Dropped Laptop & Safe Mode

Someone dropped my laptop intentionally (handling anger the wrong way) and that ended up severely cracking my laptop screen (it is an HP Pavilion-Entertainment & I only got it Feb. 2010). It was dropped June 2011 & it still isn't fixed (money issues). Trying to get it fixed this month.
Anyhow, it was dropped pretty hard onto a wood floor & I think it landed on the lid (which is why the screen busted). It was already turned OFF before it fell. It was not on when it fell. The black LCD ink was bleeding behind the screen in the cracks. The front bevel or frame has a small crack. When I checked it, it actually turned ON & ran smoothly (seemed to run faster, but maybe that is just me). The safe mode screen popped up and all the icons appeared. Because of safe mode all the desktop icons are very large. There is no unusual sound and even months & months later, it still turns on. I just don't use it until I can get screen replaced.
Since it was NOT on when it fell and it does turn ON still (in safe mode, by the way) does that mean my files and other internal parts (incl. the harddrive) are safe? And will my harddrive be fine days and days down the line after my screen is repaired?  Thank you.

 

Hi Callie, welcome to CHF..

The only way of knowing for sure that all is ok with your laptop (With the exception of the screen) is to run the computer with an external monitor hooked up to it. I'm pretty certain that your laptop has both HDMI and VGA ports. By plugging in an external monitor to one of these ports (Probably the VGA port), you should be able to run your laptop normally.

I would suggest going to a friends house who has a desktop computer and plugging their monitor into your laptop. The VGA lead can be unplugged from their computer and plugged straight into your laptop (It's the blue 15 pin connector). It will probably work straight away, but if it does not and you don't see anything on the external monitor, hold down the FN key on your laptop keyboard and then look for and press one of the upper keys that has a small icon of a screen on it (Usually colour coded with the FN key). These keys act as a toggle switch to change to and from a connected external monitor.

If this works then to give yourself some peace of mind back up your personal pics and files, etc, to a flash stick or some other external storage device. If you cannot see anything on the external screen, then you may have to remove the HDD from your laptop and use an external caddy or docking station to retrieve/back up your files. But they should be ok.

Please let us know how you get on..

 

Hi, as well as Franks advice regarding checking with an external monitor being a good idea, let us know if it boots into safe mode, or will boot into normal mode while that monitor is plugged in.
I am wondering if there is a possibility of minor keyboard damage making the F8 key stick.
If you are going to pay a tech guy to replace the broken screen, ask him to look at the reason for why it will only boot into safe mode and mention the chance of a stuck key.
I will add that considering it does boot up, even though in safe mode, there is every chance the hard drive is OK. Though as Frank says, please back everything up as soon as you can. For your peace of mind, and as a general thing, you never know if something else important may fail.

Nev.