G'day folks
I have a HP-15 notebook (maybe -15-r110tu ?),
model K2N67PA#ABG,
BIOS Insyde F.23-09/12/2014 (096c110000405F00050660180), UEFI secure boot,
SMBIOS ver 2.7,
Embedded Controller version 57.35,
Hardware Abstraction Layer version = "6.3.9600.17196.
It has a broken screen, and I use it via the only external monitor port it has, a HDMI port. I have an in-line HDMI to VGA adapter which drives my VGA monitor.
I have seen a number of posts on another forum reporting that it should be possible to see the initial boot screens and/or the BIOS screens with this kind of configuration (often with VGA port and/or legacy BIOS), but no combination of function keys allows me to see mine.
I have Windows 8.1 and Linux Mint 18.1 KDE dual booted on this machine (hence my need to see the boot and BIOS screens for trouble shooting). The F4 key switches through the display options available in either OS, but does nothing in the initial boot period. I have set the lid switch to Do Nothing in both OSes, and also tried the special option available in LM 18.1 of turning off the laptop display only, leaving the external display on, when the lid closes. No combination changes the display behaviour at boot time. The lid switch options in Win 8.1 only involve actions of the OS (sleep, hibernate, shut down) and have no effect on display options. The display on/off option in LM18.1KDE lid switch options seems more relevant, but again seems to have no effect on boot/BIOS screen access prior to OS loading.
I have also experimented with using a small (2cm or about 0.8 inch diameter) disc magnet from the back of a fridge magnet to simulate the lid closed so I can still access laptop keys. This seems to mimic lid closure, but also seems to disable some keys, so not all that useful. I am using a PS/2 keyboard (and mouse) via a twin USB adapter, and the keys needed to select OS boot options (Esc, F9, down cursor and Enter), and to toggle display options (F4 on this machine; not Fn +F4) seem to work at boot time OK. So I have tried accessing boot/BIOS screens after reboot with the lid closed, pausing the sequence, but get nothing on the external display until the selected OS has booted.
I have seen another post which said that disconnecting the internal screen to try to force the display output to the external monitor did not prevent the laptop from thinking it was still there, so this would only be a last resort for me to try, unless someone actually has confirmed this might work on a HP-15 like mine.
I wonder if anyone out there has experience with the HP-15 notebook and has been able to get boot/BIOS screens to show in an external HDMI monitor? Or, who has some detailed information on the accessing steps to the BIOS screens (e.g.; service manual), so I can get in and shut down Secure Boot (or change whatever else in BIOS that might allow HDMI output during boot)? Or, who might know whether there is the possibility of accessing a VGA port on the motherboard?
Apologies if this is too detailed a post; first time poster.
Cheers
I have a HP-15 notebook (maybe -15-r110tu ?),
model K2N67PA#ABG,
BIOS Insyde F.23-09/12/2014 (096c110000405F00050660180), UEFI secure boot,
SMBIOS ver 2.7,
Embedded Controller version 57.35,
Hardware Abstraction Layer version = "6.3.9600.17196.
It has a broken screen, and I use it via the only external monitor port it has, a HDMI port. I have an in-line HDMI to VGA adapter which drives my VGA monitor.
I have seen a number of posts on another forum reporting that it should be possible to see the initial boot screens and/or the BIOS screens with this kind of configuration (often with VGA port and/or legacy BIOS), but no combination of function keys allows me to see mine.
I have Windows 8.1 and Linux Mint 18.1 KDE dual booted on this machine (hence my need to see the boot and BIOS screens for trouble shooting). The F4 key switches through the display options available in either OS, but does nothing in the initial boot period. I have set the lid switch to Do Nothing in both OSes, and also tried the special option available in LM 18.1 of turning off the laptop display only, leaving the external display on, when the lid closes. No combination changes the display behaviour at boot time. The lid switch options in Win 8.1 only involve actions of the OS (sleep, hibernate, shut down) and have no effect on display options. The display on/off option in LM18.1KDE lid switch options seems more relevant, but again seems to have no effect on boot/BIOS screen access prior to OS loading.
I have also experimented with using a small (2cm or about 0.8 inch diameter) disc magnet from the back of a fridge magnet to simulate the lid closed so I can still access laptop keys. This seems to mimic lid closure, but also seems to disable some keys, so not all that useful. I am using a PS/2 keyboard (and mouse) via a twin USB adapter, and the keys needed to select OS boot options (Esc, F9, down cursor and Enter), and to toggle display options (F4 on this machine; not Fn +F4) seem to work at boot time OK. So I have tried accessing boot/BIOS screens after reboot with the lid closed, pausing the sequence, but get nothing on the external display until the selected OS has booted.
I have seen another post which said that disconnecting the internal screen to try to force the display output to the external monitor did not prevent the laptop from thinking it was still there, so this would only be a last resort for me to try, unless someone actually has confirmed this might work on a HP-15 like mine.
I wonder if anyone out there has experience with the HP-15 notebook and has been able to get boot/BIOS screens to show in an external HDMI monitor? Or, who has some detailed information on the accessing steps to the BIOS screens (e.g.; service manual), so I can get in and shut down Secure Boot (or change whatever else in BIOS that might allow HDMI output during boot)? Or, who might know whether there is the possibility of accessing a VGA port on the motherboard?
Apologies if this is too detailed a post; first time poster.
Cheers
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