Restoring or installing with an external monitor

Hi

Since I have a laptop with its screen no longer working, I connected it to an external monitor via HDMI.

If I used the full restore function of Windows 11 Enterprise or if I decided to install this OS from a USB stick, would I have some problems with the visualization during the various stages of these processes? If so, what would be the possible solutions?

Thanks

Bye

The external monitor may have issues with entering your BIOS / UEFI firmware settings page, but normally other than that it should be fine. If you do have issues, you could try closing the lid on the laptop to see if it will force the output to the external.

However, all that being said, YMMV - will depend upon your laptop model and (possibly) some settings in the BIOS / UEFI Firmware as well.

What happens, when you boot from an USB-Flash drive? Can you run a setup or can you start the recovery environment?

If the UEFI firmware (aka BIOS) is set to auto display or both LCD and external, you should see an image when outside Windows on your external monitor. To check that hold SHIFT and restart. It should give you the Recovery Environment which hopefully is visible on the external monitor as well. Choose to boot in UEFI firmware. If you can see the BIOS screen on your external monitor, you are safe to do whatever you want. Otherwise DON'T do a clean installation. Until you are into Windows again with proper graphics drivers you won't see any picture at your external monitor and you won't be able to interact with the Setup screens. In that case you can only RESET Windows (removes your data and applications), but not do a true clean installation. Another possibility is to remove the disk from your laptop, put it in another laptop or PC, install Windows 11 and then put it back in the laptop BEFORE activation. I would replace the disk when in the OOBE (initial configuration screen). Windows 11 should display a message that they load devices (the new hardware of the laptop) and then load the OOBE screen again in order to configure Windows and create your account.

Remember: If you want a local account instead of using a Microsoft account, DON'T connect to your Wi-Fi. At the network setup screen press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt and type the following command:

oobe\bypassnro

and press ENTER to execute. This will make some changes and restart the computer. You will go through the OOBE again but this time at the network setup screen you will see a blue text "I don't have an internet connection". Click on this text to be offered to create a local account instead! Other fellows say that you can just add a fake Microsoft account which will of course fail and prompt you to create a local account, but I prefer to play safe and use the above command.

Uh, he said

Balubeto said:

Windows 11 Enterprise or if I decided to install this OS from a USB stick

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You might find the Windows 11 Enterprise ISO at UUP Dump or elsewhere and use it to install or repair the Enterprise version.

His issue is not how to get it, his issue is to see if he can install only using an external monitor as the internal monitor is not working.

I explained that on my first reply. If the display is set to dual (LCD and external) in BIOS, then he can, otherwise he must enable it. Hopefully there is a key combination to enable it outside Windows. If this works, problem solved.

Just did a test on an ACER laptop. Made the second screen the 'main display'. Did the shift + restart to get to the recovery/troubleshoot screen and it failed on the first screen. Was on the laptop's screen only. Being a laptop the UEFI is pretty limited with no options.

spapakons said:

I explained that on my first reply. If the display is set to dual (LCD and external) in BIOS, then he can, otherwise he must enable it. Hopefully there is a key combination to enable it outside Windows. If this works, problem solved.

Click to expand...

If it is not set, and the external panel does not work for entering BIOS / UEFI firmware, and the internal panel is not working at all, how does he set it?

Fabler2 said:

Just did a test on an ACER laptop. Made the second screen the 'main display'. Did the shift + restart to get to the recovery/troubleshoot screen and it failed on the first screen. Was on the laptop's screen only. Being a laptop the UEFI is pretty limited with no options.

Click to expand...

Did you try it with an external keyboard and the lid/screen closed?

NavyLCDR said:

Did you try it with an external keyboard and the lid/screen closed?

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External keyboard, no. I can't close the lid as the external is fixed by a bracket on the lid. Same happens when going directly to safe mode. Nothing on the external monitor.

In most laptops there is a key combination such as FN+F5 or similar that toggles between internal and external monitor and also can mirror the image on both. Go to BIOS again and try this combination to see if you can switch the display to the external monitor. If you do, then problem solved, otherwise you can only reset the current Windows installation, not ideal but works.

If the OP is still interested then my findings on the Acer is this. It doesn't show the advanced boot screen on the second monitor. In UEFI (that won't show on the second screen) the FN key doesn't work. F5 and the F6 keys are used to change the settings in any selected setting. So it's not possible on this laptop. I don't know about high end laptops that have a full UEFI.
Not knowing the OP's laptop model I would just warn to not use system configuration (msconfig) to get to safe mode for obvious reasons.
I'm also not sure if it would be possible to carry out a reset of Windows without the main laptop screen working.

The reset is done unattended so he won't have any issues until it is complete. I am not sure if it works in his case, but if the laptop is turned off, you connect to the external monitor via HDMI and then turn it on, it should detect the external monitor and mirror the image on both internal and external monitor. The external monitor must be on to be detected properly. If it is a TV is must be on and switched to the respective HDMI output.

spapakons said:

The reset is done unattended so he won't have any issues until it is complete. I am not sure if it works in his case, but if the laptop is turned off, you connect to the external monitor via HDMI and then turn it on, it should detect the external monitor and mirror the image on both internal and external monitor. The external monitor must be on to be detected properly. If it is a TV is must be on and switched to the respective HDMI output.

Click to expand...

I can confirm that this does work on the Acer Nitro 5/515-57.