Framed

[chaksq]

Project: Framed

**Project has been cancelled**

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01861.jpg

This is a mod of an old Dell Inspiron 3000 laptop that I no longer use. I am modding the components into a picture frame. My inspiration for this project came from the Wooden On Wall PC: WWPC by [MadMan] (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6700).

This first post will be updated regularly and contain a current picture of the project and my budget on the project. My next post will be the start of the actual project log.

Budget & Parts List:
$0.00___Dell Inspiron 3000 already had
$0.00___Total Project Cost

[chaksq]

I have an old Dell Inspiron 300 laptop I no longer use, it has software issues so I cannot upgrade it to from Windows 95 to either Windows 2000 Professional or Linux. I don’t really care about upgrading that much except Windows 95 won’t work with the built in USB port or IR sensor (I don’t get why Dell released a laptop with hardware that it could not use). On that subject does anyone know of a patch or drivers to use USB and a USB thumb drive with Windows 95?

Anyway here is the laptop before I started:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01846.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01848.jpg

Part of the reason I don’t use it is I stupidly ripped the flex cable for the monitor:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01847.jpg
The motherboard has a port for an auxiliary monitor so this is not much of an issue. Although if someone knew of a place I could find a flex cable let me know.

I have stripped the case down and gutted all of the components:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01849.jpg
Status LCD/Power Button/IR:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01850.jpg
Mouse/System Speakers:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01851.jpg
Processor is on an riser board:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01852.jpg
Motherboard:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01853.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01854.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01855.jpg
The empty case:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01856.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01857.jpg

My plan is to build a box and install all of the components into it. I would then find a cheap picture frame so it would be a computer inside of a picture frame.
I think I may be able to salvage the monitor backlight as it has it’s own cable for power which did not get ripped. I will investigate this later. If I can then I will use the light(s) to light up the case.
I can completely remove the cover of the CD drive and replace it with a window. I want to do this but is there a radiation issue. I know you should not use a CD drive with the cover open but is it a light issue, Or will a plexiglass cover be enough?

Here I have mocked up the layout of all of the components:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/Framed/DSC01861.jpg
The keyboard will be in the top left corner, the HD in the top right with the mouse over the HD. The system speakers will be above the HD or in bottom left. The CD drive is in the middle and opens in the empty space under the keyboard. The I/O ports would be accessed from the bottom.

I am not sure how I will use this computer. If I find a cheap 15” LCD I may put it in another picture frame and set up the computer to slideshow pictures.

[mellojoe]

Awesome.

Seems like a lot of fun.

[Crimson Sky]

Hey I like this project. Laptops are fun to chop up! Are you gonna mount the touch pad too?

[Luke122]

Ah bugger.. I was gonna do the same thing. Ok, just to be clear, I'm not copying you! :D +rep for a great idea!

I say hit ebay for the replacement ribbon cable.

Are you going to be eliminating the hdd or cdrom for this project? I considered both, and going with a PXE image for a network boot. Sadly, wifi doesnt allow PXE, and the idea of a cat5 cable running to my picture frame on the wall doesnt work for me. So I'll likely keep the cdrom drive on mine, and boot it up to linux. No hdd means less weight, less heat, and less noise.

If you have a flickr account, you can get a screensaver that will pull images from your flickr account automatically, making for a picture frame to display your images and update automatically. :D Extra cool if you plan on giving it to someone. (My plan was for my parents)

I love the idea of keeping the speakers in it though! Use it to watch/listen to your media collection, the possibilities are endless. :D

*edit* One more though.. wireless keyboard/mouse would be good.. you can run most laptop boards without the kb or touchpad connected.

[squilliam]

You gave me the best idea for a web surfing computer ever!!!

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

lolz lil tid bit of info.... they did release a win 95 edition with USB support.... same wit 98 also...

[Drew]

Cool plan (I aint brave enuff to chop up a laptop) and lukifers ideas seem top notch.

I'd go with wireless k/b and mouse and a live linux jobbie (like knoppix). Proper lightweight.

