Laptop screen defective - external screen?

I have a bigger problem with my laptop.

The screen is broken, but I still need some data. Can you somehow connect screens externally?

If I connect another screen with an HDMI cable, nothing happens.

Can, if appropriate video outputs are available.

"Nothing happens" is a bit difficult to judge.

Why is the screen broken? If the entire graphics card is gone, nothing can be displayed externally. Otherwise, e.g. If there's a crack in the panel, you can use Win + P to switch your desktop to external monitors.

However, you are much better off removing the hard drive and plugging it into a working PC using a Sata / USB converter than handling the defective device. I would go on without the laptop and just secure this disk. Broken screen, outputs dead etc., should we troubleshoot this now? These are probably serious, almost irreparable hardware problems, the notebook belongs to electronic waste or special waste.