roddy
You could try a USB to VGA adapter like one of these.
I expect they can't be used straight from the BIOS, but there's little point in reinstalling windows on a machine with a dead display...
NighTerrorX
if you want to try to actually access everything from the machine you can try something like this: http://www.usb-ware.com/usb-2-vga-adapter.htm assuming the machine still boots, but you just don't have a screen.
Please note I am not pushing this site to buy, I just wanted to show a USB to VGA display device.
My other recommendation is that if you just want the hard drive then you can get a good USB external hard-drive extender from most online computer stores.