[chaksq]

mellojoe: Modding is fun, that's why I do it.

Crimson Sky: I am mounting the touchpad over the HD, to the right of the keyboard.

Lukifer122: Probably just going to use an external monitor. I am leaving both the HDD and CD-ROM. This computer has no LAN or WI-FI, it was built before internet was popular (1995?). I tried booting Linux from a live disk but no go. I will play more with software once I complete the new case. I want to keep the existing keyboard/trackpad to keep things simple. Also I am trying to use a limit budget if I can. Oh, and good luck with your version, post pics.

To everyone thank you for the positive feedback. I am away for a few days so no updates to the project itself.

[Luke122]

Well.. it has a PCMCIA slot.. you could add either wifi or lan.. ;)

DSL (Damn Small linux) might be a good bet... I think the whole install is like 30mb..?

I guess I have to question why you would use an external monitor if you are mounting it into a picture frame..? I thought the point of the mod was to have a screen hanging on the wall?

[progbuddy]

I like this project; just not Dells :p. They burst into flames, explode, die, crash, overheat, etc. Anyways, great idea. +rep for being a total geek :)

[Mitternacht]

I got a labtop mod too that's gonna start to get off the ground soon. Good luck.

[xRyokenx]

As far as I know there is no radiation from a CD drive... there is a laser in it though, and that may be what they're talking about, so you might need something more than plexi to cover it...

[Ticien]

Ive seen a lot of people who have modded windows into CD-Rom drives with no issues. There is a laser in it but as far as i know it doesnt hurt anything...at least i hope not, i have plans for that too

[Canadian Eh?]

DSL (Damn Small linux) might be a good bet... I think the whole install is like 30mb..?


I checked. It is actually 50 mb. It is what it is...Damn Small!:D

[chaksq]

I have been too busy too work on this for a while but I haven't given up. I am in the middle of a few school projects and this is not my current priority.


Ive seen a lot of people who have modded windows into CD-Rom drives with no issues. There is a laser in it but as far as i know it doesnt hurt anything...at least i hope not, i have plans for that too

Now that I think of it I have seen stereos sold from places like sharper image with clear covers over the drives so you can see the spinning disk so that should not be an issue.


I checked. It is actually 50 mb. It is what it is...Damn Small!:D

I have plenty of room however due to some weird BIOS issue or something the laptop won't run ramdisks nessacary to boot from CD which I need in order to upgrade. It has enough ram. This was given to me free as a hand-me-down company laptop from a guy who worked for a large engineering firm the closed. I think the company's IT people messed with it so it can't be altered they still owned it. I have had similar issues with a few Compaq desktops I got from the same source.

At any rate I have tried installing Windows 2000 pro (which I have used on systems with way worse specs), Mandrake Linux, and even tried to boot from two live Linux CDs one of which was Puppy linux. Nothing worked. The only way I think I can upgrade is to install the OS on a hard drive in another computer and transfer it back to this one which could create hardware support issues.

[Luke122]

Still working on this project?

[chaksq]

I haven't done any work on it lately but I still plan on completing it. Thanks for your interest.

[fyrestarter63]

are you planning on using the case for the laptop for somthing?
if not i would consider buying it from you.

[Bopher]

I was able to download drivers for my USB keydrive for windows 95 when i was doing some work for my dad on his old computer. Don't ask. His thing was, if it works why mess with it. I think I downloaded the drivers from the website of the keydrive manufacturer.

[chaksq]

are you planning on using the case for the laptop for somthing?
if not i would consider buying it from you.

Very interested, I have no need for the case anymore. The latch to keep the top down was broken when I got it. PM me if you are interested. I can take more pics if you want.

[chaksq]

I tried setting up the laptop components to test it and make sure it still worked.

Guess what, dead. Okay it sort of works but won't read the HD. And afterwards I tried the HD in a different laptop and it booted. No worries I plan on completing this project... eventually.

I need a new doner laptop that works though. I had 4 counting this one but this one is now dead, two others are 486 or less. And one I refuse to mod, that I am trying to upgrade.