If you have torn it down to the bare motherboard, all BIOS settings (other than security) should have reset to defaults and what ever he did undone? Normally I would advise to unplug the power pack, remove the main battery, then remove the CMOS battery and let it sit for say 10 minutes. That would reset the BIOS. Striping it down to just the motherboard will do the same thing.
What was the reason for switching the video in the BIOS?
Yeah, somebody removed it at some point? Sometimes, they actually short out when they fail, and that can cause a no boot situation. It's like permanently shorting the reset jumper. Removing the CMOS battery will let the PC boot up again.
I asked why just to eliminate any other issues that might be relevant. Why you have no video now, I don't know? The BIOS should have gone back to defaults by now.
Actually, now I remembered, sometime ago my friend gave the laptop to a technician because it wasn't booting, probably he removed it.
Well, I guess buying a new keyboard and doing a BIOS recovery right now is the only way I can fix it?
Ah so you didn't disassemble it? Looks like the technician removed the battery then.
If all it is, is a BIOS setting issue that might recover it. If it's something else, a hardware fault, it won't help. I'm very doubtful that just getting a new keyboard will fix it. Plugging in an external keyboard should have worked.
My understanding of laptop BIOS is that some settings are stored in non volatile memory. Security settings for the BIOS password and boot password. Removing all power won't reset them. You have to log in with the current password to change them. Other settings like the date time, boot order etc, is stored in memory backed up by the CMOS battery. Just like it is on a desktop PC. And there is no reset jumper. Or if there is, its hidden and not labeled as such. The whole idea is to prevent a thief from getting easy access to the laptop if stolen.
"If" all the settings are stored in non volatile memory the only way to change them would be to boot to the BIOS settings menu. I don't think they are but I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. If they are, removing the CMOS battery wouldn't reset them. Just the date and time would be messed up. I don't work on enough PC's to know 100% which way it is. Most of the time, when somebody is looking to reset the BIOS on a laptop its to reset the password, and the OEM's have gone to great lengths to make that pretty well impossible without knowing the current password.
What it comes down to now is how much do you want to spend in the hopes of fixing it.
It doesn't have a password. I just wanna reset the settings so my friend could at least use it with the onboard video.
I'm willing to do everything possible for it to be fixed.
I'd start by putting it all back together and seeing if it will boot up. Be careful putting the case screws back in if they are different lengths. Putting a long screw in where a short one is supposed to be can damage things. You don't need the WIFI card, or hard drive to boot up. You will need at least 1 stick of RAM in or you'll get a BIOS error/beep code. Have you ever disassembled/assembled a laptop before? Be careful putting the ribbon cables back into the connectors. They are zero insertion connectors. There is a locking bar you need to open, then insert the cable, and lock it in. They are very easily broken if you use to much force to open them.
I did it but once again, didn't change a thing.
Are you using a known good external keyboard to attempt the whatever function key to enter bios/UEFI? Have you tried holding down the FN key while repeatedly pressing on the function F-whatever key? Is the external keyboard plugged into a black USB port, you don't want a blue USB port?
I'm using the A4TECH x7 g300, and yes it's plugged into a black USB 2.0 port. The laptop doesn't even have a USB 3.0 port.
The external keyboard for some reason doesn't even work immediately when I press the power button and the main keyboard also doesn't work, as I already said. So even if I try that it won't work. This laptop is broken af.
Also, you said "Have you tried holding down the FN key while repeatedly pressing on the function F-whatever key?" - It's a full-sized keyboard, so it doesn't even have an FN key to hold down.
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