Janie,
Easy to do Janie. I saw them do it at my computer fix-it place.

On my laptop, the do-dad cooked that transmits to the display. It is now a desktop; I'm able to read the screen on a monitor that was given to me for this purpose. My screen works briefly, then goes black, unless it's hooked up to the monitor.

You have to concentrate and be a bit finicky, but it shouldn't be overly difficult if you have decent tools, some mechanical ability and patience. Take it slow and it should go fine. This site shows how to do it in a 5100 model but they'd be similar. The screen for an AS5745-7247 is $79 through Amazon but you might find one cheaper elsewhere if you shop. Also double check it's the right model. If you can get the part number, all the better. The biggest problem with laptops is getting the correct part. Laptops change so often due to bid-build that you can't always be sure what's in it. Another downfall of the junkbox takeover but that's how it is so end of mini-rant.

But, before all this, I have another, way more important concern. You say it was "squished". I wouldn't even consider putting money into it until I'd had the chance to test it out thoroughly. If you have a crushed screen, you may well have a crushed motherboard or other damage and that could be spendy. You didn't say how it was squished but if it was sat on or something, these things aren't made to take much abuse. I'd set it up with an external monitor, get the data off from it but I'd still use it for a while that way to be sure there's no other damage. Also, is the case around the screen damaged? Be careful that you don't put a new screen in and have damage from a busted case.

FWIW, $200 sounds about right to me for replacing it including labor but naturally shipping (both ways) would be extra.

DH laid it in the back floor of the car and then forgot about it. He moved the seat back and squished it (the screen was against the seat and the actual computer part was "possibly" protected since the screen was between it and the seat. I may just have to invest in a hard side case instead of a soft side one. So far I have gotten everything off- still need to dig out the internet bookmarks.

I am actually using it right now to send this. The right side of the screen scrolls very quickly by itself (think old B/W TVs where you had to adjust the connected rabbit ears) then there is a giant white section and then the left 1/3 of the screen works but has black sports the size of a silver dollar. I just ran my statistical software and the analysis is coming out like it did this morning.

This is a snapshot of the laptop screen (I added the red square to show that is supposed to be my desktop.
{{!gwi}}

When I do an "Alt+PrtSc" and save it as a picture, I get the whole desktop (hope I do not offend anyone with my pic, it is from LOL-Cat and so cute!)
{{!gwi}}

I just used my level and it appears to NOT be warped... tried it on the desk and the floor because the house and desk are both over 100 years old and not that level, themselves... but the button in the level appears to be in the same spot where it is sitting directly on the desk or on the laptop sitting on the desk.

Since the alt-print screen show everything and the software appears to be working, am I fairly safe that the computer is okay?

What else should I do to check the hard drive?

THANK YOU!!!!

BTW... (be still my heart as they say) you have backups! WOW! Congratulations! How many times I've heard the old my *life* is on that computer! What's a backup? as they carry it in pieces or the hard drive is making the death rattle! :)

Cynic, I am within 3 month of earning my PhD and my dissertation is on that laptop, my desktop at home, desktop at school, school's server, in my email, AND at least 2 flash drives. Now they are not all the same version but I can track it back partially unless the entire northern half of the state evaporates, lol. (my dad is a retired computer program but he is of the keypunch card/main frame era... he retired 12/31/1999, did not want to "deal" with the university if they screwed something up with the whole YY to YYYY conversion, lol)

Do you think the motherboard is okay based on what I posted above?

From something like that, the odds of the hard drive being damaged are very low. If the keyboard seems right, is typing what you type (typos and all!) then I'm sure it's fine. Like I said, my concern would be the motherboard or other electronics but the way it looks and sounds, all is probably just fine. Check that it prints ok, all the ports seem to work ok and the like. I assume you've pulled the data off so you've tested at least one of the USB ports probably. It's just that it'd be a shame to put the money into it for a screen and have another issue with it. If all seems ok (which it probably is from the way things look and sound), I'd shop for the part and go at it if you want to try it yourself, which I think you should.

For working on something like this when you're not used to it, I always suggest people get a quiet spot where they're not likely to be disturbed. Tell anyone else to leave you alone and take your time. Take notes if you like, take pictures if you like but just take your time and keep track of where you're at and you should be fine. Critters like to help with stuff like this so I tend to close the door if they like to offer their assistance!

Oh, as for the motherboard, you'd see it doing flaky things or it wouldn't work if there was an issue. If it's cracked then it could be intermittent which is why I suggested trying it for a while just to be sure. Various things to do, shake it, pick it up and kind of flex it gently and just watch that all seems ok and things don't flash or something on the screen, or it shuts off or reboots or something.

After thinking about it, basically being pushed down from the top, the odds are in your favor for it being limited damage. Again, play with it for a while, but I'd start shopping for the part 'twer I you. Check ebay, you might find a used one with a guarantee or else the new ones don't seem to be that expensive. Watch shipping charges of course. You might even see if there's something available locally although shipping for it shouldn't be more than $5-$10 I'd guess so it might not be worth the gas to chase around if you had to.