Question Gateway NV79 won't post

[Spatialflunky1]

My friend gave me their old broken laptop they didn't need since they got a new one. When i turned it on it didn't post. I tried to replace the motherboard, connect it to HDMI and VGA, replace the RAM, rip out the CMOS battery, and short a bunch of random stuff. Even after that it still won't post and I don't know what else to try. The battery is dead but while plugged in the fans, hard drive, and disc drive still spin up so I don't think that that's why.

 

[popatim]

You generally don't see anything on the external monitors until an OS loads. How sure are you the display works?

 

[Spatialflunky1]

the screen isn't cracked in any way but I'm not sure it works and I don't know how i can test it.

 

[Spatialflunky1]

i installed Ubuntu to the HDD inside of the laptop and it still wouldn't appear on the 2nd monitor but it did on my other laptop. I did find another screen on ebay for $20 and i might buy that and try it