I have a hp dv5 1019tx laptop which I've dropped

SOURCE: external monitor with acer aspire 5520

Ok, first, as for your hard drive, 9 times out of 10 your hard drive is fine if you don't hear a clicking noise. Also have you try-ed plugging in your s-video cable to the monitor or vga cable to the screen? after you turn on the laptop with the power on? I can help you with hooking up you laptop to the monitor, just drop me your e-mail address.

Have a nice day!

SOURCE: hp pavilion ze5500 display monitor still doesn't work

IT could be a motherboard problem with the function key that controls the switching of the video infomation between the LCD screen and the external video connector.
It could be the function key circuitry on the motherboard that controls the back lighting levels on the LCD.

SOURCE: HP Pavilion G60-120US NoteBook - External Display Problem

hmmm, f4 + function key should do the trick, you might have to press several times to scroll through modes. If that does do the trick, see if you can view bios with external connected on boot.

SOURCE: HP G60-235DX--LCD screen cracked

yes, there is a way, it is detailed in the HP Service Manual found online

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01602064.pdf

start at page 63 of the pdf (refered to as section 4-24 in the manual text) and go from there!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mike