The AUX cable caused damage to the motherboard.
The AUX cable caused damage to the motherboard.
When the monitor cable is connected, the device doesn't power off; it continues running without a visible screen, while the laptop connected to it functions properly.
That's the onboard video feed, a different situation altogether. There are several options to explore. The simplest approach is to install a graphics card and see how it performs. If it functions properly, the hardware appears to be working; if not, the board might be faulty or require repairs. You can remove the device from its case and use a multimeter along with a magnifying glass to inspect for damaged parts or missing components. For data extraction, placing the drives in an external enclosure is typically the quickest method. Also, examine the motherboard for jumpers—there should be one that activates the graphics card. If the small jumper is absent, it could be causing the problems. A faulty VGA connector might also be the issue, which can often be fixed with soldering. Overall, it's a fairly detailed process.
Just to let you know, the computer is now functioning properly. The issue was with the RAM, and once the faulty stick was replaced, everything worked again.