How to retrieve files from a Microsoft Surface Go 2 with broken screen?
I dropped my Surface (running Windows 10) and broke the screen.
I have important files in it. How can I retrieve them?
Is it possible to connect it to an external display and then copy the files? I have another laptop, can I use it as a display? Or is it possible to connect it to my laptop via USB and retrieve the data? Taking the SSD out and read it with a reader seems too hard for me.
Solution 1:
Two approaches I suggest for this.
- To start without the native screen, you likely need a dock with an external monitor. This will work.
You can try just connecting an external monitor, but you may need to log in first on the broken screen. Wait for the startup, enter your user name and password and see if the external screen takes over. I don't think it will and the screen you have may prevent switching. You can only try.
- Take the machine to a local shop and have them remove the drive and recover files. You were uncertain about doing this yourself.