windows 8 - Remove lvds and use external monitor

08
2014-07
  • haunteddevil619

    My laptop hinges recently broke off and I wish to use my laptop sort of like media player connected to a TV. For now, I can just switch to external VGA display after the OS boots.

    I want to remove the entire display panel and keep just the base of the laptop as the current configuration looks ugly. So, if I remove the lvds cable from the motherboard, remove the whole lcd panel, and power on the laptop with external display connected, will my laptop detect the new configuration and route the video signals to external monitor?

    I could have just used start+p to change the second screen settings after boot but I want to make sure that if in future I need to format my laptop, I can still see the display.

    BTW I am using Windows 8 x64 Pro

    • Answers
  • haunteddevil619

    Since I wanted to use this, there was no other choice for me but to go ahead and see it for myself.

    I opened the laptop and disconnected 5 cables - lvds, mic, webcam and a couple of them acting as wifi antennas. After assembling the base back, I connected the VGA cable to the laptop and powered it on (fingers crossed). Voila!! the OS took the external monitor as the default one and routed all video signals to it without any change in display configuration.

    My only complaint would be that external monitors are slow to respond to the video signals during POST, so it normally skips the initial part where the laptop manufacturer's logo is displayed, with options to halt the normal start-up. But I can still get into BIOS and change settings and do all the pre-boot stuff I want to since I know the keys reserved for each specific function.


    • Related Question

    acer aspire - External Monitor display issue when closing the lid of laptop
  • bbnyc

    Has anyone experienced this with an Acer or any other laptop?

    I am working on a new Acer laptop (1810T) which I almost alway connect to an external monitor with a VGA cable.

    I have set graphic options to display only to the external monitor and I would like to close the lid of the laptop, when I am working at my desk. In the power settings, I have set it so when i close the lid, the computer should "do nothing".

    When connected to the external monitor I am able to view the display fine if the the laptop lid is open. However, whenever I do close the lid, the display on the external monitor continuously cuts in and out about every 2 or 3 seconds. I have seen other posts where the display simply shuts off, but I am getting constant (though irregular) flashes of the display, so I believe this is a different issue.

    Any thoughts would be appreciated.


    • Related Answers
  • Gauthier

    I have the same issue sometimes (sometimes at startup), even in dual display configuration. The external monitor would turn on and off at 1 or 2 seconds period.

    Shutting off and on the monitor itself solves the problem for me, have you tried that?

  • nhinkle

    Odd. I sometimes work with my laptop lid closed and using the external monitor, and it's never been a problem. Have you tried updating your graphics drivers? Look in Windows Update under optional Hardware Updates, and see if there's anything relating to your graphics drivers. Since it's a new laptop that's probably not the issue, but it's worth trying.

    Just out of curiosity, why don't you use both monitors? I've found that having dual displays is extremely helpful.

  • philfreo

    I don't have an Acer, but the following tips helped for my MacBook.

    The only way it will work closed is if the power is plugged in - took me a while to realize this. The other thing is that I had to have an external keyboard plugged in. Then, when I closed the laptop, my computer went to sleep and then I used the keyboard to wake it up.

  • Dave Rook

    Your computer's "help and support" files walk you thru the power saver plans. If that doesn't fix the problem, I'd suggest you return the laptop to your supplier for diagnosis. These days most vendors are quite accommodating due to competition.

    I've set up Sony, Toshiba, Acer, and the configurations seem slightly different but using the built in help files I've always been able to get the lid closure function working OK, especially on VGA using the "balanced" power plan and using the laptop's power adapter.

  • Karan Raj Baruah

    See if setting the "Max performance" power plan helps. Also I recommend you to get the latest graphics drivers from Acer's website.