Installing ubuntu on broken computer

[Ezzpen]

Hi
I want to install ubuntu on my internal harddrive. The reson is that my laptops screen is broken, and im not able to switch to external screen in windows.

Is there some kind of shortcut in linux which switches to vga output? If not, all this will be time wasted...


If there is:

I tried to boot from both USB and cd, but apperantly its set to boot from harddrive. Again, my screen dont work so i cant change the boot order.

So, is it posible to take my laptops internal drive, hook it up to another computer using sata-->usb adapter, and then install ubuntu on it. Put it back into the computer. And then just boot it as normal?

[whych]

Theroetically, as long as the hardware of the pc you are using to install is similar, it should work.
Have you checked that you cant switch screens via one of the blue keyboard functions for the laptop?

[Rubberman]

On many laptops, ubuntu will recognize that an external monitor is connected when it boots up, and used that instead, especially if the laptop cover is closed. IE, plug in a USB keyboard and external display, then boot the system, and while it is booting, press the FN+CRT key combo (FN+F8 on my Dell) to enable the external display, and close the cover. See what happens. No guarantees...

[Djhg2000]

I tried to boot from both USB and cd, but apperantly its set to boot from harddrive. Again, my screen dont work so i cant change the boot order.

Since it's SATA there's a slight chance you could boot without the HDD, wait for the CD to spin up the first time (getting to CD boot menu), put the HDD back in and press enter in order to boot it without another computer.

Of course, this assumes your laptop (1) can safely handle hotplugging the internal drive and (2) it tries other bootable media when it fails to boot from HDD.

I'd recommend just sticking it into an external cabinet and installing from another computer through a virtual machine. Preferrably one with USB passthrough or direct HDD access with QEmu, just make sure you triple check your really using the right HDD to avoid major nightmares.

[Ibanez1998]

I'm extremely surprised to hear that you cannot switch to an external monitor in Windows. I've never come across this limitation. There should be a Fn key hold and F key button to switch how you want the laptop to switch monitors. However, dare I suggest you just replace your screen. I do this all the time. Saves my customers a lot of money. You can get a replacement screen really cheap and fast here: (Please note that this is not my site, I am not making any money off of this suggestion, it's just a suggestion and its personally who I use for screens.) it's blisscomputers dot net

I've used them twice now and they have been great.

Ed Middlebrooks

[Ezzpen]

Hi
Thanx forall the sugestions. I wont have time to try them out before the weekend. But i think i might have a shot at get it working.

To Ibanez:
I belive the reason for why I cant switch to external is that the computer was delivered with windows vista. I formatted it to xp as soon as i got it. I also installed some moddified graphic drivers for better performanse. Its probably these drivers who mess upp the fn combination.

All the other fn combinations work flawless (screen brightness and so on)Maybe its the actual vga output itself which is damaged?

btw, the site you reffered to i found very confusing. I klick the acer tab, and it displays ALOT of diffrent types of screens.