HP Elitebook 840 LCD screen & VGA problem

Hello, 2 weeks ago I got a new external monitor to use with my laptop. the laptop has no HDMI slot so connected with VGA cable. (tried HDMI with VGA/USB adaptor but did not work). All was fine for 1 week. Then my laptop screen started to display horizontal pink lines on it and then it went white (and is not working). It was however able to display on the external monitor. Today, the monitor is saying that it is not receiving a signal from the laptop via the VGA cable. (I dont know if using the new monitor and the laptop screen going white are connected but that was the sequence of events. ) the problem is that all my files are in the computer ( I had just purchased an external HD to transfer files to yesterday but not done it yet) Any suggestions / thoughts on the LCD screen? Any guidance on getting files off the HD?

I have tried removing the battery and unplugging the AC adapter. - no change

I have just read that I should do the above and press the power button to drain the battery. will try that tomorrow.

Mel