Installing Windows on all-in-one with broken display

[LantsInPance]

I recently bought this computer from a neighbor, who was selling it because the screen had broken. It still worked when connected to an external monitor through HDMI, and when I set it up everything worked perfectly (other than the built-in display). However, I noticed they had left some personal data on the computer, so I decided to do a windows reset. After restarting, the external monitor just says "no HDMI signal" and I can't complete the windows setup process. I've tried doing some automated install setups on a usb drive, but that doesn't seem to work. This is the first time I've had a computer that won't display any of the bios or setup process on an external monitor. Anyone have any advice?

[BeemerBiker]

((1)

You can try a "blind" install or setup.  This is done by using a second system and going through the install or setup using the keyboard, not the mouse, to do the install.  Some help on using keyboard is here

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Keyboard-to-Click-Instead-of-a-Mouse

You would look at the working system and duplicate the same keystrokes on the one without the display

I assume you selected the reset that sets up a system so it can be sold.  You should obtain another system and do the same reset. Then turn both off and back on. Looking at the working system used the keyboard to set up windows and do the same to the system with no display.

(2) You can substitute a working drive that boots to windows for the system with no display such as a clone of a similar system.  Does not have to be exact same.  You will have to log in blind so will have to enter the username and password.  If windows is not displayed on the external monitor then press the WindowKey + P and use the keyboard to enabled the second monitor.  Do the same on a working system to see  where to select the second display.    This will not work on windows 11 or 10 if system was secured with TPM.  A bios change must be made to enabled legacy boot.  One can look a the HP interactive bios websites to see how to change the bios "blind".

[LantsInPance]

Thank you so much for the help! I have tried both suggestions, but unfortunately still can't seem to get things working. Hard to tell what's going wrong exactly with the blind attempts at things. I took the drive and hooked it up to my daughter's desktop PC and installed Windows 10 completely, set it up to not require a password, restarted just to make sure everything got to the desktop with no interaction required, then put the hard drive back in this all-in-one HP and powered it on. After waiting a few minutes and still not seeing anything on my external monitor I tried the Windows+P thing (both by pressing that multiple times to cycle through the options and by pressing that and then using the arrow keys and enter key). Still just a "no hdmi signal" message.

Just now I tried a method I found involving preparing a hard drive to install windows directly from the hard drive, without the need for a usb or disc, but it seems to have also not worked.

[BeemerBiker]

If you hear a beep then bios probably entered automatically and needs to be exited.

What about the windows TaDa ?  the welcoming  sound?

If you shine a light into the screen can you make out any text?   No text shows up if the backlight is broken but a strong light could make the text visible.  

Another possibility on that disk which was configured to log in automatically (your daughters computer) is to enable remote desktop.  The OS you install need to be "pro" to support RD.  If you get remote desktop to work then try booting with the drive and access using remote desktop.  Unlike Splashtop or VNC it has the capability of logging in.

I assume your daughters system has the same processor.  I suspect if one is AMD the other Intel it  may hang.   My experience is limited to Intel cpus.

Try to listen cues such as beep, tada, 

Entering text system will beep if wrong, etc.

You need to be in sync which can be hard to do.  

Not sure of your location and availability of parts but I suspect AliExpress (China based) can obtain the screen if you use the part number of the back of the screen.  The HP part number normally does not work for lookup.  You will need the LG or Samsung part or whoever actually manufacturer it.  

Good Luck!

[LantsInPance]

Thank you so much for all of these great suggestions! I haven't been hearing any sounds of any kind (other than the hdd and fans spinning), but the thought had occurred to me to configure windows to play a startup sound (as far as I know it wasn't playing one by default, but maybe my daughter's speakers weren't on). 

As for the display, the screen lights up but everything is completely scrambled. I can't seem to see any useful images or anything in it.

I do have a windows pro machine and hadn't thought of trying remote desktop. That will be my next approach. Thanks again for the help!