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Great to hear that everything is working well with your laptop now! If you’re wondering whether you can view the BIOS screen through the HDMI output, here’s what you need to know. Usually, BIOS settings are displayed directly on the laptop’s screen during startup, and they don’t automatically display over HDMI. This is because the BIOS is hardware-level and often doesn’t send its output through external ports like HDMI or DisplayPort.
However, since your other laptop has a broken display, there are a couple of options to consider:
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Use an External Display for BIOS Access
In most cases, BIOS settings are only visible on the laptop’s built-in screen during startup. To see them on an external monitor, your laptop needs to support “boot display” over HDMI or other outputs. Some models do, but many don’t. Before trying, it’s a good idea to check your specific laptop’s user manual or look for online information about its display output during boot. -
Try Changing Display Settings
If your laptop can detect the external monitor during startup, you might be able to switch the display from the broken laptop screen to the HDMI port. Usually, pressing a key combination like “Fn + F8” or “Fn + F4” can toggle the display output, but this depends on your specific laptop model. -
Connect the Broken Laptop to an External Monitor
If the display is broken but the laptop still powers on, try connecting it to an external monitor. If the display works during normal operation, you might be able to access the BIOS by restarting and watching the external screen. However, if the BIOS screen only appears on the broken display, this method might not work until the BIOS loads fully or if the display switch is activated during boot. -
Consider Repair or Display Replacement
Since you want to reuse the broken laptop, replacing or repairing the display might be a good way to regain full access to BIOS and system functions. Even a temporary fix with a new display could save you a lot of trouble.
In summary, most laptops don’t output the BIOS screen over HDMI because it’s a low-level interface. The best approach is to try connecting your broken-display laptop to an external monitor during startup or explore display toggle options. If you need regular access to BIOS or system settings, replacing the broken display might be the most straightforward solution.