Modding Keypad to enter code and start PC

yay, cumes link is what i've been looking for

one question tho, anyone know why you have to do it a diff way for windows? is it just cuz windows has the thing where you have to hold down the power for a few secs to turn it off. if thats all, you can just turn that off so it shuts down w/ one press

 

start : keycode
shutdown: start>turn off computer>shutdown

 

For windows you want the switch in case it crashes(and when doesnt it!) to hold in.

If nothing else you can try to find a reg hack or something to force shut down immediatly.

 

if you program a pic you could have one code as momentary, one to hold for a few secs.

 

i wonder if you can hold enter for a few seconds? im assuming no from the article, but maybe he didnt even try. who knows?
maybe not though, cause it might ruin a garage door opener?
answers anyone?

 

Random Maplin Links alert :

here
here
and here

 

from a quick look, one is a ready made product that will do power on. one of the two pads on their own combined with a pic would be a lot better

 

you would need to program a pic for those maplin ones, wouldn't you?

i don't know how so thats out of the option

 

the second link seems to be a pre-made product

 

Well, if you are an electronics bum like me who can barely figure out how to calculate the right ohm resistor to use with an LED then get something that is ready to go out of the box.

 

I'm still a little confused. What would happen if you wired it up the "linux way" and ran Windows. I don't care about proper shutdown and stuff, I just want to type the code to turn it on and then I don't care how I turn it off, because I just want nobobdy to be able to turn my computer on, I don't care so much about off.

 

you can shut down normal in windows, Ctrl+Alt+Delete shut down, or pull the power plug.
The only reason he kept a switch for windows is in case he neded to hold it down to force power off.
Otherwise, its no different, just a safeguard over pulling the power out while on.

 

any keypad would be easy as to bypass to anyone that knows anything about an ATX computer. All you have to do is short out the pins connecting the keypad to the motherboard.

It would still look at lans and things like that. "Oh just hold on a sec, ill turn my computer on... *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep*"

 

That's kinda obvious mightybob, but not that many people would dare open up your case and short the mobo pins just to switch it on would they?

As mentioned earlier, installing a keyswitch was deterrent enough for my rig when i lived with my parents...

 

That keypad idea from Extension Tech is cool.

I was going to follow this guide at GideonTech for a key card security feature:

http://www.gideontech.com/guides/electronic_lock/

but now I may just do the keypad.

What's cooler:

Not having to carry a keycard around, and just remembering a code?

Or carrying keycards around? (Doom/Quake style; "You do not have the keycard to open this door" D'oh!)

 

Losing the keycard!

 

Erm.... BIOS Password...

 

If you mean to set a bios password, then you can still power on and get into the pc, just not the bios. PLUS if you are using it as a security option, the jumper for the bios password is always clearly labeled, and easiy to remove to gain access.

 

But see, to use the BIOS password, you would need to start the computer. I don't want that to happen. I don't want the power going to computer until the right code is entered. Once the code is entered, the the ENTER key is pressed, the computer starts up.

Can't use the BIOS password if there is no power.

 

Exactly, very good point.