System restore macbook air with broken screen?

[kt111]

the screen on my macbook air has broken, It is only hanging on by a couple of wires and it lights up but doesn't do anything else. I want to sell it for parts but obviously want to get all my data off first. I have an external cd drive with the restore cd in but when I press C on boot I obviously can't see anything. Can I somehow connect it to an external monitor? Or is there another way of doing this?

Thanks

 

[aeneid]

Yes. You can still use the external display method. Here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4425 that shows the display on the right side of the MBA. Buy an adapter its like 20$ from apple and cheaper online. Also connect an external keyboard. That might seem weird but otherwise when you turn on the computer the dock and menu bar will be on the laptop screen. Can you still shut it so that it registers that it's shut? Reason being is that once it boots up, and the external monitor and keyboard are connected, close the screen then use the external (I might add that it should be USB) keyboard to wake it. BTW connect the MBA to the power outlet or else this wont work. Then you can use the external monitor to recover everything that you want.

GL and let me know what you think and I'm curious to see what everyone else suggests.

 

[Mal]

Also connect an external keyboard. That might seem weird but otherwise when you turn on the computer the dock and menu bar will be on the laptop screen. Can you still shut it so that it registers that it's shut? Reason being is that once it boots up, and the external monitor and keyboard are connected, close the screen then use the external (I might add that it should be USB) keyboard to wake it. BTW connect the MBA to the power outlet or else this wont work. Then you can use the external monitor to recover everything that you want.

Actually, even that shouldn't be necessary. After it finishes booting, just hit Command-F1 to switch to mirrored display mode, and the menubar and Dock will be visible on the external display.

jW

 

[kt111]

I read something online about a hinge defect on my model so I took it to the Apple store today and they're replacing the whole screen for free. It's over two years out of warranty so I'm pretty happy! Thanks for everyone's help though.

 

[aeneid]

Thanks, didn't know that. I've only had my MBP since December. Always good to learn something new.

And congrats to you. Good to know its fixed.

Cheers