[andy_e]

I've just acquired a laptop which has a broken screen (there's no display even when connected to a monitor)- any ideas what could be causing it to not work, and ideas on how to fix it?

[GCW]

there's no display even when connected to a monitor

I'm assuming you have, but have you changed the output settings to see if that works?

[andy_e]

How am i supposed to do that with no screen?

p.s. it's an Acer Travelmate 4100

p.p.s i don't want to spend much on it at all

[GCW]

It's one of the function shortcuts.  Look at the keyboard and it should be obvious.  usually changes it from laptop display>laptop display+external monitor>external monitor only.

If the screen is broken at least assess your output to monitor.  If that doesn't work....

[slackline]

How am i supposed to do that with no screen?

p.s. it's an Acer Travelmate 4100

p.p.s i don't want to spend much on it at all

Depends on your definition of "much" but you might be able to get a new screen for around £100 from flea-bay.  Unfortunately that may not solve your problem if there is something fried on the motherboard.

[andy_e]

It's one of the function shortcuts.  Look at the keyboard and it should be obvious.  usually changes it from laptop display>laptop display+external monitor>external monitor only.

If the screen is broken at least assess your output to monitor.  If that doesn't work....

Oh that, yeah did all that.

How am i supposed to do that with no screen?

p.s. it's an Acer Travelmate 4100

p.p.s i don't want to spend much on it at all

Depends on your definition of "much" but you might be able to get a new screen for around £100 from flea-bay.  Unfortunately that may not solve your problem if there is something fried on the motherboard.

That's far too much